Considering buying a new driver’s car? Porsche has just unveiled two new options that might tickle your fancy; the Porsche 718 Boxster T and Porsche 718 Cayman T. These two adopt Porsche’s traditional ‘Touring’ character, with a heightened focus on the joy of driving and less on the luxuries and gadgets.
Although no specific weight reduction has been applied, it’s the lack of bonus features that make the difference. This results in an unladen weight of 1350kg for the manual and 1380kg for the auto. As an added benefit of reduced features, Porsche says the new models bring in a “price advantage of 5-10 per cent” compared to a similarly-specced basic model.
So what do you get then? Behind the cabin in both models is a 2.0-litre turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine that generates 220kW at 7500rpm, and a strong 380Nm available from 2150rpm. This translates to a 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds with the six-speed manual, and just 4.7 seconds with the PDK dual-clutch auto. Both are rear-wheel drive, of course, so you can have a bit of a play.
Setting the 718 T apart from the rest, visually, is a set of 20-inch alloy wheels coated in high-gloss titanium grey. These sit perfectly in the guards thanks to the PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) sports suspension which lowers the ride height by 20mm. Some splashes of agate grey grace the side mirrors and badges, and a black-painted exhaust pokes out from the middle.
As standard the new 718 Boxster T and 718 Cayman T come with the Sport Chrono package. This, usually-optional kit brings in the GT sports steering wheel and sport mode dial. The selector dial provides Normal, Sport, and Sport Plus modes, as well as an Individual mode that you can set up yourself.
Porsche says another special feature of the 718 T is the PADM system. The Porsche Active Drivetrain Mounts technology is aimed at combining the advantages of both soft and hard gearbox mounts, reducing movements and vibrations but also ensuring comfort on uneven roads.
Sticking your head inside and you’ll notice it’s not exactly rent-a-car decor. There’s still leather and soft Sport-Tex trimmings, gloss black in some areas, and some climate control functions. You’ll notice there is no touch-screen audio system (a touch-screen system is being offered as a no-cost option), and the door pulls are replaced by straps. But overall it looks like a quality, practical, and somewhat premium place. More importantly, it’s a great distraction-free environment for drivers.
It’s unclear if the 718 Boxster T and 718 Cayman T will be introduced in Australia. Those in Europe can place an order now though, with prices kicking off from 63,047 euros for the coupe Cayman and from 65,070 euros for the drop-top Boxster.
For more reading on cool sports cars, check out our Top 10 best sports cars on sale in Australia in 2018 feature story.
