Porsche 718 Boxster T and 718 Cayman T are out in the open

KUALA LUMPUR: Porsche has taken the covers off its two Touring models available in the purest form possible, the Porsche 718 Boxster T and the Porsche 718 Cayman T. Both the models are performance-oriented with only the necessary equipment on board.

Similar to the Porsche 911 Carrera T, the new 718 duo is powered by the flat-four 2.0-litre engine that puts out 300 PS of max power and 380 Nm of peak torque, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission setup and Porsche Torque Vectoring. Though there is an option of PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

On the performance front, the new 718 range is as brutal as you’d like. The 718 duo with manual gearbox weighs 1350 kg and can sprint from nought to 100 kmph in just 5.1 seconds. While the one with the PDK adds 30 kg more to the original value and travels from 0-100 kmph in just 4.7 seconds. The recorded top speed for the 718 T range is 275 kmph.

The visual treat is undoubtedly its design, sophisticated, and sporty at the same time. The glossy titanium grey 20-inch alloys are hard to ignore while the car model lettering on the bottom of the doors is simply exquisite. The chrome-garnished black twin pipes at the back are positioned intelligently in the centre.

There is much more on offer than you can imagine. For the first time ever the base engine on the 718 T range gets Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) chassis, which lowers the car by 20 mm. More from the equipment pack - the red highlights on the gear knob, a shortened gearshift and 20-inch alloys as mentioned above.

Additionally, there is a Sport Chrono package on offer, which comes with different driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual. The driver can switch between multiple driving modes directly from the steering wheel. As soon as the driving mode is switched to Sport or Sport Plus, the sporty characteristics of the car get activated. This includes the sporty behaviour from the engine and the accelerator. In addition, the automatic dual-clutch support the driver while downshifting through a manual gearbox.

Further, in the Sport Plus mode, PASM gets sportier and Porsche Active Drivetrain Mounts (PADM) adaptive body positioning is turned on along with PDK. The PADM is also responsible for minimising engine vibrations and the ones felt on the gearbox, in addition to reducing movements that degrade the driving experience.

Inside the cabin, you’d find sports seats, which can be adjusted electrically in two ways, ‘718’ embroidered headrests, leather-wrapped 360 mm GT sports steering wheel with a mode switch, car model logo imprinted on the door entry strips and black dials and Sport-Tex sections in the centre. Porsche Communication Management module is not fitted in the car to cut down the weight. But you can ask for it and Porsche will install it at no additional cost.
According to Porsche, the 718 T range models buyers can avail a price advantage of 5-10% as compared to the ones who buy base Boxster or Cayman with similar features.