The Porsche Boxster has long been the quintessential roadster with its soft top, two-seater interior and six-cylinder engine that powers its rear-wheel drive. So just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Porsche has gone ahead and done just that with the Boxster 718.

The most notable improvement comes from within; its euphonic six-cylinder engine has been replaced by a newly-developed turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that supplies a good 296 bhp to the normal 718 Boxster, compared with its predecessor’s 261bhp. The 718 Boxster S – a sportier iteration – receives a 2.5-liter vomeengine that powers a heftier 345bhp to the car, a remarkable improvement to the previous 311 bhp. The result is two Boxsters that are now faster than ever before. The entry-level 718 sprints zero to 62 mph in 4.7 seconds, shaving off 0.8 seconds off the older model.

The S variation will do the same in 4.2 seconds with a 0.6 second improvement, thanks in part to the PDK gearbox and Sport Chrono pack. And if you’re wondering how it’d fare on a drag strip, the 718 has a top speed of 170mph, while the S version, 177mph. The optional Sport Chrono Package now comes with three settings: Normal, Sport and Sport Plus. Cars with the PDK will also have a Sport Response Button that enables a boost in responsiveness for a period of time.

Appearance-wise, the new 718 Boxster sees a broader masculine front and a more dynamic side profile, thanks to its larger wheel arches and contoured doors that direct headwind into air intakes for more efficient power generation. Other upgrades include a reconfigured power steering that is now 10 percent more direct (read: more agile, easier to steer) and the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) that gives a ten millimetre lower ride height.

Prices of the new 718 Boxster start from S$258,788, while the 718 Boxster S will set you back by at least S$316,588.