The All New 2013 Porsche Boxster at Bert Smith Porsche of St. Petersburg

The New 911 has been revealed, and the third-gen Boxster will be Bert Smith Porsche's next big debut. The mid-engined roadster is, after all, a close sibling to the iconic 911, although Porsche has certainly learned to hide the connection a bit better than with the pre-2002 996 911 and the first-gen Boxster; those cars had interchangeable front fascias. And as you can see from these completely undisguised photos, the 981, as the new Boxster is called internally, will differ significantly from the current 987 model?enough to call it all-new.

Sharper Sheetmetal

The front end looks similar to the outgoing car's, although the running lights above the outboard inlets are slimmer and the lower intake's frown has been turned upside down. The drama comes in the new car's body sides, which now feature hard lines where the previous car had only curved sheetmetal. A crease sweeps back from the front wheel, along the rocker, and around the side intake (at least on this S model) before heading forward and terminating just before the leading edge of the door. It serves to better define and integrate the side port, which provides air for the mid-mounted powerplant and is rendered in black rather than the previous silver. The back end is nearly as simple as before, and the mid-mounted exhaust tips return, but the rear view has been sassed up by a more defined spoiler that bisects the taillights and appears to integrate LED turn signals into its tips. It appears as if the spoiler will again be of the active variety, too.

As it did with the new 991-gen 911, Porsche aims to significantly reduce weight with a number of aluminum components. Think 50 to 100 fewer pounds, which is great news, considering the Boxster already is one of the lightest sports cars on the market.

Four- and Six-Cylinder Power

Power will continue to come from Porsche's horizontally opposed engines. The six-cylinders will add engine stop-start technology, and power will increase to around 270 hp for the Boxster and 320 hp for the Boxster S.(The current models make 255 and 310, respectively.) A transaxle version of the 991's seven-speed manual could be offered, but retaining the wonderful six-speed would be the simpler. The ZF-sourced seven-speed dual-clutch transmission?a.k.a. PDK?will remain optional.

The interior is sophisticated German class through and through. It sports an elevated center control and Porsche's traditional 3-gauge cluster. The far right compartment becomes a multifunctional display, including a handy nav screen, complimenting the larger main display. Everything is wrapped in leather and it takes a keen eye to spy even the slightest hint of plastic trim.

Twisting the key triggers a subtle, somewhat docile, growl. But put the Boxster S in to Sport Plus mode and you discover a more prominent grunt and a throttle pedal that taunts you with all the power lying just under sole of your shoe, daring you to release it.

At speed the 2013 Porsche Boxster handles magnificently, a precise and balanced instrument for carving out a corner. On the pristine circuit at Barber Motorsports Park, you could kick the rear out in a predictable fashion, inspiring the confidence that only encouraged you to push harder. The larger brake disks and improved cooling made braking exceptional with zero fade. Steering is weighty and sharp, giving you a true sense of the enormity of grip available.

The torsional stiffness of the car has been improved by 40 percent, and you can feel it. As you conquer the apex and begin to apply power, Porsche's clever torque vectoring system rotates the car, allowing you to get back to power aggressively without a sniff of understeer. The rear squats and the Boxster launches like an Olympic sprinter bursting off the blocks.

The PDK transmission shifts with a spleen-snapping sharpness. The changes are instantaneous and downshifts provide a satisfying, perfectly matched blip followed by a beautifully deep crackle from the power plant.

Off the track, the Boxster only got better. Put the top down and suddenly Leeds, Ala., becomes an acceptable substitute for anywhere between Milan and Monaco. The car feels refined and leaner than its predecessor, effortless to drive at speed, yet satisfying.

With prices starting at $49,500 for the Boxster and $60,900 for the Boxster S, what we have here a truly brilliant machine. It emerges from the shadows cast by its big brother and blossoms into a car more than capable of holding its own. The Porsche Boxster is no longer a car to settle for ? it's a car to yearn for.

Bert Smith Porsche

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The All New 2013 Porsche Boxster

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