Tax break for new Porsche Boxster PDK

When Porsche Cars Australia opened the order book for its upgraded 718 Boxster and Boxster S in January, it said prices would start respectively at $113,100 and $143,400 plus on-road costs.

What it didn't say was the PDK automatic version of the base Boxster, powered by a downsized turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine that consumes just 6.9L/100km, will come with tax savings of more than $4000 when first deliveries commence mid-year.

That's because it undercuts 7.0L/100km for the first time and will therefore benefit from the higher luxury car tax threshold for 'green' vehicles (33 per cent on the purchase price over $75,375, instead of $63,184).

Previously, Porsche charged $4990 extra for seven-speed PDK dual-clutch auto versions of the entry-level Boxster, but motoring.com understands the premium this time round will only be $1333, meaning its list price will be $114,433 plus ORCs.

Of course, all 2016 Boxster prices will still be higher than before, with base pricing up by $8400 and the Boxster S manual increasing by a substantial $12,300.

The Boxster S PDK will nudge $150,000 since it consumes 7.3L/100km and will not receive any LCT concession.

Manual versions are significantly less efficient – up half a litre over the auto for the base Boxster (7.4L/100km), while the Boxster S manual is almost a litre thirstier than the auto at 8.1L/100km.

For now, Porsche is only revealing upgraded Boxster models at next week's Geneva motor show, with the 2016 Cayman line-up to follow within months, before its Australian release late this year.

However, the Cayman PDK is expected to bring the same sub-7.0L/100km efficiency and LCT savings as the Boxster PDK.

More importantly, Porsche has confirmed the mid-engined coupe will finally be repositioned below its roadster sibling, in line with its rivals.

"In line with the global respositioning of Boxster and Cayman you can expect to see the Boxster as the more premium of both models," said PCA spokesman Paul Ellis, who also took a shot at the inconsistencies of LCT.

"The inconsistencies of the LCT, however, throw some confusion on option pricing for the base Boxster because of the 'green threshold' within the LCT.

"The sooner the government abolishes the LCT the more straightforward the pricing will be on motor cars."

While Cayman prices will also go up (from $106,200 and $139,000 for the S), the increases will be smaller than the Boxster's and pricing should stay under $110,000 and $140,000 for the Cayman S.

The trade-off for undercutting the Boxster on price, however, is that both Cayman models come with less performance than their open-top equivalents.

While the upgraded Cayman isn't expected to surface until the Paris show in September, full 718 Boxster options prices will be announced at the roadster's Australian launch in late June.