Porsche Boxster Spyder makes its New York motor show debut

The new Porsche Boxster Spyder has been revealed at the New York motor show, and is the lightest and most powerful version of the car yet created.

The Boxster Spyder joins the range above the GTS and is priced from £60,459. It is available to order now and will reach UK showrooms in July.

Powering the new convertible sports car is a 370bhp 3.8-litre flat six engine sourced from the Porsche 911. This normally aspirated unit is a significant upgrade on the 325bhp 3.4-litre flat six found in the current range-topping Boxster GTS.

The 3.8 engine, which has 309lb ft of torque between 4750rpm and 6000rpm, is hooked up exclusively to a six-speed manual gearbox in keeping with the car's purist brief.

The powerful engine, in combination with a weight saving of 30kg over the 1420kg Boxster GTS, allows the Spyder to sprint from 0-62mph in 4.5sec and reach a top speed of 180mph. In comparison, the Boxster GTS has a 0-62mph time of 5.0sec and a top speed of 175mph.

Unlike its recently launched Cayman GT4 stablemate, the Boxster Spyder has not been created by the GT road car division of Porsche’s Motorsport arm and uses no motorsport parts. However, the model has been created in full consultation with the GT division.

Although the car eschews motorsport parts, it does feature a host of significant mechanical upgrades over the Boxster GTS on which it is based.

The upgraded brakes have been sourced from the 911 Carrera and a firm-riding sports suspension system has been fitted, with the ride height lowered by 20mm. The standard equipment does without items such as sat-nav and air-con to further reduce weight. However, these are available as no-cost options and a full range of infotainment options are still offered.

As for the styling, the Boxster Spyder’s most notable feature is its new roof. As with the previous-generation Spyder, the lightweight fabric roof is opened and closed by hand, although it is released electrically (as is the rear deck) to make the process more user-friendly than before.

There are also nods to the 718 Spyder from the 1960s in the styling, including the streamlined bulges on the rear lid that extend from the headrests of the two-seat interior. Fins that extend to the rear of the car also give it a classic silhouette. The front and rear-end designs of the car are borrowed from the Cayman GT4.

Inside, new lightweight sports seats are fitted with large side bolsters. There is also a new steering wheel, designed to ensure that the Boxster Spyder can be driven “precisely and with great agility”, according to Porsche.

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