Porsche: Boxster news **Spyder Version Revealed (page 5)**

[nokiaman]

Originally Posted by ThermonMermon F' ALL porsches, the cayman s is the hottest. I beg to differ. The Carrera GT is the hottest. Followed by the GT3RS. I have to admit however, out of all Porsches I've ever driven, even 911s, the Cayman S handles the best.

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[n3ok318]

^ werd

[TMQ]

This is a good move on Porsche's part. I wonder how much cheaper, maybe $3K? Is it still going to have a MR layout?

By the way, that's just a rendering, not real photo.

[ThermonMermon]

theres some type of attraction i have towards the cayman that i just dont get with 911s. and i dislike the style of the GT.

the cayman s is a small, great looking coupe. it gives the appearance that it will outperform anything in that size category, which it just may.

[Yumchah]

[Yumchah]

Press release...

In 1948, the 356 was the first sports car to bear the Porsche name, and in July that year the lightweight mid-engined roadster achieved its first motorsport victory. In 1953, the Porsche 550 Spyder was launched. This agile, lightweight race car was powered by a high performance ‘boxer’ engine which took it to countless international victories.

Through 60 years of automotive evolution so much has changed. Yet every Porsche Boxster is built on these first principles. Sports performance, lightweight construction, agility and pure driving pleasure. The technology Porsche use may have developed, but the company’s ability to produce a two-seat, mid-engined sports car unlike any other on the road remains.

This week, Porsche is presenting the second generation of the mid-engined Boxster roadster at the Los Angeles Motor Show (November 21 – 30). The highlight of the new generation is the new flat-six ‘boxer’ engines, developed with new technical features from the ground up, providing not only more power, but also significantly greater fuel efficiency.

A further improvement of both fuel economy and performance is guaranteed by the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK), the new double-clutch gearbox now available as an option on both the Boxster and Boxster S.

Newly-developed ‘boxer’ engines deliver more power on less fuel

Displacing 2.9-litres, the engine of the Boxster develops 255 bhp (188 kW) in the Boxster, an increase of 10 horsepower over the prior 2.7-litre model.

The 3.4-litre power unit in the Boxster S now features Direct Fuel Injection, and delivers 310 bhp (228 kW), up by 15 bhp.

An impressive power-to-weight ratio imbues the two Boxster models with optimum driving dynamics. For example, with the new six speed manual transmission fitted as standard, the Boxster accelerates from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.9 seconds. And the Boxster S, when fitted with PDK transmission and Launch Control (featured in the optional Sports Chrono Package Plus), accelerates from 0-62mph (100km/h) in 5.0 seconds.

When combined with PDK, the new 2.9-litre engine fitted to the Boxster clearly breaks through the 30.0mpg fuel consumption boundary. Indeed, the figure of 31.0mpg (9.1 litres/100km) is approximately 10 per cent better than the previous model with the Tiptronic S automatic transmission. Increasing fuel economy by an even more significant 15 per cent to 30.1mpg (9.4 litres/100km), the 3.4-litre Boxster S with PDK offers an even greater saving over its predecessor with Tiptronic S.

In parallel with the improvement in fuel economy, so emissions of the engines have decreased also. Depending on model, emissions have been reduced by up to 16 per cent. The Boxster with the standard six-speed manual gearbox emits 221g/km CO2, and 214g/km CO2 when fitted with PDK. The Boxster S manual emits 223 g/km CO2, and 221 g/km CO2 with PDK.

Significantly, these developments move every Boxster model – whether manual or PDK – into Band F for Vehicle Excise Duty and company car taxation purposes.

Direct Fuel Injection standard on 3.4-litre S engine

The driver benefits from a further advantage of direct injection every time they touch the throttle pedal: with fuel being injected fractions of a second prior to combustion, the engines respond more directly and spontaneously to even the slightest movement of the driver’s right foot. This is not only the case when accelerating, but also when lifting off the throttle, for engine speed drops more quickly and smoothly since there is no residual fuel left in the intake manifold which might otherwise prolong the combustion process.

Depending on engine load and speed, fuel is injected into the combustion chamber at a pressure of 120 bar. The big advantage is that unlike conventional intake manifold injection, direct fuel injection serves to form the fuel/air mixture directly in the combustion chamber. This better mixes the air and fuel in the cylinder, establishing an important prerequisite for clean and complete combustion. This ensures the ‘homogeneous’ operation of the power unit with a consistent balance of the fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber at all times and under all running conditions. Such smooth operation guarantees optimum combustion and maintains low emissions, across a range of fuel qualities.

Design emphasises performance

The seamless blend of function and design has always been the Porsche philosophy. The result is a design consistency which is recognisable from every angle. A design which is both powerful and refined, and whose lines emphasise its sports performance.

The evolutionary styling of the next generation Boxster embodies these principles. The latest models are clearly distinguishable from outside through their newly-designed nose and tail. The new halogen headlights with their integrated direction indicators are reminiscent of the lights on the Carrera GT, while at the rear, new LED lights taper to the outside and are integrated elegantly in to the restyled bodywork.

The rod-shaped side lights in LED light conductor technology add distinction to the car’s looks, which are further enhanced through their horizontal arrangement in the outer air intakes. Yet a further highlight is provided by the rectangular fog lamps featured as standard.

For the first time, the Boxster is available with a Lights Package featuring bi-xenon headlights, dynamic cornering lights and LED day-time driving lights. Replacing the fog lamps, these light units are made up of four LEDs positioned next to one another.

PDK: shifting gears more quickly, reducing fuel consumption

The new Boxster models are available with the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) carried over directly from motor sport, and replacing the former Tiptronic S torque converter automatic transmission. When equipped with PDK, the Boxster accelerates from 0-62mph (100 km/h) 0.1 seconds faster than with the manual six-speed gearbox.

Acceleration is particularly fast and dynamic with the optional Sports Chrono Package Plus featuring Launch Control; this offers maximum acceleration from a standing start and also a Race Track Gearshift Strategy for the fastest conceivable gear change as an exclusive highlight on the PDK models.

Benefiting from Launch Control, the respective models accelerate from a standstill to 62 mph (100km/h) a further 0.2 seconds faster.

Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) – in detail

The next generation Boxster and Boxster S are available for the first time with the new Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK), literally Porsche double-clutch gearbox. Offering no less than seven forward gears, the new gearbox combines the driving comfort of a torque converter-equipped automatic transmission with the dynamic manual gearshift functionality of a sequential racing gearbox. PDK also boasts an entirely automatic gearshift function, and replaces the Porsche Tiptronic S automatic transmission previously offered. Through its optimised and adaptive gearshift programmes, PDK further improves the acceleration of the Boxster models and reduces fuel consumption to an even lower level.

In principle, the PDK consists of a conventional manual gearbox and a hydraulic control system divided into two separate transmission units. Two wet clutches in radial arrangement, controlled hydraulically, and using oil for both cooling and lubrication, form the heart of the transmission. One clutch is for the first transmission unit with the uneven gear ratios (1,3,5,7) and reverse, and the other clutch is for the second transmission unit with the even gears (2,4,6). Via a number of pressure valves, the hydraulic control unit masterminds both the wet clutches and the shift cylinders activating the transmission ratio required.

The gearshift perceived by the driver comes not from the gears actually changing, but from the change of positive clutch engagement. In this case, the clutch on one transmission opens or disengages while the clutch on the other transmission closes or engages in a simultaneous process. The big advantage is an even faster gearshift than with a conventional manual gearbox or torque converter automatic transmission. The gears are already ‘in mesh’ when shifting and the power of the engine need not be interrupted in the process.

PDK also reduces to a minimum transmission power loss courtesy of the high standard of mechanical efficiency in the double-clutch, and this manifests itself in fuel economy improvements of approximately 13 per cent compared with a conventional Tiptronic S transmission. PDK also offers an advantage in terms of weight – despite two additional gears, it weighs 10kg less than Tiptronic S.

To use the various functions of the double-clutch transmission, the driver can either shift gears by means of sliding toggles on the spokes of the new steering wheel, or via the new gear selector lever. The driver can press forwards to shift the gears up, and press them from behind to shift downwards. Alternatively, pushing the gear selector lever forwards shifts up a gear, and pulling it back shifts down. The option of PDK costs £1,961.

This PDK gearshift principle was first developed by Porsche for motor sport 25 years ago. Porsche works drivers benefiting from this technology were able to accelerate faster than their competitors and keep both hands on the steering wheel while changing gears, thus avoiding even the slightest distraction while shifting.

The seven-speed PDK shifts gears up to 60 per cent faster than a conventional automatic transmission, and naturally, gives the new Boxster models even better performance. And those in search of optimum driving dynamics have the option to combine PDK with Sport Chrono Package Plus, now featuring Launch Control.

Dynamic suspension and supreme brakes – a new option of limited-slip differential

The suspension with its new set-up gives the next generation Boxster models a combination of even greater driving dynamics and enhanced comfort all in one. Modification of the valve control map on the steering gear serves furthermore to reduce steering forces, giving the Boxster more agile and spontaneous steering behaviour.

The wheels come in new designs and are half an inch wider on the Boxster 2.9-litre model than in the past in order to accommodate the larger brake system of the S-models, which are now fitted on the front axle. The Boxster and Boxster S feature the latest generation Porsche Stability Management (PSM) now offering two new functions: Brake Pre-Loading and the Brake Assistant. Whenever the driver lifts off the throttle pedal very quickly – which is typical immediately prior to an emergency braking manoeuvre – the PSM hydraulic control unit builds up an appropriate level of pressure in the brakes before the driver even presses the pedal down, which has the effect of moving the brake pads slightly towards the discs for immediate action. This significantly improves brake response and shortens stopping distances accordingly.

When recognising that the driver is braking in an emergency due to very fast operation of the brake pedal and a defined brake force, the PSM hydraulic control unit actively delivers the brake pressure required for maximum stopping power.

In conjunction with 18- and 19-inch wheels, the new models in the Boxster range are also available with a limited-slip differential on the rear axle. Locking action is 22 per cent under power and 27 per cent in overrun. The result is a significant improvement of both traction and stability providing a substantially higher level of performance on winding roads, particularly on the race track. Yet a further advantage is the more stable load change behaviour. At the same time, the mechanical limited-slip differential, through its particular function, interacts perfectly with the electronic ABD Automatic Brake Differential for optimum traction control, the locking action delaying the tendency of one wheel to spin on a road surface slippery only on one side.

New audio and communication systems

The next generation Boxster features as standard the new CDR-30 CD radio. The new Porsche Communication Management (PCM) 3.0 complete with hard disc navigation serves is available as an option, and when specified adopts the role as the central control unit for all audio, communication and navigation features.

PCM 3.0 is now more versatile, efficient and easier to use than before, standing out in particular through its touch-screen control which enables the driver to select specific functions simply by pressing the appropriate key on the larger 6.5-inch monitor. PCM 3.0 is available with highly convenient voice control and, in conjunction with the optional, universal audio interface, can now be used also to control external audio sources such as an iPod®. USB stick or Bluetooth.

Enthusiasts of all-weather, open-topped motoring will also appreciate the option of seat ventilation combined with seat heating.

[nokiaman]

Looks great! LED tails look pretty good, I'd like to see what they do to the Cayman as well...

[chill_dog]

I don't know about the shape of the taillights, but I love the rest.

[afici0nad0]

2009 Porsche Boxster First Drive

The Roadster Infomercial
By Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor
Date posted: 12-08-2008


"It's the new 2009 Porsche Boxster. It's got two transmissions in one! Be one of the first 100 callers and we'll include this key chain absolutely free! Make just 60 easy payments of just $899! Call now!"

If Porsche did late-night infomercials on television, they'd probably sound much like that. But here's the thing — if we were watching, we'd be scrambling to the phone to sign up, our economy-frazzled credit cards be damned. The 2009 Porsche Boxster and 2009 Porsche Boxster S are that good.

"Two in one? That's unbelievable, Dieter!"

Looks the Same on the Outside
We're driving the 2009 Porsche Boxster at Willow Springs International Raceway, about 60 miles northeast of Los Angeles on the fringe of the Mojave Desert. A line of shiny new 2009 Boxsters awaits us, and from a distance, they look like multicolored M&Ms.

Get close and you might shrug and think the new car looks the same as any other second-generation Boxster. And, well, it pretty much does. Model-year 2009 is more of an update for the second-gen Boxster (it debuted for 2005 and had some changes for 2007), and almost all of the updates are mechanical ones hidden from view. No flashy vinyl graphics or new wheel covers here.

The most significant update for 2009 is the addition of the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, or PDK. If you've read our coverage of the 2009 Porsche 911, then you know the deal with PDK, which supplements the standard six-speed manual transmission. This is Porsche's new seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission, which is meant to replace the Boxster's former five-speed automatic. The Boxster's PDK transmission is different in detail from the 911's PDK, but it utilizes the same dual-clutch technology.

Similar in concept to Volkswagen's DSG, the PDK is meant to combine the fuel-efficiency and quick drivetrain response delivered by a manual transmission with the ease of operation of an automatic. Fully automated, the PDK does its own little Sudoku puzzle-solving with two gearsets and two wet-type clutches to provide exceptionally quick gearchanges.

All Without a Clutch Pedal? That's Unbelievable!
Like other automated manual transmissions, you can either leave the PDK in Drive for automatic shifting or select manual mode, the latter accomplished by moving the shift lever on the center console into the manual gate or by using the buttons on the steering wheel. On the high-speed track at Willow Springs, we found ourselves leaving the PDK in Drive. Partially, this is because Porsche has chosen the Bizarro-world orientation for the gearlever, because you push forward for upshifts and pull back for downshifts. But we'll also admit that Drive mode meant there would be less of a chance that we'd make an ass of ourselves in front of professional racers Derek Bell and Hurley Haywood, who were Porsche's driving instructors for the day.

If we had been driving a car with a manual transmission, for sure we would have blown a heel-and-toe downshift in front of Hurley. With PDK, however, you are Hurley. Every upshift clicks off with the crispness of a rifle shot, and every downshift is rev-matched with expert precision. There are three modes for shift action in Drive — Normal, Sport and Sport Plus. Porsche has programmed Sport Plus to deliver max-attack shifts at redline, the perfect strategy for track duty.

Meanwhile, since PDK is doing the shifting, you'll be free to concentrate on the Boxster's exceptional balance in the corners. No question, this has been the most compelling attribute on the midengine Boxster's resumé since the car was first introduced in 1997. The 911's rear-engine layout will always have a special place in a car enthusiast's heart because of the exceptional traction and braking it offers, but the Boxster's handling through corners is as sharp as a knife from J.A. Henckels — and it's so free of vices that you won't mess up and cut off your thumb, either.

A few suspension changes make the Boxster even better in the corners for 2009. The base-model Boxster gets a slightly wider front track and the same uprated brakes as the S model, and both the base car and S have revised suspension tuning and grippier tires. As before, the Boxster can be specified with the PASM option with its adjustable dampers and a slightly lower ride height.

But Wait, There's More!
Just as with the 2009 Porsche 911, the Boxster also incorporates some magic in the engine compartment that might be even more significant than the addition of PDK.

The base-model Boxster now has a 2.9-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine that delivers 255 horsepower at 7,200 rpm, 10 hp more than the former 2.7-liter six. (Remember when only the Boxster S had 255 hp?) It also produces 214 pound-feet of torque, 14 lb-ft more than before.

Meanwhile, the 2009 Porsche Boxster S still features a 3.4-liter flat-6, but the addition of direct fuel injection works magic, permitting a combination of features that produces more output without compromising fuel-efficiency. The S model's engine is rated at 310 hp at 7,200 rpm and 265 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. The S model accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.3 seconds when you're rowing the six-speed manual transmission. This isn't much quicker than before, but the benefits of direct injection are tangible in the real world, as there's more midrange torque for better tractability, and there's less of a drop-off in power as the engine nears redline.

Are you reaching for the phone yet?

Boxster — Now With Launch-Control Crystals
Any time you have more than 300 hp in a package that weighs less than 3,000 pounds, you're going to get some pretty stellar acceleration. Nail the throttle and the Boxster S blasts forward while its flat-6 delivers a glorious soundtrack. Porsche says a Boxster with PDK actually accelerates quicker than one with a traditional manual transmission because there's less time lost while changing between gears.

Once you opt for the Sports Chrono package, PDK also comes with launch control — brake-torque the transmission like you would a regular automatic, release the brake and you're off. We tried it, and it worked pretty well — we noticed some minor axle hop and flashing traction control lights, but overall it's a much harder launch than you'd get with a Tiptronic automatic and a far more consistent one than you'd get with a manual. PDK provides superior fuel economy, too, thanks to the super-overdrive 7th gear.

Aside from the awkward operation of the buttons on the steering wheel, the PDK's only downside is that it doesn't provide the same enjoyable mechanical interface you get from working a clutch pedal and rowing the gears. As dual-clutch transmissions evolve, it's become clear to us that this technology is a substitute for an automatic transmission, not a manual one.

2009 Porsche Boxster First Drive on Inside Line

[Crazy Acura]

Porsche Boxster Spyder: The Lightest Porsche You Can Buy





At 2,811 lbs — only 11 lbs more than the 10-year-old 986 Porsche Boxster — the new 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder will be the lightest Porsche you can buy after it's unveiled at next month's LA Auto Show.

---

But it's not just lighter, it's also powerful thanks to the Boxster Spyder's 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine putting out 320 horses — that's 10 more HP than the Boxster S. So, wait, let's get this straight — it'll be 176 lbs lighter than the Boxster S and get a touch more power? Wow.
If you're already wondering where you sign up — here's better news. The new Porsche also gets an all-new sport suspension that lowers the Boxster Spyder 20 mm providing a lower center of gravity and a standard limited slip differential.
Mate the performance to a unique look reminiscent of the Carrera GT and we already know you're getting your checkbooks ready. But wait, like Billy Mays used to say, there's more — the price tag on the new lightweight Porsche-uh is just $61,200 when it goes on sale in February.

[Crazy Acura]

[JS + TL]

this thing just gets better and better........

[knavinusa]

Reminds me of the older Targa models.

[chill_dog]

I really like it.

[jwjang86]

WOW that looks good especially with the top off

[sho_nuff1997]

Looks like a lot of fun.

[Belzebutt]

It's nice with the top down but does that roof ever look ghetto...

[ThermonMermon]

roof looks flimsy as hell. this is more or less a stripped ride. so think of the top as emergency shelter.

[Moog-Type-S]

Nobody who buys this will ever use the top...it's just "for show".

[ThermonMermon]

Originally Posted by Moog-Type-S

Nobody who buys this will ever use the top...it's just "for show".

word. the top is utilitarian / gimicky. which is why porsche accentuated this with the tie-down hooks on the trunk deck. also, the strap door handles share the same theme. otherwise, porsche didnt do a great job with portraying the body as "light", as there is more exterior surface area than the boxster.
if anything, it looks heavier with the rear hump.


nonetheless, the car is alright. id still rather have a reg boxster. not feeling the wanna-be GT rear.

[West6MT]

I bet that is absolute SEX to drive

[SpicyMikey]

More power, better looks. Great improvement. Just wish they handled the center brake light a bit more elegantly. Other than that, I love what they did with the backend. Now lets see what all this did to the price. Probably won't be as pretty.

[SpicyMikey]

Originally Posted by Crazy Acura

The exposed door latch kills it though

[is300eater]

Originally Posted by Crazy Acura

...so, that's the top?

[nokiaman]

Looks great!

[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by SpicyMikey

More power, better looks. Great improvement. Just wish they handled the center brake light a bit more elegantly.

They had to do the third brake light like that to pass EU standards.

I read on Jalopnik that it will cost around $62k. I want one. I think it looks much better then the regular Boxster. My only question is does that "roof" become water tight once installed?

[alex2364]

Does it have side windows?

[civicdrivr]

It has switched on the door for windows.

Thats why I was wondering if the top was watertight or is it basically an umbrella.

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by civicdrivr

It has switched on the door for windows.

Thats why I was wondering if the top was watertight or is it basically an umbrella.

That's what I was thinking. It looks like it's just an umbrella.

[imj0257]

[SpicyMikey]

Originally Posted by alex2364

That's what I was thinking. It looks like it's just an umbrella.

Me too. Looks more like a tarp. With those anchor points in the back, it doesn't even look like it's automatically deployed. Seems like it requires a manual setup

[nokiaman]

^I'm almost positive it's a manual setup as well. At 62k MSRP, the question is: better to order and get a brand new Spyder or pick up an 07-08 911..

[alex2364]

I'd rather get a Boxster S than a Spyder. That is just too impractical for me.

[ThermonMermon]

dont see first time porsche buyers getting this, thats for sure.

[majin ssj eric]

Originally Posted by Crazy Acura

Lol, look at the little baby rotors out back!!

[NightHawk CL9]

Originally Posted by nokiaman

^I'm almost positive it's a manual setup as well. At 62k MSRP, the question is: better to order and get a brand new Spyder or pick up an 07-08 911..

Your not liking the Z06? The deciding factor would be if you need the rear seats at all, also the MSRP is 62 but if optioned they way you would like it that might put you high up there, although idk what options if any the spyder has. But it seems that is your looking for a bare bone car (no ac, no radio) vs an optioned 911.