What Does This Button Do?
CARS.COM — If you look closely at the 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster’s updated steering wheel you’ll see something new on the lower right side. The four-position rotary dial with a black button in its center looks like something from an Xbox controller, and it actually performs a function that’ll be familiar to avid gamers — or those with “The Fast and the Furious”-fueled dreams.
No, the black button doesn’t release a shot of nitrous oxide into the 718 Boxster’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but even though there’s no laughing gas onboard it still could bring a grin to your face. The new rotary controller is part of Porsche’s optional Sport Chrono Package, which includes Normal, Sport and Sport Plus driving modes as well as a new customizable Individual mode. Twisting the knob lets you cycle through the modes.
Related: 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster: First Look
Cars with Porsche’s available dual-clutch automatic transmission gain the black button in the center of the dial. Porsche calls it the Sport Response Button, and pressing it gets you 20 seconds of heightened engine and transmission response that’s similar to the Sport Plus mode. It’s also accompanied by a countdown timer in the instrument panel. Porsche says the Sport Response Button is designed for times when you need maximum acceleration just for a moment, such as when passing slower-moving traffic.
Is it a little gimmicky? Perhaps, but it beats having to switch between drive modes if you’ll only need one for a moment. Plus, you could always paint that button red and pretend there’s a bottle of nitrous in the trunk.
