2015 Porsche Boxster Spyder: Now With More Power and Less Stuff

Just as Porsche has unleashed the ultimate version of the Cayman at the Geneva Motor Show, it is now the Boxster’s turn at the New York International Auto Show, to get its lightened and harden version. Enter the 2015 Porsche Boxster Spyder, the ultimate Boxster with more power and less stuff on board. 

Resemblance to the Cayman GT4 nose isn’t just coincidental, Porsche admits that both the front and rear bumpers were lifted from the hardcore Cayman. That said the Spyder has also inherited the GT4's 3.8-litre flat-six engine, which in turn is a reworked engine lifted from the current 911 Carrera S.

As it is with the Boxster range, the Spyder’s 3.8-litre flat-six engine power output of 375PS is just 10PS shy of the equivalent Cayman, whereas its torque output is maintained at 420Nm from 4,750rpm. That is 45PS and 50Nm more than the next hottest Boxster, the GTS. Understandably so, its 0 to 100km/h times are slashed too to 4.5 seconds, a whole half a second to the mark than the Boxster GTS, with its top speed rising to 290km/h. To fit its billing as the purest driver’s Boxster, the Spyder comes fitted with firm sports suspension with a 20mm lower ride height, brakes lifted off the 911 Carrera, and the steering sharpened. Weighing at 1,315kg, the Boxster Spyder is 30kg lighter than the Boxster GTS, and incredibly 25kg lighter than the Cayman GT4. 

Like its predecessor, the new Boxster Spyder continues to pay homage to the 718 Spyder from the 1960s with two prominent bulges that run along its rear lid. Unlike other Boxster variants, the Boxster Spyder’s soft top is now partially manual operated. Just to make the whole package a whole lot simpler and lighter, there is no option for Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission available for the Spyder, and the audio system and air conditioning will be a no-cost optional extra. So if you are wondering where all that flab went in the Boxster Spyder, there is your answer.