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How much would you be prepared to spend to get your hands on your dream car - assuming you had a few bob, of course? How about £50,000? £150,000? More? According to Porsche, we can put our lottery winnings away, as its new Boxster will grant our wishes for much less.

To put this bold claim to the test, Auto Express climbed behind the wheel of the first right-hand-drive example to land on British shores. On initial sight, the newcomer looks like a relatively conservative evolution of the original. You could be forgiven for thinking our bright yellow test car was an old model.

This is, in fact, the redesigned Boxster, which we are told shares only 20 per cent of its predecessor's parts. The visual nip and tuck has seen the 'fried-egg' headlights replaced by more traditional lamps, while striking twin front airdams and a resculpted rear are intended to give a more modern finish.

It might lack the classic outline of its big brother, the 911, but the Boxster's simple shape looks good. The trouble is, the old model is now so familiar that its replacement doesn't appear as fresh as it could have done if Porsche had been a little more adventurous.

Inside, the cabin has also received a more dramatic makeover. First-rate build quality remains, while new oval air vents give some welcome relief from the clinical efficiency of the rest of the interior. Crucially, Porsche's trademark centrally mounted rev counter and hooded dials still take pride of place, and the layout is ergonomically superb.

However, the real treat comes when you start the engine.

The top-spec S we drove comes with the same 3.2-litre flat-six-cylinder unit as its predecessor, but power has increased from 260bhp to 280bhp. As a result, 0-62mph takes 5.5 seconds - only 0.2 seconds faster than the previous Boxster S - but on the road, the engine proves itself to be one of the finest in existence. Power is fed via a six-speed manual box, which enhances the driving experience with a wonderfully precise, mechanical feel.

In any gear at virtually any speed, relentless acceleration is available on demand, with a thrilling aural crescendo from the mid-mounted engine adding to the excitement. Drop the hood and you can get even closer to the action - although it would be a mistake to assume that with the roof down the interior becomes uncomfortably windy.

Even though there's nothing to rival Mercedes' Airscarfe system, the cabin is an oasis of calm, with wind noise only becoming a problem at motorway speeds. The fabric lid stows neatly, using far less room than a folding metal top.

Our car also had the optional Porsche Active Suspension Management, as part of the £1,426 Sport pack. This improves on the Boxster's class-leading ride and handling characteristics with continual adjustment of each damper.

Drivers can stiffen the set-up via a switch on the dash, but we found the supple normal mode ideal for B-road blasts. Another button sharpens throttle response by up to 30 per cent. Yet the steering remains unrivalled in the class for accuracy and feel. Lightly weighted, it's similar to that of the pricier 911.

At £38,720, this machine isn't exactly a bargain, but it has the measure of supercars costing twice as much. There are no limits to what the Boxster has to offer.

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Porsche has a new hardtop coupe model coming to its lineup in the 2006 model year-the Cayman. The first Cayman S should go on sale late in the year, and the two-seat coupe will share most of its mechanicals with the existing Boxster roadster. The Cayman S will be priced between the 911 Carrera and the Boxster S models (potentially from $55,000-$60,000) and would carry an uprated version of the Boxster S flat six, with a power output of 295 hp. The Cayman, Porsche says, gets its name from the caiman, a small, nimble species of crocodile.

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February 23, 2005

Porsche long-rumored fourth vehicle line has finally been announced. Called the Cayman S, the vehicle will be a hardtop two-seat sports car based on the Boxster. Porsche says it will be available for the 2006 model year.

Positioned and priced between the 911 Carrera and the Boxster S, the Cayman will be powered by a mid-mounted 3.4- liter six-cylinder motor capable of 295 hp. Porsche also claims the Cayman's increased space utilization will make it a more practical type of sports car.

By comparison the Boxster S is powered by a 280-hp, 3.2- liter six-cylinder mid-mounted engine, while the 911 Carrera's six-cylinder rear-mounted 3.6-liter engine produces 325 hp.

The Cayman S joins the Carrera, Boxster, and Cayenne in the automaker's lineup. It derives its name from a small, nimble crocodile species called the caiman.

Spy photos published in motoring magazines showing what looked to be a Boxster coupe had elicited concerns among analysts that Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking would go back on his word not to build a car priced lower than the Boxster.

It did not give a price for the Cayman, but said it will cost more than a Boxster and less than a 911.

Generally, convertibles are priced higher than hard-tops due in part to the added mechanism needed.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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