The astonishing new Porsche Boxster goes on sale in the UK from May 5, priced from £37,589 for the Boxster, and £45,384 for the Boxster S. The 2013 model is lighter, more powerful, more agile, and above all, much prettier than the car it replaces. It’s a very perfect sports car and completely worth the pay. Just make sure you get the S, because it’s faster and better equipped.

The only reason why you would go for the basic version is because you’re short on cash. Even if you did end up with the basic Boxster it’s not the end of the world. The 2.7 liter flat-six in that delivers 265 hp (195 kW). The full-fat Boxster S meanwhile features a 3.4-litre unit that delivers 315 hp (232 kW).

You do need over 300 hp if you want to enjoy a car like this. Both models feature a manual six-speed gearbox as standard, with the seven-speed dual-clutch Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) available as an option. 2.7-litre Boxster sprints from 0- 62mph in 5.5 sec, the Boxster S in just 4.8 sec. Fuel consumption is (with PDK) 36.7mpg for the Boxster and 35.3mpg for the Boxster S.

The new Boxster is 35 kg lighter than the old model, while being physically bigger with 60mm longer wheelbase, widened track on the front and rear axles, and larger wheels and tyres. It is also considerably quicker than the old car thanks to the added power, improved aerodynamics, and revised chassis.

As for the equipments, the Boxster features an Alcantara interior, 18” alloy wheels, Auto stop/start and Sports mode, remote control hood operation, audio CD with 7-inch colour touch-screen control, a universal audio interface offering MP3 connectivity and a three year warranty. The Boxster S adds 19-inch alloy wheels, partial leather interior and Bi-Xenon headlights.