By Frank Aukofer

SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

December 29, 2006

  A horizontally opposed engine has its cylinders lying flat, feet to feet, on both sides of the crankshaft, instead of leaning at an angle, as in a V-6 or V-8, or standing upright, as in an in-line four- or six-cylinder engine.

  The H-motor also is called a flat, or boxer, engine, which is how the Boxster got its name -- a combination of boxer and roadster.

  The Boxster, introduced in 1999, is in its third generation. Though the basic concept has not changed, it has become more refined and powerful. For 2006, it received a new interior and some exterior styling changes.

  For 2007, the big change is a redesigned engine, completely reworked internally to produce lower levels of air pollution, more power and better fuel economy.

  The engine's six cylinders have a total displacement of 2.7 liters in the base Boxster. From that, the Porsche engineers have extracted 245 horsepower, enough to propel the car to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, according to the factory specifications. Yet it manages EPA city/highway fuel consumption of 23/32 miles to the gallon.

  If you must have more power or bragging rights, the Boxster S has a 3.4-liter engine of 295 horsepower and either a six-speed manual gearbox or Porsche's Tiptronic five-speed automatic transmission, which also can be shifted manually.

  But the argument here is that the base Boxster with the five-speed manual is more than sufficient unto itself on the Cherohala Skyway, the Tail of the Dragon or anywhere else on public roads.

  As long as you shift properly, a pleasurable pursuit in itself, the power is more than adequate. The handling is so well balanced, and the steering and tires so well matched, that the Boxster compensates almost instinctively when the driver makes small mistakes. It has that rare capability of enabling a driver to drive better.

  Criticisms of the Boxster fall at the margins. Controls could have better labeling, and the automatic climate control is rudimentary given the price class.

  But the seats are comfortable and hold the torso properly in place, the steering wheel can be adjusted just so, and there's a large, well-positioned dead pedal on which to brace the left foot during cornering.

  This sophistication does not come cheap. The Boxster starts at $46,395, and even a few of the many available options can boost the price substantially.

  The test car, with heated seats, 19-inch wheels and seat belts that matched the "speed yellow" paint, came to a total of $50,925. That's a lot of bucks for a toy. But it's a gift that keeps on giving.