Does the new Boxster keep the flag flying for Porsche? Only one way to find out - go and drive it around the back roads of Austria - or Mayo.
The roof's down. The throaty boxer six is sending its sweet notes cutting through the crisp autumn air. Fingers grip the thin leather steering wheel and pull on the short-throw six-speed gearbox.
All traction controls are off, various electronic gadgetry controlling traction and wheel spin are set on sport and, as we slip the clutch, we leap forward to the screech of the tyres and the smell of burning rubber.
Of course, that's not what the Porsche engineers want us to be doing. They'd much prefer that we studiously keep the Boxster as a respectable road-goer. But it's impossible to resist.
The alchemist who came up with the roadster formula built the car with the smell of burnt rubber in his nostrils. These cars were invented for fun. If you want to go shopping, buy a Skoda (see the road test).
The serpentine Austrian roads offered the perfect test-bed for what has long been claimed to be the best roadster on the market. There's the added thrill of being in a car with certain Irish connections: Porsche is a regular visitor to the West, especially Mayo, where among other things it tests its cars on beaches for potential body leaks. Certainly if the testing includes any roadwork, it has paid off in creating a roadster that feels at home on tight twisty potholed roads. It just wills you to leave your foot on the gas and drive through the corner.
The Boxster is the car that saved the legend. It seems an age ago, but in the early 1990s Porsche was hurtling towards financial ruin. Then, in 1996, came its saviour - the Boxster was make-or-break for the brand. Luckily for both it and the world's car fans, it was a resounding success.
These days, Porsche can't seem to do wrong. Before Christmas the largely family-owned business is expected to report a profit of €1 billion for the year from sales of €6.35 billion. That's from a company with just three models, a limited sales network and at a time when steel prices are rising and big car firms are struggling to balance their books.
So, at last week's launch of the new Boxster, there was a certain sanguine contentment among the engineers. Here was the second generation of the entry-level model, but like the latest 911, introduced earlier this year, it takes a keen eye to spot the differences.
Some may consider claims by Porsche that it "cannot and should not destroy a timeless look, instead securing perfection through evolution not revolution" as something of a cop-out.
But, then again, last year saw the second-best year for Boxster sales in the model's history - even when everyone knew this "new" edition was on the way.
Porsche is also keen to preserve resale values for all those new customers. A radical overhaul could seriously age the original version and set the model up as a fashion statement, something Porsche is loathe to do. It sees car fashion as being far too fickle for the sort of lifecycle intended for Porsche models.
So what's new? Well, eight years of development has hardly produced a dramatically different version. It will take aficionados to tell the difference between generations.
If a new Boxster looms large in your rearview mirror, the first sign will be revised front light clusters. The prominent "teardrop" style is replaced with more oval clusters.
As it pulls alongside, you'll note the bigger air scoops and larger wheels - 17" are now standard, with 19" available as options.
From the rear, a keen eye may note the pumped up haunches and wider gait, offering more elbow room for driver and passenger. After that, well you're rather at a loss.
Behind the wheel there's more power. While both boxer six-cylinder units are carried over - the 2.7-litre and 3.2-litre on the S version - there's a touch more power in both, with 12 more horses added to the 2.7, bringing it up to 240 bhp, while a new intake manifold for the 3.2 helps the S version climb by 20 bhp to 280 bhp.
Both are coupled with closer ratioed manual gearboxes, while the S comes with a new six-speed gearbox, optional on the 2.7-litre. The five-speed Tiptronic S automatic is still on the options list, but the engineers remained tight-lipped about Porsche's long-rumoured double clutch response to VW's DSG system.
The Boxster's top speed is marginally up from 157 mph to 159 mph, while the 0-62 mph time is now down to 6.2 seconds. In the S, top speed is up to 167mph while 62 mph is achieved from standing start in 5.5 seconds. And, as with the latest 911, Porsche offers a chronometer package as an optional extra, for owners wishing to check their laptimes to the shops.
Of more consequence is the addition of adjustable dampers - standard on the S - which make a significant difference to the ride and handling of the roadster. Combined with the sports package, this refines steering and throttle responses to turn what's already a great drive into a razor sharp performer. These extras are all part of the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), yet another feature to come off the 997.
In sports mode the car is allowed to power slide before the stability system kicks in. Experienced drivers will appreciate the leeway, while the less experienced will be thankful for the safety.
Another added safety feature is a new head airbag in the doors, a first for a soft-top, says Porsche. Roof lining has been strengthened to cut noise, and ceramic brakes are now available as an option - not something we'd rush out and buy, as the standard anchors are more than adequate.
Inside and the central console has been modified to reflect the Cayenne-style layout and several features are now included as standard, such as air-conditioning and a radio/CD (imagine getting a €70,000 car and discovering that the CD player was not included in the price).
Despite improved performance, extra features and, let's be frank, the opportunity for profiteering on the car's popularity, Porsche has done the decent thing and kept costs down. The new Boxster is up only €700 to €74,500, while the S version remains at €90,200, despite the sports package being standard. Nobody is going to use the term value-for-money in this category, but at least buyers won't claim to be short-changed.
As to the future, Porsche is quick to downplay the expected arrival next year of its new long-awaited coupé. However, senior spokesmen were quick to reassure anyone who would listen that the new car will not simply be a revised Boxster format - nor will it replace the Boxster as the entry-level model. In short, €74,500 is as cheap as Porsche is going to get.
