Making its debut after the Cayman GT4 and 911 GT3 RS, the Boxster Spyder marks a new edition of the purist roadster. The range-topping version of the outgoing two-seat convertible retains the independent character of the previous Spyder. For instance, the classic fabric hood is once again operated by hand, and the car is offered with a 6-speed manual transmission exclusively.
In the lightest yet most powerful pre-718 Boxster of all times, driver and passenger alike can look forward to a genuine sports-car experience. The unwavering standard of the North Loop of the Nürburgring proves this – the Boxster Spyder takes seven minutes and 47 seconds to come around to the start/finish line again. (We tested the new Boxster Spyder in Italy.)
Mounted in front of the rear axle of the Boxster Spyder is a 3.8-litre flat 6-cylinder engine adapted from the 911 Carrera S and which also powers the Cayman GT4 (tested here). In the mid-engine roadster, the unit delivers 375bhp at 6700rpm, which is 45bhp more than the power output of the 3.4-litre engine in the Boxster GTS. Its 420Nm of torque, available between 4750rpm and 6000rpm, is also higher than the 370Nm of the GTS engine.
The purist roadster accelerates from a standstill to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds, which is half a second faster than the manual Boxster GTS. The Boxster Spyder can reach a top speed of 290km/h, even with the convertible hood up.
The distinctive design of the Boxster Spyder includes stylistic elements that recall legendary sports and racing cars from Porsche. For example, as a tribute to the 718 Spyder from the 1960s, the new Boxster Spyder has two prominent bubbles behind the headrests – known as streamliners – that stretch over the long trunk lid.
The front and rear sections of the Boxster Spyder come from the Cayman GT4. They make the roadster 10mm longer and 11mm lower than the Boxster GTS. Particularly striking are the three large air intakes with black screens at the front that supply cooling air to the three heat exchangers behind them. The Boxster Spyder also features a stiff sports suspension with a 20mm lower ride height.
The roadster package is completed by a lightweight design hood, which is manually opened/closed and is only latched/unlatched electrically. Putting the hood up is a cinch: Simply open the rear top compartment lid, fold out the hood, insert the fins on the trunk lid and push a button to pull the hood tight against the windshield frame. To take the top down, these steps are performed in reverse order.
At 1315kg, the Spyder is the lightest sports car in the Boxster family. The large trunk lid, for instance, is made of aluminum, and the hood with its unheated polymer rear window weighs 11kg less than the usual automatic hood of the Boxster. Lightweight sport bucket seats and less insulation also cut the vehicle’s weight.
The results are clearly noticeable to the driver. This car’s centre of gravity is lower than that of any other Boxster, and its weight-to-power ratio has been reduced to 3.5kg per bhp. This makes the Boxster Spyder handle as nimbly as a large go-kart, yet it accelerates as vehemently as a high-performance sports car.
The cockpit of the Spyder conveys an atmosphere of pure driving pleasure. As was the case in the previous model, the driver and passenger sit in lightweight sport bucket seats with large lateral supports. The 360mm-diameter steering wheel has already proven itself in the Cayman GT4, while the shorter gearshift lever enables very rapid gearchanges.
The new Boxster Spyder is listed at $382,588 without COE.
