Jay Leno Finally Drives a Boxster For the First Time

First Timer

Jay Leno is well-known for owning one of the most extensive and amazing car collections on the planet, and he's also driven just about anything on wheels (and tracks, etc). So we were fairly shocked to learn that Leno had never driven a Porsche Boxster before, that is, until recently. Just in time for the model's 25th anniversary, Leno got behind the wheel of a 2021 Boxster and discussed the car's illustrious history in this cool video.

Interesting Story

Leno was actually at the Boxster concept's unveiling at the 1993 Detroit Auto Show, so why hasn't he driven one before? Well, as the comedian explains, he asked to see the engine at that event and was told that he couldn't, because it was hidden thanks to the car's mid-engine design. After that, the old school car lover simply lost interest.

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Fast Process

Leno then dives into the Boxster's history, which is quite important to Porsche as a brand. Back in 1993, the automaker sold a mere 3,713 units in the U.S., and things were looking pretty dismal. But the Boxster concept received rave reviews and massive interest from the public, which prompted Porsche to put it into production.

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Design Evolution

The revenue generated from Boxster sales was used to develop the brand's first SUV - the Cayenne, and the rest is obviously history. In terms of how the Boxster has evolved over the years, Leno feels like it has only improved, design-wise. Regardless, the original Boxster still looks modern to this day, despite the fact that it's now a quarter-century old.

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Moving the Needle

The true appeal of the Boxster, of course, is how it drives. Early base models were modestly powered, with a 2.5-liter inline-six that produced a mere 201 horsepower. Meanwhile, the newest version of the 718 GTS has a 4.0-liter flat-six that cranks out nearly twice that - 394 horsepower, propelling it to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds when equipped with the PDK seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, or a bit slower with the beloved six-speed manual.

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Fantastic Experience

Once he finally gets behind the wheel of the new Boxster, Leno is obviously impressed, as is anyone that's ever driven one. "It handles, it stops, it's incredibly fast," Leno says. "It handles so fantastic, it's such a wonderful car to drive. And that sound it makes when it hits eight grand, it's just so fantastic. Just the right amount of decibels - not too loud, not too quiet."

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Close to Perfection

Leno is simply blown away by the car he's ignored for a quarter-century, and we're guessing he probably regrets doing so at this point. "This is an amazing instrument," he concludes. "It's just been fine-tuned and honed pretty close to perfection." And who are we to argue with that analysis from perhaps the biggest car guy on earth?

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