It’s been a quarter century since the Porsche Boxster first took to the streets. In that time, the puckish pretender to the 911 crown has become something of a legend as a daily driver; the model might not topple the king, but it’s carved out its own princely identity since it was a 1990s fledgling. And it was, of course, the model that kept Porsche competitive and progressive in what would otherwise have been dark, and possibly catastrophic, years for the company.
For that, Porsche is understandably grateful, and the mercurial-looking sports car is still a source of pride for the automaker. To show its appreciation—and give the Boxster a booster shot of contemporary relevance—the automaker has released a limited-edition 25th Anniversary 718 for the 2021 model year logically named Boxster 25.
The variant receives the GTS’s naturally-aspirated flat six engine; with 394 horsepower and 309 pound-feet of torque, it can reach a top speed of 182 MPH. As a nod to the era of its launch, it comes standard with a six-speed manual gearbox; a seven-speed PDK is optional. It also comes with GTS-level performance perks, including Porsche’s PASM active suspension system, PVT vectoring, and Sport Chrono.
The car’s cosmetics hail from the past, as well, with metallic paint—especially the copper-colored wheels—evoking the 1993 concept version. The interior and ragtop are red, with aluminum trim throughout. Available paint colors are silver, white and black.
Only 1250 examples of the 2021 25th Anniversary 718 will be produced. It is priced from $100K.
