The New Porsche Boxster

In 1948, the 356 was the first sports car to bear the Porsche name, and in July that year the lightweight mid-engined roadster achieved its first motorsport victory. In 1953, the Porsche 550 Spyder was launched. This agile, lightweight race car was powered by a high performance 'boxer' engine which took it to countless international victories.

Through 60 years of automotive evolution so much has changed. Yet every Porsche Boxster is built on these first principles. Sports performance, lightweight construction, agility and pure driving pleasure. The technology Porsche use may have developed, but the company's ability to produce a two-seat, mid-engined sports car unlike any other on the road remains.

Porsche is now presenting the second generation of the mid-engined Porsche Boxster roadster at the Los Angeles Motor Show (November 21st to 30th November 2008). The highlight of the new generation is the new flat-six 'boxer' engines, developed with new technical features from the ground up, providing not only more power, but also significantly greater fuel efficiency.

A further improvement of both fuel economy and performance is guaranteed by the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK), the new double-clutch gearbox now available as an option on both the Porsche Boxster and Posrche Boxster S.

Displacing 2.9-litres, the engine of the Posrche Boxster develops 255 bhp (188 kW), an increase of 10 horsepower over the prior 2.7-litre model.

The 3.4-litre power unit in the Posrche Boxster S now features Direct Fuel Injection, and delivers 310 bhp (228 kW), up by 15 bhp.

An impressive power-to-weight ratio imbues the two Posrche Boxster models with optimum driving dynamics. For example, with the new six speed manual transmission fitted as standard, the Posrche Boxster accelerates from 0-62 mph in 5.9 seconds. And the Posrche Boxster S, when fitted with PDK transmission and Launch Control (featured in the optional Sports Chrono Package Plus), accelerates from 0-62mph in 5.0 seconds.

When combined with PDK, the new 2.9-litre engine fitted to the Posrche Boxster clearly breaks through the 30.0mpg fuel consumption boundary. Indeed, the figure of 31.0mpg (9.1 litres/100km) is approximately 10 per cent better than the previous model with the Tiptronic S automatic transmission. Increasing fuel economy by an even more significant 15 per cent to 30.1mpg (9.4 litres/100km), the 3.4-litre Posrche Boxster S with PDK offers an even greater saving over its predecessor with Tiptronic S.

In parallel with the improvement in fuel economy, so emissions of the engines have decreased also. Depending on model, emissions have been reduced by up to 16 per cent. The Posrche Boxster with the standard six-speed manual gearbox emits 221g/km CO2, and 214g/km CO2 when fitted with PDK. The Posrche Boxster S manual emits 223 g/km CO2, and 221 g/km CO2 with PDK.

Significantly, these developments move every Posrche Boxster model - whether manual or PDK - into Band F for Vehicle Excise Duty and company car taxation purposes.