Mounted in front of the rear axle of the Boxster Spyder is a 3.8-liter six-cylinder direct-injection engine that was adapted from the 911 Carrera S and also powers the Cayman GT4. In the mid-engine roadster, the unit delivers 375 hp (276 kW) at 6,700 rpm, which is 45 hp more than the power output of the 3.4-liter engine in the Boxster GTS. Its 420 Nm of torque, which is available between 4,750 rpm and 6,000 rpm, is also higher than the 370 Nm of the GTS engine.
The purist roadster accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, which is half a second faster than the Boxster GTS with a manual transmission. The Boxster Spyder can reach a top speed of 290 km/h - even with the convertible hood up. The car's combined NEDC fuel consumption is 9.9 l/100 km.
The distinctive design of the Boxster Spyder includes stylistic elements that recall legendary sports and race 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 new roll-over bar trim creates harmonious styling. The manually folding hood recalls earlier roadsters. The fins that extend rearwards give the side profile its characteristic design. The front and rear sections of the Boxster Spyder come from the Cayman GT4 and underscore the vehicle's status as a high-performance sports car.
They make the new top roadster ten millimeters longer and eleven millimeters 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.
