Overall rating:

It's a hardcore option this Sports Chassis - and if you're in any doubt about the frequency with which you'll venture onto a circuit then, despite the pub bragging rights, it's probably a box best left un-ticked on your order form. The stiffer suspension does compromise the car on the road (though maybe not as much as you might think), but as soon as you hit a circuit, or even a smooth ribbon of tarmac, all is forgiven. There's loads of extra grip, and the stiffer rear means the neutral Boxster S now becomes rather more playful - and for many that will be worth the premium in itself.

Key Facts

Model tested: Porsche Boxster S (With Sports Chassis)
Pricing: £46,400 (estimated)
Engine: 3.4-litre flat-six petrol
Transmission: seven-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Body style: two-door roadster
Rivals: Audi TT RS Plus, BMW Z4 sDrive35iS, Mercedes-Benz SLK 350
CO₂ emissions: 206g/km
Economy: 32.1mpg
Top speed: 176mph
0-62mph: 5.1 seconds
Power: 315hp at 6,700rpm
Torque: 360Nm at 4,500rpm

In the Metal:

Apart from being brown, sitting lower and wearing optional 20-inch Sport Techno wheels there's little to differentiate the car in our pictures from other Boxsters. That's a good thing though, as the car no longer suffers from the slightly amorphous push-me pull-me design of the previous generations. In terms of its looks, and excluding be-winged specials, we'd be comfortable suggesting the Boxster is the most visually desirable car in the Porsche range.

The same goes for the cabin, which displays a leap forward in quality and feel-good factor over the '987' model. An excellent (and fully adjustable) driving position mixes with the rising transmission tunnel, neat detailing and precision switchgear. A double load space (280 litres in total) and beautifully engineered fabric roof are the finishing touches.

Driving it:

Settle behind the wheel and it all looks rather normal Porsche Boxster S - itself no bad thing - and that sense remains even when moving off. You can accelerate as hard as you'd like, but on track the first time you'll notice any changes in this car's behaviour is when you make your first move to hit an apex.

Turn in and the nose darts for the kerb instantly, resisting understeer admirably thanks to the Porsche Torque Vectoring system also fitted to this particular test car. In fact, compared to even the PASM-equipped model we drove not minutes before, it feels like a different car.

And that's all because of the depth of changes made to the chassis. The whole car is lowered by 20mm, while the front and rear spring rates are up between 20- and 25 per cent over a standard car's (and at least 10 per cent over a PASM-equipped Boxster). By far the biggest change is the rear anti-roll bar though, which adds another 36 per cent stiffness compared to the PASM car (itself already 10 per cent harder than the regular model).

It's certainly obvious around the bends, where the stiffer set-up allows the already beautifully-balanced chassis to be exploited further. The rear in particular is now much more accessible, even with the stability systems in operation (Sport mode allows a good degree of extra slip before intervening) and the S continues to flatter those who slip behind the wheel - regardless of ability.

And though this setup inevitably places a compromise on the car on the road, it doesn't make as large an impact as you might expect. Admittedly on some of the most badly rutted and pot-holed roads around Silverstone the ride could only ever be judged as on the harsh side of firm, but on anything approaching a smooth surface the Sports Chassis was actually incredibly composed - the primary damper reaction especially impressive. There are no crashes or bangs, and the suspension seems more than capable of handling anything that is thrown at it. Opting for it in the face of a standard S is something that can only really be justified by the expectation of making it out onto a circuit though.

As for the steering, well that's been covered before. Yes the electric system isn't quite as sharp as the old hydraulic one, but the difference is marginal - so marginal in fact we think it's unlikely that 99 per cent of the population could pick up on it without a back-to-back drive. Combined with the excellent pedal placement, weighting and that glorious engine note it makes for a truly special driving experience, and one that you'll never tire of.

What you get for your Money:

It's too early to tell exactly how much the Sports Chassis will cost customers when it becomes available, and it's likely to include some other additional equipment in the price. However, tick the box and you'll benefit from a chassis that sits 20mm lower than the standard car and enjoys stiffer suspension and revised anti-roll bar settings as mentioned above. The result is the best handling Boxster we've ever had the pleasure to pedal.

And of course underneath you still have a standard Boxster S (or Boxster), so you can listen to the glorious wail of that 3.4-litre flat-six engine (best enjoyed with the Sports exhaust system) while revelling in the quality cabin. Sure it's not cheap at nearly £50,000 (with only a handful of options) but the Sport Pack is likely to be a boon for residuals, and everything about this car feels like a quality product.

Worth Noting

The next generation Cayman is due to share much with the current Boxster, and as with previous models it's fair to expect the driving experience to be a tiny bit sharper -the extra rigidity of a fixed roof really coming into its own at the limit. It's also logical to expect that, given time, the Sports Chassis will make it over to that car as well - and as long as you don't miss the sunshine of the convertible then it could turn out to be Porsche's most talented car yet.

Summary

We love the standard Porsche Boxster; it's a car that strikes deep into our desires - and with good reason too. It's great to look at, sharp to drive and with a genuine everyday usability that mixes perfectly with its exotic feel. If you never, or even rarely, plan to venture onto a race circuit then it's the only choice you should make. But if you do plan to drive on track occasionally, and you have the ability and desire to really make the most of the Sport Chassis' capabilities - and they are noticeable in the right hands - then it's an option that is seriously worth considering.