Meet the 2013 Porsche Boxster S

The 2013 Porsche Boxster S is made for high-speed entertainment – preferably the kind that involves zooming around at the members-only Monticello Motor Club on a sunny summer day in upstate New York.

For 2013, the third generation Boxster has been reconstructed from its 20-inch wheels up. Porsche has constantly tweaked its Boxster model over the years, but the last entirely new Boxster was introduced in 1996. In its latest incarnation, it’s got a sexy curved front face and backside. The tailored side panels have mean slopes that add to the roadster’s solid presence. The roof is now made of lightweight fabric. This is no baby sports car; the Boxster still has Porsche prowess through and throughout.

In the driver’s seat, I reached over to the left of the steering wheel, turned the key “Le Mans” style and revved the engine. Two engines are offered on the Boxster. I drove the top-of-the line S equipped model that boasts a 3.4 liter flat-6, which kicks 315 horsepower and 266 pound feet of torque.

The Boxster is made of aluminum and steel, which makes it lighter and thus quicker than the its all-steel predecessor. Extra room around the pedals and a longer wheelbase add inches to the interior dimensions.

The electric power steering is an ambitious addition that’s more precise than the human touch, though at times it feels as if does all the work. The easy breezy 7-speed dual clutch PDK automatic is vicious fun, a piece of new performance technology also found on the Porsche 911. What’s different in the Boxster lineup from the 911 is its 6-speed manual offering. The manual transmission is intended for the purist driver that loves to work the pedals.

Coming down the straightaway at Monticello, I hit the throttle and felt the Boxster S move toward its impressive outer limits—we’re talking 0 to 60 MPH in 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 172 mph. Starting just over $60,000, the Boxster S is a worthy, delirious getaway car.