Test Drive Porsche Boxster S 981 since 2012 Convertible

Racing romantic

At the end of the last century, Porsche has walked with a frightening creak. The budget front-line family of 924/944, created in collaboration with VW, did not justify hopes. Machines were sold out of the hands badly, and in some way they threw the shadow to the company's reputation. On alone 911, it was impossible to leave. A little more, a little bit, and, perhaps, now I would write a test about another car of another brand.
 
Car story knows a lot of examples of ruining companies, but there are also a story with a good end. We can say that Porsche is lucky. Lucky how lucky the strongest. In those days, Cayenne was meaningless. The concepts of the crossover did not exist, and the notorious jeeps were used only in their utilitarian purpose through the cities moved on passenger cars. Accordingly, Porsche needed a product that, firstly, would not be so frankly budget and unconventional for the company, like cheap front-door coupe. Secondly, still remained affordable.
Dr. Videking with comrades then came up with Baster. The average car layout satisfied the requirements of the most demanding athletes from the steering wheel, and the small size and motors allowed to make the price tag very democratic. If you look at the fleet of that time, it is easy to see that potentially mass baseer simply has no worthy competitors. He had to shoot. And Porsche's leadership delivered everything to the con. With the total value of the company for 1993, 300 million German stamps in the development and promotion of the boxer have invested five times more. The concept-car of the same name went to the Motor Show in New York in order to become there the main show-stopper.
The end of this story with an economic bias everyone knows. Bokstertaki shot like Mwerhausen from the gun, sales plans at 15,000 cars for the year were specifically blocked. The company's business has sharply improved. Today's Porsche positions allow us to say that this is one of the most serious players in the automotive market. If not the most. There is a boxer and second story. And if it were not, perhaps, I would write these lines now about any other Porsche car. But I write exactly about the Baster, and if so, then in the mind they immediately pop up with two magical for each amateur auto racing word Targa Florio!
Sicily Island, June 1956. DR. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche AG brought here its prototype Porsche 550 A Spyder. The car is rolling, the firm is young. In general, Spyder then came to the test, and no one put in front of the top command. Yes, 11 days before Targa Florio, the prototype won 1000 kilometers of Nürburgring in its class. So what? Nürburgring is good, but in those days Targa Florio was considered the most complex and most interesting race in the world! And the best of the best came here, among them the entire Italian Automotive bus, which annually methyl is exclusively in gold.
So imagine this picture. A small frog of a cut-out massive mass of 600 with a small kilogram and a two-liter power of a slightly more than 100 forces with two mechanics as a friend and the only pilot on his debut on Targa Florio becomes the best in the absolute standings! Behind the wheel of the prototype Italian Umberto Masley. This fearless and good frozen racer on a small shaking stool without roofs and other amenities drove the distance at exactly 7 hours 54 minutes and 52 seconds. And these are 10 circles of 72 kilometers each. The car was reliable and drove into boxes only on refueling. When the judge stopwatch counted 7 hours 54 minutes and 53 seconds, everyone realized that the sensation was born. True, few people could imagine what consequences will be.
I must say that Targa Florio and Porsche always walked hand in hand. And the success of the Middle-motor 550 A Spyder was only part of the brilliant performances of cars prepared by the hands of the Masters of the Stuttgart Company. It began even earlier when in 1922, the Austro Daimler Sascha developed by Ferdinand Porsche was first among serial cars. In total, on the account of the company 11 titles in the absolute standings. The latter was conquered in 1973 on Porsche 911 Carrera RSR. It was the last international Targa Florio. Next year, a dangerous race was closed for international competitions. And after four and completely abolished during the arrival at one of the Italian racing series, the car of one of the participants crashed into the crowd of fans. Two died in place.
There are no races, and the memories of her are more living. The smell of legend hovers in the air! The legends of the small middle-door possil who came to practice at Targa Florio and so broke there all. Today, legends are one of the main engines. trade. That way there were two stories that provided the unprecedented success of the new Boxer. In 1996, he pulled the company back to the highest car light. This test is special for me. I am in Sicily, I keep the key from the new Boxster S. Do you want to do not want, and thinking about my union with two legends by the company and the greatest race is intruderfully begin to dig in consciousness. Before your eyes are already characterized by black and white frames of that time. Here Masley sits in a small boat, accompanied by the views of two mechanics and a small support group. Here goes into the race
Definitely, Umberto was an obsessed person with steel nerves. If you have elementary mathematical operations with the number of kilometers on that Targe of the 1956 sample and time that the racer showed, it becomes clear that it was driving at an average rate of 90.9 km / h. Do you say a little? If so, then you never drove along the Targa Florio route. They did not even see the race and could not imagine what it was. Sicily island of volcanic origin. Etna volcano works to this day. The tracks here are terribly looped, the height differences are permanent. Closer to the mountains, the asphalt strip begins to write such snakes that it becomes sorry for my colleague, who sits near, the dead grip clutching into the door handle.
Honestly, if I were on another car, in another situation, I would probably noticate that the colleague is not good, and dropped the dust. But I like crazy, making myself manoli on the old spider, desperately fought with cunning studs and ligaments. And the roads in Sicily, I report to you, far from better quality. It can be said, some sites fully consist of patches, there are gaping pits on others. And the waves as on the stroit of the Mediterranean Sea next door. And it is more commendable for the new Box, that he, like many of his legendary ancestors, looks here solely in his element. Constantly asks the driver to apply in each turn, slow or fast, tells him: the buddy seems to be not enough for me.
And here I already turn on the super service provision Sport Plus. The suspension is worth it, the box begins to fiercely to wrap steps and clutches, but it allows you to hang on the selected transmission at least on the limiter. The steering wheel and drive of the accelerator is exacerbated. The stud goes behind the hairpin, shikan for chic. I enter the rhythm, I recruit my own turnover. What kind of kayf is rushed on the middle-door Porsche in the narrow Sicilian zagululs, occasionally wanted by a tail, enjoying a juicy barytone exhaust and rampant accelerations. But my partner already turned pale and asks to stop. I understand, and it is possible that in his place I would lead myself as well.
On the twelfth year of life, after the deep update of Boxster Zamteral. I, for example, after exploring to him, the language will no longer turn to call this Baby-Porsche car. Believe it, this is an adult sports car! In his arsenal everything is necessary in order to be so honorable: a modern motor with direct injection of fuel, the newest automatic machine with two clutches, an active suspension with a variable stiffness, self-locking differential in the rear axle, carbon brake discs. The steering is also from the older carrera model, but after restyling it has been recalibrated specifically under the Boxster architecture.
But personally I was most impressed not the set, but how listed things complement each other, drawing a spectacular and finished picture of the new Boxster S. It is very fast, but at the same time sufficiently comfortable. The suspension does not allow rolls, but at the same time playing is straighted and the corrugated profile of Sicilian roads. The brakes do not know fatigue, and the checkpoint thinks just like a person. PDK adjustment algorithms for driver's customer requests. Now stop and look in your eyes! Look at this case. Remove the roof. Do you really not know? Personally, I immediately saw in the renovated inquodes of ancient 911. And only rear view, with a long flat trunk and exhaust in the center definitely makes it clear that it is Boxster.
Many years have passed since Porsche won the last, eleventh, victory in the absolute standings of Targa Florio. To be more accurate all thirty-five! Sicilian roads are already spent several times, and they are unlikely to remember the events of the past days. But I am absolutely sure that Targa Florio will never be forgotten. And I even know which company is responsible for it. To all of the time I can show you a car that carries the spirit of these glorious, long-past days of clean racing romance.
 
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
MOTOR
The motors of the updated boxer were significantly upgraded. Standard became 0.2 l more (2.9 l), added 10 hp (255 hp) and 17 nm (290 nm). The engine S was becoming more powerful by 15 hp. (310 hp) and a 20 nm tractor (360 nm). As with the older family 911, the cylinder block now consists of two parts, and not of four it increased the stiffness of the structure. The mass of force aggregates decreased by almost 6 kg. Due to the use of antifriction coating with DLC diamond, DLC (DIAMOND LIKE CARBON) and the best quality processing of all parts of friction loss in the Boxster S motor decreased by about five percent. And this engine has tried the immediate fuel injection, which is the best affected on its elasticity and efficiency.
 
KPP
Baster received a six-speed mechanics in the database instead of the same five-way. But the main innovation, of course, it is necessary to consider the appearance in the list of available PDK equipment (Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe) is a seven-step preselective unit with two clutches. The boxer version is based on the box from 911 Carrera. Correction clutches (diameter 153 and 202 mm) and the hydraulic control unit are the same. Recall that PDK is 60% faster than the machine, while 11 kg is easier. PDK has a Launch Control function for the most efficient start from the place. The gearbox for this must be translated into the Sport Plus mode, clamp the brake pedal, press the accelerator and when Launch Control Activated is lit, release the brakes. On the tachometer at this point will be 6500 rpm.
 
BODY
At the heart of the new boxer, the same body design as the original model of the 1996 sample model. All changes affect materials appeared areas from aluminum and high strength steel. Stiffness to twist 12,500 nm / hail. The roof is only a cloth, as it is much easier and more compact. Weigh 27.9 kg and develops in 12 seconds
 
History of the model
The concept of the first boxer Porsche has shown back in 1993 on the Detroit Auto Show. Then the Germans experienced the most real crisis and were located in the remote corner of the exhibition. The concept was the basis of the exposure and produced Furore! PUBLIC PRESIDENT PRESS AND POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS
The serial boxster with an index 986 came out from the conveyor only three years later. The appearance and salon simplified a little, as it happens in such cases, but it did not go to the damage to sales. Baster became a bestseller. It was necessary to even post additional production on the side, at the plant of the Finnish company Valmet. The initial plan of 15,000 cars was exceeded almost twice. Base boxster was offered with a volume of 2.5 liters developed 204 hp. Three years later, S-version appeared (3.2 liters, 253 hp)
The second generation (987) saw the light in 2004 at the Paris Motor Show. The usual version could boast 240 hp, and S 280. In 2006, after a small revision, these figures have changed by 245 and 295
Leonty Tytelev

 
 

Source: Motor magazine [March 2009]