David Linklater.

The new Boxster has lost two cylinders and gained a turbo. Does it still have that pure sporting spirit? By

Sometimes it seems like the main role of the Boxster is to upset Porsche purists.

Way back in 1996 when the first-generation version of the Boxster was launched, there was serious angst about whether a much-cheaper open-top model would undermine the sporting credentials of the brand best known for the classic 911. To make matters worse, the Boxster borrowed half of its components from its iconic big brother.

Remember, this was a time before Porsche had revealed its intention to commit the ultimate brand-crime and produce an enormous SUV.

Anyway, Boxster did establish itself as both a smart financial move for the company and a vehicle with dynamics worthy of the Porsche crest. Same goes for the Cayenne SUV, actually. Oops, did I say that out loud?

Fast-forward to 2016 and the Boxster is causing trouble again. Exclusively a six-cylinder model for the past two decades, it’s moved to four-cylinder turbocharged powerplants as part of Porsche’s overall mission to maintain performance while improving fuel economy and reducing emissions.

Raspy, naturally aspirated engines have always been essential to the Boxster’s character. Hence the anxiety.

Porsche is quick to remind us that it’s quite skilled with turbocharging in its high-end models, and even quicker to point out that it has a lot of heritage in four-cylinder roadsters. For a start there’s now a 718-badge on the Boxster bootlid, in homage to the maker’s iconic 1957 open-top racing car of the same name. A bit cynical, perhaps. Or just superconfident?