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2005 Porsche Boxster and Boxster S Sports Cars
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Exterior
At first glance the new Boxster looks similar to the previous mode - it retains the classic lines of the original concept car. Upon closer inspection the many changes become obvious. The headlamps are smaller. The fog lamps have been moved down into the air intakes, both of which are larger. The front opening is larger, feeding more air into the radiator for better cooling. It also gives the vehicle a more aggressive look.
The side windows are larger for better visibility For the first time, Boxster comes with a glass rear window. Gone are the days of plastic yellowed by bright sunlight. The side air intakes are also larger. Their ornamentation makes them look like they came off of the MR2 Spyder - they are a bit gaudy. The rear bumper of the 2005 Boxster is higher. The taillights have a similar look to the fabulous Carrera GT Supercar.
The exterior changes are not earth shattering. And this is fine as it helps Boxster's different generations to be recognizable, not confused for other Porsche models. It also sets the tempo for future, updates that will prevent all Boxsters from becoming dated.
Interior
The interior of the Boxster is completely new for 2005. A lot of attention has been placed on increasing interior luxury by applying higher quality materials. Porsche understands that most Boxster owners use the car for daily transportation, unlike many 911 owners who have multiple vehicles. They are likely to have another, more plush car, for day to day commutes. Boxster drivers live in their cars and thus needed more interior amenities.
Interior space has been increased to accommodate drivers who are taller, and wider. This is critical in America, much more so than in Porsche’s other markets. And, for the same reason, the rollover bar, behind the head rest, is taller.
The dashboard is also all-new, though it retains a few of the Boxster's original design cues like the three, overlapping rings that comprise the instrument cluster. The center stack starts with the HVAC vents (heat and air) on top. Below it are three rows of system controls. The first row has the controls for the entertainment system. Next are the climate control functions. The bottom contains the sport functions like Porsche's Stability Management System.
The seats have been mounted as low as possible in the car. This provides two benefits. The first lowers the car's center of gravity improving, the already fantastic, handling. The second is that it increases headroom for taller drivers.
All seating surfaces are leather, and full leather interior is standard on the Boxter S. Porsche offers Boxster owners four, seat options. The standard version has six-way, power adjustments for the seat and back positions. The second choice is a fully-powered, adjustable seat. The remaining options are sport seats. One is based on the standard seat but has larger bolsters to hold you in place. The other is an adaptive sport seat which is standard on the Boxster S. The various seats are comfortable for commutes, but if you plan to do spirited driving on twisty mountain roads, the seats with large side bolsters are essential.
There are three steering wheel options for the 2005 Boxster. The standard steering wheel has three spokes. There is a Fittipaldi-style sport wheel that has a smaller smaller radius. For those who opt for the Porsche Communication Management System, it comes with a multi-function, steering wheel that has controls to operate audio, navigation and telephone functions.
Boxster's roof is a fully-automatic, seven-section, collapsing soft top. The roof is remarkably quiet when it opens and closes. It can be opened, or closed, while the car is in motion as long as the speed is below 31 miles per hour. You no longer need to bring the vehicle to a full stop in order to close the roof when it starts to rain.
Performance
The 2005 Boxtser continues to use the same flat, six-cylinder, Boxer engine design as both the previous Boxster, and the 911. Horsepower has been increased 240, from 225, using the same 2.7 liter engine used in the first generation car. The Boxtser S gains 22 horsepower, for a total of 280, from the same 3.2-liter engine used in the past. Torque figures are 199 lb-ft for the Boxster, and 236 lb-ft for the S. Improved airflow is the primary reason for the power gains.
