THE words, mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, convertible, and sports car, are usually the realm of the six-figure supercar. However, when Porsche decided to add the numbers 718, which endows the company’s rich motorsport history to the Boxster, there was little question the direction the car had to go. Those looking for the full experience will have to add a few more key elements beginning with the letter S.

The S moniker ­– in Porsche means – amp up the driving experience. On the outside, there is the letter added to the vehicle’s badge across the newly redesigned rear. Nestled below a more prominent accent strip is the car’s full name 718 Boxster S.

To the uninitiated, the power of this alphanumeric combination would easily be lost in the sumptuous body lines that mimic the 718 RS that brought Porsche over 1,000 race victories in the 1960s. The other visual clues are the immense red brake calipers hiding behind whatever wheel choice the buyer has made.

Inside, the subtle hints continue. The seats are comfortable and leather-wrapped, as is everything else possible in the interior; but have a bit more aggressive bolstering than the non-S version that manages never to be uncomfortable on long trips. It’s still a very comfortable car for driving al fresco. The smaller diameter steering wheel drawn from Porsche’s current hypercar, the 918, would again go completely unnoticed by many. This brings up the second element, the Sport Chrono Package, for which controls sit near invisibly to the lower right of the steering wheel. Select Normal, Sport, Sport +, or Individual, which allows you to combine the settings from the other modes, and the driving experience moves dramatically, but as easily as the dial spins.

On its own, just having the S shoots the 718 to 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with an output of 350bhp and a screaming redline of 7,500 rpm. Still, it’s not just the power, as like its namesake, the Boxster is a technological marvel using systems such as a Variable Turbine Geometry, and Dynamic Boost that works similar to the anti-lag mechanisms normally found on high- level rally cars. These grace the four-cylinder motor, nestled low in the centre of the of 718, with the response of a naturally aspirated engine, and if equipped with the optional sports exhaust, the aural excitement that only the random crackles from an exhaust can have on a driving enthusiast.

And that’s where the 718 Boxster S gets its full accolades. As a comfortable two-seat cruiser for daily use or the Sunday morning drive, it’s at the top of the list. However, prod the throttle hard, roof up or down, and the aggressive sporty character kicks in fully with all the drama one would expect from a sports car.

The seven-speed PDK gearbox downshifts with near physicability, sending bangs and pops with each shift, while automatically rev-matching when going down through the gears. Want launch control, or just 20 seconds of maximum power to overtake that pesky truck interrupting your Sunday cruise, press the trigger in the middle of the Sport Chrono dial.

This is all aided by an extra rigid chassis that, in factory form, is more than willing, but equipped with the Porsche Active Suspension Management the car is lowered 20mm over normal and has electronically controlled dampers. Back to the brakes, the red calipers, as Porsche purists will quickly recognise come from the Boxster’s older brother the 911 Carrera, clock in with four-pistons and paired with 330mm discs in the front and 299mm in rear. The combination of power and body control makes corner-carving a sheer delight.

And that’s where the Boxster S succeeds. The 718 Boxster S isn’t a sporty convertible. It’s a full-fledged performance car that is never boring or uncomfortable. Its appeal runs the gamut from those with an inner Hans Stuck, or those just wanting to enjoy open-top motoring. Just remember to pack light.