Porsche Launches the new Boxster and Cayman GTS

When the latest mid-engine Boxster (and its hardtop variant, the Cayman) launched, back in 2012, the sports car’s enthusiasts couldn’t wait for a high-performance version. With the launch of the GTS, the wait is over.

The GTS moniker stands for Gran Turismo Sport, and has been used on high performance Porsche cars since the legendary 1963 904 Carrera GTS, a racecar allowed to drive on the road for homologation purpose only. During the 80’s and 90’s, Porsche kept the name around, using it on the 924 GTS and 928 GTS, both high-performance cars. In 2007, the GTS badge finally found its way back to Porsche… on the Cayenne. The name regained some credibility as a trim level on the 911, only to immediately lose it on the Panamera.

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So the Boxster has a lot of work to do if it wants to bring the GTS name back to its former glory. For this purpose, Stuttgart’s engineers upgraded a few things on the standard car: they installed the Porsche Active Suspension Monitor (PASM), a system which continually modifies the damper settings according to the road, they added the Chrono Package as standard equipment, and they fine-tuned the 3.4L flat-six boxer engine, extracting another 15 HP out of it. This brings the total to 330 HP (340 for the Cayman), and all these improvements are good for 0-100 in 4.7 seconds in cars equipped with the optional PDK 7-speed transmission. Top speed is now over 280 kph.

The new GTS will be the range-topper for their respective models, therefore, they have to look (and feel) like high-end models. Both cars will feature 20 inch wheels borrowed from the Carrera S, sport seats and a leather interior with Alcantara accents.

The Boxster GTS will start at $83,900, while the Cayman GTS will cost you $85,800. Expect both models to hit showroom floors in May.