First Look: Porsche Boxster Spyder

This is precisely the formula already applied in creating the most successful road-going sports and racing cars throughout the history of Porsche, ranging from the legendary 550 Spyder of the 1950s to the RS Spyder Le Mans Prototype race car so successful in motorsport today.

Weighing 1,275 kg, the Boxster Spyder is the lightest model in the Porsche line-up, and continues this clear-cut philosophy in a package offering full homologation for the road, and fulfilling a popular wish expressed by Porsche customers.

The new model becomes the third version in the Boxster range, joining the Boxster and Boxster S, yet at first sight stands out clearly from the other models. This is quite simply because the Spyder has been developed essentially for driving in the open air.

The Boxster Spyder is first and foremost a Boxster – but interpreted in a totally new way. The purist character of the car is evident at first sight, with particular emphasis on the two-seater roadster design with its mid-engine. The new, elegantly long rear lid, together with new wheels and distinctive styling touches inside and out, give the car an absolutely unique look.

The low-slung, lightweight soft top extends far to the rear at a distinctive angle and serves to protect the driver and passenger from bright sunshine, wind and rain. When closed, the soft top, together with the bespoke, shallower side windows and the two unique striking bulges on the single-piece rear engine cover, boasts a stretched and sleek silhouette reminiscent of the Carrera GT super sports car.

And classic Porsche logos run along the bottom of each door as a leitmotif inspired by earlier Porsche Spyder race cars.

The main objective of the Porsche Design Studio in creating the Boxster Spyder was to make the classic design of the current Boxster S even purer and to make clear reference to classic Porsche racing cars. Great importance was placed on emphasising the car’s functions. The design of the manual roof is intended not only to perfect the silhouette but also to meet the basic needs of the passengers in bad weather. For this reason, the top speed with the hood raised is limited to 124mph.

While the overall objective behind the Boxster Spyder was to improve performance, this has been achieved in an intelligent way, not simply by boosting engine power. Instead, every detail was scrutinised to deliver the required dynamic responses, with the driver’s needs – as is typical of Porsche - the primary focus.

The obvious point of difference between the Boxster Spyder and its siblings is its manual roof instead of an electric folding one, and the use of a large aluminium rear lid, that not only creates that essential ‘speedster’ look, but also contributes to the car’s lightweight character and thrilling performance.

The interior of the Boxster Spyder has been adopted from the Boxster S, but re-worked with particular emphasis on purism, ergonomics and authenticity. Finished mainly in black, the cockpit is complemented by features in exterior colour and highlights in red. Of particular note is the omission of the instrument cowl above the dials, which lowers weight and also sends out a clear puristic signal.

The Boxster Spyder features a tuned version of the proven 3.4-litre flat six ‘boxer’ engine with Direct Fuel Injection, which is mounted amidships ahead of the rear axle. Maximum output is 320 bhp, 10 bhp more than in the Boxster S. As standard, the Spyder features a six-speed manual gearbox, but the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch transmission is available as an option. When equipped with PDK and the optional Sports Chrono Package, the new Spyder, using Launch Control, can accelerate from a standstill to 62mph in 4.8 seconds. Again with optional PDK, fuel consumption is a mere 30.4mpg (9.3 litres/100km) in the NEDC New European Driving Cycle and top speed, in turn, is 166 mph (267 km/h) – with the roof removed.

The outstanding driving dynamics and steering precision of the Boxster Spyder achieves a standard never before seen in any Boxster. The car’s lightweight construction, combined with the increase in performance and modifications of the chassis, offers not only superior driving pleasure, but also a level of performance quite unique in the market.

Credits: wilswong