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Essentially a liaison Boxster version situated between the 718 Boxster GTS and the hardcore 718 Spyder, the Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 offers a mix between the comfort and features found on the regular GTS and a detuned version of the engine found in the Spyder. Alongside its hardtop Cayman sibling, it is also one of the last production sports cars with a large displacement engine that doesn't feature turbocharging or supercharging. It produces 395 bhp @ 7800 rpm and 310 ft lbs @ 5000 rpm and can hit zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds (only 0.1 seconds slower than the Spyder).
The mid-engine roadster is powered by the 2.7 liter flat-six engine with 265 hp. Its color concept remains consistent with the soft top and supplemental safety bar which are both finished in black. The wind deflector reduces undesirable turbulence when the soft top is down. 20-inch Carrera Classic wheels and the Bi-Xenon™ headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) set distinctive highlights, while standard two-zone air conditioning and heated seats provide a higher level of comfort for both driver and passenger. The Porsche Communication Management system is included as standard.
On 5 November 2009, Porsche officially announced the Boxster Spyder, which was the lightest Porsche on the market at the time, weighing 1,275 kg , 80 kg lighter than a Boxster S. This was achieved through the elimination of the conventional soft top's operating mechanism, the radio/PCM unit, door handles, air conditioning, storage compartments, cup holders and large LED light modules on the front fascia, although some of these could be re-added to the car in the form of options. Weight saving was also gained using aluminum doors, an aluminum rear deck and the lightest 19-inch wheels.
The 2008 facelift of the Boxster S is powered by a new direct-injection 3.4-liter Boxer engine which develops more power than the earlier variant. The styling got a bit updated with some redesigned headlight casings, taillights, and bumpers, while the interior got new infotainment and more material/color combinations. There's a revised 6-speed manual as well as a new 7-speed PDK gearbox. Performance improves, with power now at 310 hp, rocketing the 987.2 Boxster S from 0 - 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds and to a top speed of 170 mph.
Porsche gave us something special in 2008, the Limited Edition Boxster and Boxster S. Pricing started at $59,900 for the Boxster S version. The Limited Edition’s bright orange paint was previously featured on the race-ready Porsche 911 GT3 RS. The Limited Edition is equipped with a sport exhaust system, and safety bars (also painted orange). The SportDesign package is also included.
Porsche unveiled its 2008 Limited Edition Boxster and Boxster S models at a private gathering at the occasion of the 2007 New York Auto Show. Largely inspired by the 2007 911 GT3 RS, only 250 examples of each model were produced in brilliant orange. Other special exterior features included glossy black painted mirrors, alloy wheels, front and side air inlets, and model designation.
In 2008, the second generation of the Boxster received new technologies and more power. It reached almost the same power as the former Boxster S, from the first generation. The 2.9-liter unit replaced the older 2.7-liter engine and offered 10 hp more than the older engine. It was paired as standard to a 6-speed manual, and a 7-speed PDK (Porsche dual-clutch) automatic was available as an option. The outside gets some welcome design tweaks also, while on the inside we get some updates and more technology options.
For the 2007 model year, the base Boxster received a revised engine featuring VarioCam Plus to provide a 3.7 kW (5.0 hp) power increase (183 kW (245 hp) the same as the Cayman). The Boxster S' engine was upgraded from 3.2-litre to 3.4-litre, resulting in a power increase of 11 kW (15 hp) more (220 kW (295 hp) the same as the Cayman S). These upgrades made the Boxster series and the Cayman series equivalent in terms of power.
In 2004, the Boxster S Special Edition, also called 550 Spyder Boxster S Special Edition was introduced with a production run of just 1,953 cars (paying homage to the 550 Spyder's year of introduction). 500 cars were made for the US Market. These were all painted in GT Silver Metallic, the same colour as the Carrera GT concept presented in 2000, and had unique cocoa-brown full-leather interior as standard with grey natural leather as a no-cost option.
The Boxster S was revised along with its Boxster version in 2003. From the outside, the 2002 Boxster S featured an apron with three air-intakes, one more than the non-S version. The 3.2-liter unit was installed in the Boxster since 2000, but after the facelift it was improved by 10 hp, reaching 258 hp. It was paired as standard with a 6-speed manual, or a 5-speed Tiptronic (automatic) as an option. As expected, the manual version was quicker and faster.
The first generation Boxster got a facelift and refresh for the 2003 model year. The 2003 Boxster came on the market with new engines and new options. It also had a new face, but not that different than the first generation. The result was more horsepower, the 2.7 liter now good for 225 bhp @ 6300 rpm and 192 ft lbs @ 4750 rpm. Power was up by 8 horsepower over the prior year model, while torque was unchanged. From the outside, the 2002 Boxster featured an apron with two air-intakes on the sides.