Porsche 718 Boxster initial specs revealed: two turbo flat-fours offered, 295 hp/350 Nm and 355 hp/400 Nm

Porsche recently announced a new naming strategy for the upcoming Boxster and Cayman facelift models, dubbed the 718 series. The announcement was accompanied by news that the long-rumoured turbocharged flat-four engines will debut in these models. However, no preliminary details pertaining to these new engine are available, until now.

According to a report by Autocar, who had the privilege of testing the new Boxster, the model will be offered with two versions of the turbocharged flat-four petrol engines. Both are developed from the new turbocharged flat-six engine (9A2B6T) that was made for the 991.2-generation 911, which recently underwent a facelift.

The new turbo flat-four (9A2B4T) essentially drops two cylinders from the engine it is based on to fit the turbo unit. Fitted to the Boxster tested by Autocar is the base 2.0 litre unit that is boosted by a single turbo to provide 295 hp and 350 Nm. The engine’s bore and stroke dimensions are 91 mm and 76.4 mm, respectively, while retaining the same cylinder pitch as that in the 911.

A higher-spec Boxster S model will also be offered, where its engine is expected to have a larger bore and stroke, increasing engine capacity to around 2.4 or 2.5 litres. The larger engine is said to feature Porsche’s Variable Turbine Geometry turbo tech from the 911 Turbo, and is estimated to provide 355 hp and 400 Nm. With both engines listed, it appears that the existence of a smaller 1.6 litre unit is unlikely.

Performance-wise, the new Boxster is said to have top speed exceeding 280 km/h, with the 0-100 km/h sprint accomplished in a claimed 5.5 seconds. As for the the Boxster S, it will make the same century sprint a tad quicker at 5.0 seconds. By comparison, the current Boxster’s a 2.7 litre naturally-aspirated flat-six pushes 265 hp and 280 Nm, while the Boxster S and its 3.5 litre NA flat-six outputs 315 hp and 360 Nm.

According to Matthias Hofstetter, powertrain development head for the Boxster and Cayman, the new engines will benefit from a water-cooled intercooler that reduces turbo air temperature from 160 degrees Celcius to 50 degrees Celcius. They will also be held in place by four active engine mounts and mated to either a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch auto or a six-speed manual gearbox.

As you can clearly see, the upcoming model trounces the current one in terms of power. However, the new model undergoes a weight gain from 1,315 kg to 1,400 kg thanks to its turbo bits. The current Cayman also shares the same engine of the present Boxster, albeit tuned for more power. The 718 Cayman is expected to follow this same path too.

In the looks department, the exterior changes are minor for the 718 Boxster, with newly shaped wings, side panel air intakes and rear spoiler. The report also points out a highly improved interior in terms of feel and finish, with an optional 918 Spyder-style steering wheel available. Boxsters equipped with the PDK will have a Sport Response button that primes the drivetrain for maximum response for about 20 seconds at a time.

GALLERY: 2016 Porsche Cayman spyshots

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