Thursday 5th November 2009

Porsche Reveals Boxster Spyder

New roadster is lighter and more powerful than the Boxster S

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Porsche has released details of an upcoming addition to the Boxster range, called the Boxster Spyder. The Spyder will sit alongside the standard Boxster and Boxster S, and is being touted by Porsche as the spiritual successor to the iconic 1953 550 Spyder.

Still identifiably a Boxster, the new Spyder gets a 'double bubble' rear deck with an enlarged spoiler and 'bridged' rear brake light, making a dramatic difference to the rear and profile of the car. Up front further the Spyder has a simplified bumper, with the daytime running lights removed and the air intakes given a more angular shape - the latter mirrored in the revised intakes on the rear haunches. 'Classic' Porsche decals along the doors complete the Spyder's look.

But this is more than just an aesthetic package. 80kg has been shaved off the Boxster's weight, in part by losing the weighty insulated roof with its frame, glass rear screen and electric motor. In its place is a simple rain cover that is obviously designed to be used in case of sudden downpour only.

Porsche claims the new roof's rakish lines create 'a stretched and sleek silhouette reminiscent of the Carrera GT'.

We haven't got the full list of weight-saving measures, but the non-adjustable bucket seats in the cabin probably help too, as does the removal of the Boxster's air conditioning and stereo in standard trim. The suspension is apparently tweaked to optimise the lighter weight and lower centre-of-gravity, but there are no details on the specifics as yet.

The 3.4-litre direct-injection 'boxer' six behind the seats is in Cayman S trim, with 320bhp - 10bhp up on the Boxster S - and 273lb ft of torque to the Boxster's 265lb ft. As you'd expect with a sports-spec Porsche these days, a double-clutch PDK gearbox with Sports Chrono Plus package are available, helping the Spyder get from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds, on to a max speed of 166mph (with the roof off). That makes it 0.4 seconds quicker than the Boxster S to 62mph, but the changed aerodynamics mean the S has 4mph on the Spyder's top speed.

The Boxster Spyder will be revealed to aspiring James Deans at the LA Auto Show in December, before going on sale in February 2010. The UK price will be £44,643, which looks reasonable compared with the Boxster S's £40,388.

 

 

[mustard tab]

Sex on a stick, would I like one of those or what.

[LHD]

Nice.

[Burba]

perfect for the sunny markets that have 360/365 days a year of sunshine!!

[Twincharged]

The prices (and configurator) are already on the UK website...

ETA: Starts at £ 44,643.00

Edited by Twincharged on Thursday 5th November 12:05

[SirClarke]

Not a fan of the boxster in its usual form at all but really like this. Far better looking all round then a standard boxster, especially that side profile with the roof down which is stunning.

[Jag-D]

Lovely!

[Pixel-Snapper]

Fail.!

[Agoogy]

great idea...crappy roof... in Britain its rubbish...in California and Abu Dabi..or Southern Spain...great..

Reminds me more of the 718RSK thing...so silver with red leather please.

[V8mate]

Very nice - and will meet with OH's approval too.

[CraigW]

has a hint of small CGT about it, I like.

[Craiglamuffin]

It's gorgeous, but why does it cost more than a normal one?

[someoneelse]

Worth buying if you can store it somewhere, they did a Speedster version of the 964 and I think the 993, and both have held their value a lot better than the standard chop-tops due to rarity.

Of course if you actually want to drive the thing, maybe just a Boxster S?

[CypherP]

Looks great with the roof off, but that roof up (which is where it will stay the majority of the time in the UK) just looks ste.

[V8mate]

someoneelse said:

Worth buying if you can store it somewhere, they did a Speedster version of the 964 and I think the 993, and both have held their value a lot better than the standard chop-tops due to rarity.

Of course if you actually want to drive the thing, maybe just a Boxster S?

[pure subjectivity]

I think the 'double-bubble' rear deck makes it look like a much more expensive car than the 'regular' Boxster

[/pure subjectivity]

[TTwiggy]

I guess Lotus got away with what was little more than a rain cover on the S1 Elise - but then an S1 Elise was what? £22k new?... Still, this will make a great road/track weapon for someone who doesn't want to head into GT3 prices...

[al1991]

Seriously cool car!

[boolay]

PH said:

In its place is a simple rain cover that is obviously designed to be used in case of sudden downpour only

What do you mean simple rain cover? looks like a full on Elise S1 roof to me!

ETA: Arse, must type faster

Edited by boolay on Thursday 5th November 12:19

[Forbes82]

Looks great with the roof off, awkward with it on.

[vz-r_dave]

It looks like a camouflaged 911 to me, with the roof up the lines looks odd and with the roof down the side profile looks like a 911. I do not see the point of this at all.

[TTwiggy]

boolay said:

PH said:

In its place is a simple rain cover that is obviously designed to be used in case of sudden downpour only

What do you mean simple rain cover? looks like a full on Elise S1 roof to me!

ETA: Arse, must type faster

Edited by boolay on Thursday 5th November 12:19

I'm guessing that it doesn't have windows though? Certainly there'd always be a gap behind where a normal 'B' pillar would be - not much use for typical British horizontal rain!