Porsche Boxster / 718 Boxster History

The Boxster debuted at the 1993 Detroit Auto Show as a concept and went into production for the 1997 model year, becoming an immediate critical and commercial hit. Porsche was in financial difficulty in the early 1990s and the Boxster — named for its Boxer engine and roadster body — was crucial to the company's turnaround, broadening appeal beyond the 911.

Three generations have been sold under the Boxster name (986, 2005–2012 987, 2012–2016 981) before the 718 rebrand in 2016 introduced turbocharged flat-fours to replace the naturally aspirated flat-sixes, a move that sparked spirited debate among enthusiasts. The 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 and Spyder subsequently reinstated the naturally aspirated flat-six. In October 2025, Porsche ceased production of the 718 Boxster.