Porsche’s new Boxster Spyder is a new roadster the automaker says truly represents the purest expression of its sports car philosophy (see photos).
The forthcoming 2016 roofless Boxster is one of just a few Porsches to wear the revered “Spyder” name; others include the recent 918 Spyder hybrid hypercar and the original 550 Spyder from the ’50s.
Porsche says they fix the “Spyder” badge only to very special cars, and what makes the Boxster Spyder so special sits on the other side of the decklid that badge is pinned to: a 375-horsepower 3.8-litre flat-six that puts this car at the top of the Boxster lineup.
Other touches true to the old Spyder include a fabric roof partially installed by hand; and a manual transmission with no auto option. That power and that gearbox help rocket the 1,315-kg car from zero to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, by the way, and on to a top speed of 290 km/h (180 mph).
To keep weight down and to again better emulate its 550 Spyder forefather, the Boxster Spyder will come with neither a radio nor A/C as standard equipment. Plus you’ve got a sweet exhaust note to listen to and an open top to keep you cool, anyway, Porsche figures. The features are optional, of course.
Styling includes an active spoiler plus front and rear clips borrowed from the Cayman GT4. Porsche says you can order a Boxster Spyder now and expect delivery some time this summer.
