Elegant car for rent: Porsche Boxter S

Rent a great car: Porsche Boxter S

Porsche stands for dynamism, agility and flexibility; as well as speed, elegance and safety. And, of course, quality. Our philosophy is to develop compact, high-performance engines that produce outstanding power. We then create performance cars that are able to transfer this power to the road effectively, in the process applying all the knowledge and experience we have gained from motorsport. Because that is precisely what our customers expect. The fact that our specifications for new and ongoing developments include clear objectives relating to the environment is no contradiction. Quite the opposite. At Porsche, increasing performance goes hand in hand with reducing fuel consumption. We are continually optimising vehicle aerodynamics, which has a positive impact on both fuel consumption and performance. For the same reason, we put a great deal of effort into reducing vehicle weight. What is more, we regularly optimise fuel consumption by way of technical innovation – all part of delivering pure performance. This is how, with our existing vehicle range – in relation to engine power output – we are already among those manufacturers achieving the lowest CO2 emissions.

Both Boxster models are equipped with brand engine developments. The Boxster has a larger capacity, performance-enhanced, water-cooled six-cylinder Boxer engine that is free revving, with optimum load change and extremely smooth running. With a perfectly matched interplay of all engine components, the Boxster now develops 188 kW (255 hp). VarioCam Plus in conjunction with the optimised intake manifold ensures high torque even at low speeds, and excellent power development in the upper rev range. Maximum torque is available over a wide rev range, reaching 290 Nm between 4,400 and 6,000 rpm. The engine in the Boxster S features direct fuel injection (DFI). This means even more power: the 3.4-litre power plant develops 228 kW (310 hp) at a maximum torque of 360 Nm between 4,400 and 5,500 rpm. For incredible driving performance and higher torque, especially in the lower rev range, with a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 15%* and in CO2 emissions of up to 16%. Achieved by DFI and VarioCam Plus technology.

The optional Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK), with both manual gearshift and an automatic mode, enables smooth gear changes with no interruption in the flow of power. This results in significantly faster acceleration and lower fuel consumption, without having to sacrifice the ease of automatic transmission. In total, PDK has seven gears at its disposal. Gears 1 to 6 have a sports ratio and top speed is reached in 6th gear. The 7th gear has a long ratio and helps to reduce fuel consumption even further. PDK is essentially two half gearboxes in one and thus requires two clutches – designed as a double wet clutch transmission. This double clutch provides an alternating, non-positive connection between the two half gearboxes and the engine by means of two separate input shafts (input shaft 1 is nested inside the hollowed- out input shaft 2). The flow of power from the engine is only ever transmitted through one half gearbox and one clutch at a time, while the next gear is preselected in the second half gearbox. During a gear change, therefore, a conventional shift no longer takes place. Instead, one clutch simply opens and the other closes at the same time. Gear changes can therefore take place within milliseconds. Clutch 1 controls the first half gearbox, which contains the odd gears (1, 3, 5, 7) and reverse. Clutch 2 controls the second, which contains the even gears (2, 4, 6). The crankshaft transmits engine torque to the dual-mass flywheel which is then channelled through the clutch housing and onto the multi-plate clutches, or to be more precise, the outer disc carrier. Under oil pressure, clutch 1 closes and forms a frictional connection with input shaft 1. The torque is now transmitted through the first half gearbox – and then the differential – to the rear axle. At this stage, PDK has already preselected the next gear in the second half gearbox. Engine torque is already acting on the other outer disc carrier and, in response to a gear change signal, the overlap shift is initiated, i.e. as clutch 1 opens, clutch 2 closes. The non-positive connection with input shaft 2 is established, and power is transmitted to the wheels. The gear which is engaged is displayed on the instrument cluster. Depending on the gearshift program, the gear change is optimized for comfort or for sporty handling and takes place in a matter of milliseconds. The advantage over a fully manual transmission is the considerably faster rate of acceleration for the same rate of fuel consumption. The advantage over a fully automatic transmission is the perceptible increase in driving dynamics – with a similar level of comfort, and a distinct reduction in fuel consumption. The compact dimensions of the gearbox reduce rotational masses which means a more direct engine response, and the system is more lightweight. This, along with the long-ratio 7th gear, helps to achieve reduced fuel consumption and emission figures comparable with those of a manual gearbox. With the optional Sport Chrono Package, PDK is enhanced by the ‘Launch Control’ and ‘motorsport-derived gearshift strategy’ functions. In essence, PDK combines sportiness with efficiency and comfort. What does all this mean for you? Uninterrupted driving pleasure. This new, distinctively designed three-spoke sports steering wheel for PDK has two ergonomic paddle shifters. One press with the thumb and the PDK shifts up. One pull with the index finger and the PDK shifts down. Either the right or left hand can be used. The gear selector for PDK is ergonomic and designed for high functionality, enabling you to change gears manually. The control concept mirrors the logic of the paddles on the sports steering wheel for PDK—press forward to shift up, pull backward to shift down. Even if the gear selector is set to automatic mode, you can still change gears manually using the paddles on the steering wheel.

A sport car for rent

The optional PASM is an electronic damping control system. On the Boxster models, the suspension has been tuned to match the increased power of the engine. PASM actively and continuously regulates the damping force for each wheel according to the road conditions and driving style. In addition, the suspension is lowered by 10 mm. The driver can select between two different modes: ‘Normal’ which is a blend of performance and comfort, and ‘Sport’ where the setup is much firmer. The PASM control unit evaluates the driving conditions and modifies the damping force on each of the wheels in accordance with the selected mode. Sensors monitor the movement of the vehicle body, for example, under heavy acceleration and braking or on uneven roads. The control unit tunes the dampers to the optimum hardness for the selected mode to reduce roll and pitch still further and to increase contact between each individual wheel and the road. In ‘Sport’ mode, the suspension is set to a harder damper rating. On uneven roads, PASM immediately switches to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range, thereby improving contact between the wheels and the road. When the road surface improves, PASM automatically reverts to the original, harder rating. If ‘Normal’ mode is selected and the driver’s style becomes more assertive, PASM automatically switches to a harder rating within the ‘Normal’ setup range. Damping becomes harder, and driving stability and road safety are increased.

On request, we can equip your Boxster S with a brake system that has already had to cope with the harshest requirements of motorsport: the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB). The ceramic brake discs have a diameter of 350 mm front and rear – for extremely powerful braking. The brake discs are formed from a specially treated carbon-fibre compound that is silicated in a high-vacuum process at approximately 1,700˚C. Not only are the resulting discs much harder than standard discs, they are more resistant to heat. The low thermal expansion of the brake discs prevents deformation under heavy braking. Furthermore, the ceramic brake discs are totally resistant to corrosion and offer more favourable noise-damping properties. Six-piston aluminium monobloc fixed calipers on the front axle and four-piston units at the rear provide a high and constant brake pressure. The pedal response is fast and precise with only moderate input required. All the necessary ingredients are there for a short braking distance, even in the toughest conditions. Moreover, safety under braking at high speeds is increased thanks to the excellent fade resistance of PCCB. The key advantage of PCCB is that the brake discs are approximately 50% lighter than standard discs of similar design and size. A factor that helps to reduce unsprung and rotating masses on the vehicle. The consequence of this is better road holding and increased comfort, particularly on uneven roads, as well as greater agility and improved handling. Please note that circuit racing, trackday use and other forms of performance driving can significantly reduce the service life of even the most durable brake pads and discs. We recommend that all brake components be professionally inspected and replaced where necessary after every track event.

Le Boxster S campe sur de jantes « Boxster S II » 18 pouces au dessin dynamique. Pour se différencier encore mieux de son petit frère, ses étriers de frein sont peints en rouge. Les disques de frein arrière plus épais renforcent la stabilité.

Les lamelles des prises d’air avant peintes en noir accentuent son tempérament dynamique, tout comme la sortie d’échappement double centrale redessinée.

The Boxster models are already designed to operate on fuels with an ethanol content of up to 10%. Ethanol has a positive impact on the CO2 balance since the plants cultivated for the production of this biofuel also absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. The release of hydrocarbons from the fuel system has been minimised thanks to the active carbon filter and a special coating on the fuel tank. All fuel lines are made of aluminium, while vapour-carrying lines are made from multi-layered plastic.

Tehnical characteristics - Porsche Boxter S