The 718 Boxster nameplate was introduced for the 2016 model year as Porsche’s updated mid-engine roadster line, replacing the Boxster badge on the newest generation of the two-seat convertible. The change tied the car more closely to Porsche’s racing heritage, reviving the 718 designation used on the company’s lightweight four-cylinder competition cars of the late 1950s and early 1960s. In Porsche’s own telling, the new naming also reflected the brand’s long tradition of boxer engines and the historical role the Boxster family has played in the company’s modern sports-car strategy.
Although the roadster itself traces back to the original Boxster of the mid-1990s, the 718 Boxster represents the revised era of that model line, with a refreshed design, chassis development, and a stronger emphasis on efficiency and everyday usability. It arrived alongside the related coupe variant and marked a major shift in Porsche’s mid-engine lineup.
Over time, the 718 Boxster range has been expanded by enthusiast-focused derivatives that highlighted different sides of the platform’s character, including higher-performance trim levels and later naturally aspirated 4.0-liter versions for purists. Even so, the core nameplate has remained Porsche’s compact open-top mid-engine sports car, positioned below the 911 and valued for its balance, steering feel, and driver-focused layout. The 718 Boxster remains part of Porsche’s contemporary sports-car identity rather than a discontinued legacy model.