The rumours were right! It was suggested soon after the Cayman GT4 launch that Porsche was planning a similarly focused Boxster equivalent with 10hp less. And here we are just a few weeks on with a 375hp Boxster that, as standard, doesn't have air conditioning or a radio. Marvellous.
Roof now foldable in less than 30 minutes
There isn't, however, any mention of Porsche's GT department in the initial press release. It says the 'front rear end of the model are taken from the Cayman GT4' but this ends the design section and suggests more the styling influence than the engineering. Let's see.
The Spyder does use the 3.8-litre 911 Carrera S engine though, plus 911 brakes and changes to the steering. It sits on sport suspension 20mm lower than a Boxster (a GT4 is 30mm lower than a standard Cayman, remember) and Porsche is promising "a traditional sports car driving experience but with contemporary performance."
To the end, the Spyder hits 62mph in "around 4.5 seconds" with a top speed of 180mph. And the news gets better, with the Spyder following the GT4 and offering a manual transmission only. There could be life in this pedals'n'stick thing.
Old one was stellar; new one looks good too
As much as anything else, the first Spyder was notorious for its roof mechanism. The fabric roof is now just "partially manually operated" while also "suitable for everyday use", which implies the old roof may have been perceived as a little too hardcore. There's not even any mention of a limited top speed with the roof in place...
Inside the Boxster there's clear influence from the Cayman GT4 as well. It has the 360mm Alcantara wheel, carbon-backed seats plus, ah yes, a chasm in the centre console. Commitment to the lightweight cause, right? It should be added Porsche hasn't yet confirmed a kerbweight for the Spyder but the original removed 80kg from a standard Boxster.
Following the international debut at New York, the Boxster Spyder will be in UK showrooms from July. Orders are being taken now with a price of £60,459, or £7,580 more than a Boxster GTS. And fear not, both the air-conditioning and radio are no-cost options!
