First drive: The Porsche Boxster GTS is one of the best-handling cars on the road today

What is it?

It also gets a range of subtle styling updates to help differentiate it from the ‘regular’ Boxster too – though we’ll look at these in a little more depth later on.

What’s new?

It’s a subtle update over the normal Boxster, but there’s just enough to make it stand out. The real benefit that you get when picking the GTS is the added dynamic capability, and improved driver involvement.

What’s under the bonnet?

The unit in the GTS has been turned up in terms of power, with 26bhp added to the regular Boxster’s output bringing a total 361bhp. In our test car, power was sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox (our personal choice), though it’s also available with Porsche’s PDK automatic. Performance is certainly brisk, with the sprint to 60mph taking just 4.4 seconds.

What’s it like to drive?

The standard Boxster is a masterclass in driver involvement, and the GTS certainly builds on this. All of the major control weights – the steering, pedals and gearbox – have been expertly judged, with plenty of weight and an overall feeling of mechanical robustness. The gearshift is a particular highlight, thanks to a relatively short throw.

The ride is also an excellent middle ground between the firmness you’d expect from a sports car, and the suppleness that you’d want in a comfortable road car. Yes, it still jostles a little bit, but thanks to Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM), you can soften the whole car off just enough to make it bearable around town. It also allows you to stiffen the ride for sportier driving – though in truth we find it best in its softest setting.

How does it look?

The drop in ride height on the GTS – down 10mm on the standard Boxster – makes it look even more dynamic, and while silver may not be the most exciting of colours, the metallic shade applied to our test car – when combined with the black alloys – really made it stand out.

What’s it like inside?

What’s the spec like?

Prices for the Boxster GTS start at £61,727, and for that you get the full range of GTS styling touches, along with the Sport Chrono package which incorporates a driving mode switch on the steering wheel and lap timer atop the dash. Porsche’s full infotainment system is all included, and this features Apple CarPlay smartphone integration – this works brilliantly well in the GTS.

A six-speaker system also comes as standard, as do bi-xenon headlights. Our test car came in at a substantial £71,191, with optional extras such as a full Alcantara interior package and reversing camera adding considerably to the car’s overall price. Cruise control is an option at £228, and it’s one we’d recommend going for if you’re planning on taking the GTS on longer journeys.

Verdict