ONE of the icons of modern sports cars is being updated with Porsche releasing a new generation of the Boxster roadster.

Priced from £37,589 the new car will be on sale at the end of April. High performance Boxster S versions will cost from £45,384, a rise of around three per cent.

With a wider track, longer wheelbase and lighter in weight Porsche says the mid-engined car is even more efficient and agile.

Fuel economy has been improved by 15 per cent at 36.7mpg for the regular model and 35.3mpg for the Boxster S.

The Boxster is now powered by a 2.7-litre developing 265bhp - up by 10bhp over the output of the previous 2.9-litre - while the  S is powered by a 3.4-litre now pumping out 315bhp.

That translates into 0 to 60 times of 5.7 and 5.0 seconds for the pair which both use flat six cylinder engines.

Porsche has remained faithful to the rag top image with an electrically operated hood which is now stored flat behind the roll bars and no longer beneath a folding lid.

Other styling changes include shorter front and rear overhangs, a flatter silhouette and a forward shift to the windscreen while inside there is more room in the cockpit which now features a centre console which began life in the larger Carrera GT.

Both models come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with the more efficient seven-speed dual-clutch PDK box available as an option as is torque vectoring control and a limited slip rear differential.

Fuel saving stop/start systems are standard and while the Boxster sits on 18-inch alloys the S comes with 19-inch wheels, has part leather trim as standard and is fitted with xenon headlamps.

The car is on sale on April 28 and all buyers are given the chance to hone their skills at the Porsche Experience Centre based at the Silverstone racing circuit in Northamptonshire.