Porsche Boxster 981 – The Story
The perfect convertible sports car.
Porsche Boxster (981)
The Ultimate Model Guide
3rd Generation Porsche Boxster (2013 - 2016)
The Story / Timeline / Model Guides / Performance & Specs / Data & Research / Pictures & Videos / News & Updates
The third generation of Boxster was the 981 generation and frankly it is our favorite here at Stuttcars. Changes includes a body shell that was 17 percent lighter than that of the 987 thanks to an increased usage of aluminum construction, along with strategic use of high-strength steel in key areas. This kept the curb weight to around 3,000 lbs, despite being a larger car than its predecessor. It was just as slippery as the 987, with the 98l's Cd at a remarkable 0.30. The 981 Boxster had a fully automatic top; the driver no longer had to manually latch or unlatch the convertible top from the windshield header as in the 986 and 987. The lightweight top was composed of magnesium panels, aluminum and steel frame bows, and plastic covers.
The 981 Boxster was powered by the MA1-series flat-six, which were quite similar to those used in the 987.2. The base engine's displacement was actually reduced by 200cc to 2.7 liters, but this was more than made up for by replacing the base 987.2's port fuel injection system with DFI, which allowed a higher compression ratio of 12.5:1, which was the same as the 3.4-liter engine of the Boxster S. Otherwise, the 981 powerplants had the same features as the big brother 991.1 generation 911, with assembled camshafts, a thermal management system of vacuum-operated switches and valves to help optimize engine warmup and cooling system management. The engine management system was used in concert with the electrical gateway system control unit to orchestrate the operation of the oft-maligned auto stop/start system.
A six-speed manual was standard on both the base car and the Boxster S, with slightly different gear ratios and an improved torque capacity for the latter. The optional "Sport Chrono" package added dynamic transmission mounts, which functioned similarly to the optional magnetorheological mounts used on the engine side of the rear-engined 991. The mounts automatically stiffened as necessary by varying electrical current through a fluid containing magnetic particles. The optional PDK gearbox continued on similar internals as its predecessor, but some new features such as a fuel-saving "coasting" mode and the ability to select neutral by engaging both shift paddles.
The 981's chassis and suspension were similar to the 991, with a 60 mm longer wheelbase and increased front track by 36-48 mm depending on front wheel offset. The front suspension geometry was revised to increase its resistance to braking dive, and the rear suspension had much greater resistance to dynamic toe changes than did that of the 987. Chassis control electronics also evolved, with the ninth generation of Porsche Stability Management offering enhanced functions such as holding the vehicle on a steep incline to aid hill starts, improved Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), and optional Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV). PTV actively braked the inside rear wheel during cornering, which enhanced turn-in and agility. The steering itself was the same as the 991, with an electronically assisted power steering rack featuring revised steering geometry to allow a tighter turning radius of 10.36 meters.
981 Porsche Boxster Basics
Type: 981 / Generation: Third Generation / Manufacturer: Porsche AG / Production Years: 2012 - 2016 / Model Years: 2013 - 2016 / Body Style: 2-Door Roaster / Layout: Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout / Engines: 2.7 L MA1.22 flat-6, 3.4 L MA1.23 flat-6, 3.8 L MA1.24 flat-6 / Transmission: 6-speed manual, 7-speed PDK / Official photos: 2012 January 12, GTS 2014 March 19 / Premiere: 2012 March 6 at Geneva motor show, GTS 2014 April 20 at Auto China in Beijing / Market launch: 2012 April 14 (as a 2013 model), GTS 2014 May
Porsche Boxster (981) - The Story
The third-generation Boxster (internally known as the 981) was announced on 13 March 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show with sales starting in early summer 2012. The 981 Boxster reflects the new design language from the 911 (991) and 918, and features new and revised engine and transmission specifications.
Porsche Boxster 981 Timelines & Details
This graphic breaks out the third generation Porsche Boxster in terms of timelines and how to tell all the models apart. Click on the image to see it in higher definition. The third generation Boxster is known as the 981 and ran from 2013 through 2016 model years.
3rd Gen Porsche Boxster Model Guides (2013 - 2016)
The standard Boxster was fitted with a new 2.7-litre flat-6 engine, and the Boxster S was fitted with the existing 3.4-litre engine but with revised performance. Both engines are equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox and an optional 7-speed reworked PDK. Both manual and automatic models were available with several technical options including Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) and a Sport Chrono Package. The range was expanded in March 2014 with the addition of the 2015 model year GTS. It got slightly altered front and rear bumpers, the GTS black treatment and 15 hp more power from the 3.4-litre engine. Add some tasty hardware as standard and this is our pick of the 981 Boxster variants.
3rd Gen Porsche Boxster Special Models
Porsche unveiled the Boxster Spyder special edition in April 2015 at the New York Auto Show. The styling of the car was similar to the previous generation Spyder, continuing the twin hump rear deck and manually operated canvas top. It also shared some styling with the Cayman GT4, using the same front and rear fascia. The engine is also shared with the Cayman GT4, but mildly detuned. It is a 3.8 litre flat-6, making this the largest and most powerful engine used in a Boxster at the time, rated at 287 kW (385 hp). This allowed the car to attain a top speed of 290 km/h (180 mph). It was also the lightest Porsche in the model lineup at the time, weighing 1,315 kg (2,899 lb) and it was an absolutely cracking car to drive. A future classic for sure. The other special edition Boxster 981 was the Black Edition, which was basically a base 981 Boxster with black color treatments and some options thrown in as standard.
3rd Gen Porsche Boxster Specs Summary
These cars were slightly faster and more performance focused than the first and second generation Boxster, but saw improvements made over the years which you can see below. The engine upgrades and tweaks to hardware over the years meant the 981 Boxsters were strong performers in most areas.
Porsche Boxster (2013 - 2016 ) Technical Specs
Forget the summary, here is every third generation Boxster broken out by model year and variant and the technical specifications for each one. Car data nerds, let us unite.
Porsche Boxster (2013 - 2016 ) Data & Research
We dig into some of the data surrounding the first generation Porsche Boxster (981), including production numbers, specifications, chassis numbers, engine numbers, transmission codes and much more.
3rd Gen Boxster Pictures, Galleries & Videos
The Porsche Boxster was a revelation when it was first released, but the updates in the second generation made it a more complete package as a sports car. By the time the third generation Boxster 981 rolled around the journalists and reviewers who covered the launch were smitten by just how good the Boxsters were. By this time, most people were arguing whether you ever needed to choose a 911 over a Boxster anymore. The video reviews below show you how strongly people felt about the cars. Enjoy our interactive galleries and awesome videos of the third generation 981 Porsche Boxster.
Porsche Boxster News & Updates
Recent auctions, awesome review videos and all the latest news and posts regarding anything to do with the Porsche Boxster.
Join Our Porsche Community
Sign up for our weekly Porsche newsletter. The latest Porsche news, rumors, reviews and more delivered to your inbox. Cool Porsche stuff perfect for the flat-six obsessed.
More Porsche Research
There is a lot more Porsche data, details and obsession to explore.
