Porsche celebrates 25 years of the Boxster with special edition
Porsche is rolling out a limited run of 1250 Boxsters to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its smash-hit roadster.
The Boxster first made its debut as a concept car at the 1993 Detroit Auto Show, and went into production in 1996, barely changed from the show-stopping prototype. Twenty-five years and three generations later Porsche has produced more than 375,000 of these mid-engined sports cars with their trademark twin roll hoops.
Although it has proven massively popular, the Boxster has had its moments of controversy. When it launched it shared the face of the 996-era 911 including those weird fried-egg headlamps, which may have aided the aerodynamics but were almost universally panned by critics. The first Boxster came with 2.5-liter version of Porsche’s famous flat-six, with water-cooling and an IMS bearing issue shared with its 996 sibling.
Over the next generations Porsche built on the Boxster line, first introducing a more powerful 2.7-liter Boxster S in 1999 and then increasing capacity to 3.4 liters for the second generation 981 model. The 3.8-liter Boxster Spyder reached its high point before Porsche brought out its 718 Boxster and, once again, courted controversy. This time it was the fitment of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine that caused the trouble. It may have been powerful (and lightweight), but reviewers bemoaned the lack of audible excitement from the new, more efficient motor. Thankfully a 4.0-liter normally-aspirated six-cylinder arrived in the Boxster GTS 4.0, offering 394 hp and a return to the glorious sounds of before.
The Boxster 25 is based on this GTS 4.0, so it makes all the right noises and delivers proper Porsche performance. When fitted with the seven-speed PDK gearbox the Boxster 25 accelerates from 0-62 mph in just four seconds and will go on to 182 mph should you find somewhere suitable. A Sport Chrono package is standard, along with lowered sports suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management. A mechanical limited-slip differential is fitted, along with Porsche Torque Vectoring. A six-speed manual transmission can also be specified.
Inside, the Boxster 25 is trimmed in Bordeaux red leather and there’s a matching red convertible roof. The cabin features aluminum sill plates and trim, 14-way adjustable sports seats and a heated multi-function steering wheel as part of the deal.
At $98,600 it is almost $8,000 more expensive than a GTS, but the numbers are limited so it could well be a wise way to mark the occasion.
