insideKENT Magazine Issue 31 - October 2014 | Page 2

New Porsche Boxster GTS falls into autumn • The benchmark roadster gains a more powerful 330 hp engine and uprated chassis • Chassis tuned with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) fitted as standard • More purposeful styling further emphasises mid-engine design • On sale now priced from £52,879 – arriving in Porsche Centres in UK and Ireland from May 2014 Since the Porsche Boxster first appeared in showrooms nearly 20 years ago, the midengined two-seater has established itself as the benchmark roadster. The new Boxster GTS, which is announced today, enhances the driving experience further with an uprated engine and specific chassis tuning, and in the process sets a new standard for open-top driving enthusiasts. Building on the proven Boxster virtues of light weight, responsive handling and a charismatic flat-six engine, the GTS features an optimised version of the proven 3.4-litre engine which has been tuned to produce an additional 15 hp (11 kW). The Boxster GTS thus develops 330 hp (243 kW), and pulling power has also increased by ten newton metres to 370 Nm. Further emphasising the distinctive character of the GTS is the Sport Chrono package and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), fitted as standard. These offer the driver the opportunity to not only modify the damper stiffness, but also subtly change the throttle characteristics of the engine. In conjunction with the optional Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) seven-speed double-clutch transmission, the Launch Control function – engaged via the Sport Plus button - enables the Boxster GTS to accelerate from 0 - 62 mph in 4.7 seconds, 0.3 secs quicker than the standard Boxster S PDK. With the standard manual six-speed transmission, the GTS is the first Boxster to offer the potential to top the 174 mph (280 km/h) threshold. The new GTS is also the company’s first mid-engined roadster to be certified according to the Euro 6 emissions standard, and achieves an overall fuel consumption with PDK of 34.4 mpg (31.4 mpg with manual transmission). The dynamic engine mounts also offered as part of the Sport Chrono package enable the Boxster GTS to offer an impressive breadth of responsiveness. Under acceleration, cornering or braking, the mountings for the engine stiffen automatically to reduce the effects of mass transfer during dynamic manoeuvres, further increasing agility. The Boxster GTS can also be specified with a new, optional sports chassis configuration that lowers the ride height by 20 mm, underlying the fact that at the heart of every Porsche is a race car suitable for both the circuit and everyday use. From the outside, the new Boxster GTS features subtle yet unmistakable visual clues to its identity. Purposeful black finish 20-inch diameter Carrera S alloy wheels, with 235/35 tyres at the front and 265/35 tyres at the rear, give a strong hint to the car’s intent. A distinctively-styled front spoiler and black finish Bi-Xenon headlights – with the Porsche 2 Dynamic Light System (PDLS) as standard – present a new face, and from the rear exterior lettering in silky black gloss and a re-styled lower apron complete the picture. Inside, there are sports seats and leather trim as standard. Like other GTS models, the interior ambience is refined with Alcantara elements. The GTS lineage Since the legendary 904 Carrera GTS of the 1960s, the letters ‘GTS’ have stood for ‘Gran Turismo Sport’ and a promise of outstanding levels of Porsche performance. With the new model, Porsche is extending the GTS principle to the Boxster. Like the Cayenne GTS and Panamera GTS already, this is a car that stands for superior driving dynamics in its segment. The combination of letters originates from the 904 Carrera GTS, a race car dating back to 1963 that could also be registered for use on public roads. In the 1980s and 1990s, the 924 GTS and 928 GTS cultivated this principle. It was reborn in 2007 in the form of the Cayenne GTS, and was subsequently applied to the ‘Type 997’ 911 and the Panamera. Boxster GTS in the UK The car is now on sale and is priced from £52,879 (incl. VAT). This is inclusive of a Porsche Driving Experience which will take place at the new Porsche Driving Experience Centre at Silverstone. For more details contact Porsche Centre Tonbridge on 01732 590 110 or email [email protected].