Porsche Boxster 981 (2012-2016)

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

MY2013	MY2015	MY2016
2.7 195 kW
S 3.4 232 kW
	GTS 3.4 243 kW
		Spyder 3.8 276 kW

Technical specification

Modification	Engine	kW	lb-ft	Nm	Brakes	Gearbox	60 mph	100 km/h	100 mph	200 km/h	mph	km/h	DIN weight	Power to weight
Boxster 981	2.7B6	195	206	280	315/299 mm	manual 6-speed	5.5 sec.	5.8 sec.			164	264	1310 kg 2888 lb	149 W/kg 67.5 W/lb
						PDK 7-speed	5.4 sec.	5.7 sec.			162	262	1340 kg 2954 lb	146 W/kg 66.0 W/lb
Boxster 981 S	3.4B6	232	266	360	330/299 mm	manual 6-speed	4.8 sec.	5.1 sec.			173	279	1320 kg 2910 lb	176 W/kg 79.7 W/lb
						PDK 7-speed	4.7 sec.	5.0 sec.			172	277	1350 kg 2976 lb	172 W/kg 78.0 W/lb
Boxster 981 GTS	3.4B6	243	272	370	330/299 mm	manual 6-speed	4.7 sec.	5.0 sec.			175	281	1345 kg 2965 lb	181 W/kg 82.0 W/lb
						PDK 7-speed	4.6 sec.	4.9 sec.			173	279	1375 kg 3031 lb	177 W/kg 80.2 W/lb
Boxster 981 Spyder	3.8B6	276	309	420	340/330 mm	manual 6-speed	4.2 sec.	4.5 sec.	9.5 sec.	14.8 sec.	180	290	1315 kg 2899 lb	210 W/kg 95.2 W/lb

DIN weight = car with 90% fuel, no driver, no cargo. Weight of German versions with standard equipment.

Never before in the history of the Boxster was the change of a generation so comprehensive. The 981 has lower weight (minus 25-35 kg / 55-77 lb depending on the modification, compared to 987.2), is longer (+32 mm / 1.3"), has much longer wheelbase (+60 mm / 2.4") and is lower (-10 mm / 0.4"). Width is the only dimension that stayed exactly the same. The engine in the Boxster S is basically the same 3.4-litre unit that was in the 987.2 Boxster S, just +4 kW, but the engine in the standard Boxster is again a 2.7-litre unit compared to the 2.9-litre in the 987.2. Still, the power has been increased by +7 kW.

With the comparable equipment level (2-zone AC, leather seats, interior surveillance), the Boxster S is 39% cheaper than the 991 Carrera Cabriolet. You think the Porsche rear seats are expensive, but this is Porsche's way to fight the overpopulation, the greatest threath to the mankind. With the Boxster GTS the power-to-weight ratio is even better than on the 991 Carrera Cabriolet.

Comparison Boxster 981 GTS vs. 911 991 Carrera Cabriolet

Porsche	No. of seats	Gearbox	Engine	kW	lb-ft	Nm	100 km/h	mph	km/h	kg	lb	W/lb	W/kg
Boxster 981 GTS	2 seats	manual 6-speed	3.4B6	243	272	370	5.0 sec.	175	281	1345	2965	82.0	181
911 991 Carrera Cabriolet	4 seats	manual 7-speed	3.4B6	257	287	390	5.0 sec.	178	286	1450	3197	80.4	177

Manual gearbox or PDK?

The PDK gearbox adds significant weight to the car, but with its 7-speeds it is almost as fast on the race track as the manual one. The fun factor is naturally lower with the PDK than with the manual one. You would expect the PDK serve better in the city traffic, but actually it is unresponsive as the cars with PDK are programmed to use ultra low engine rpm. To overcome the laziness, you have to activate the Sport-regime every time you start the engine. Then again, don't expect the car to consume less fuel than the manual one. The low fuel consumption figures with PDK are achieved with driving style not typical to the Porsche driver. With natural driving style there is no fuel consumption benefit to the PDK gearbox. To use the technology of the PDK to the full on the race track, you have to specify the car with the Sport Chrono package. Not because of the silly stop watch on the dashboard, but because of the Sport Plus button which you would need on the race track if you prefer to drive in the fully automatic mode. The Sport Chrono package also includes the Launch Control system.

The gear changes with the PDK are eyeblink-quick when you change one gear at the time. If, for example, you want to change from 4th to 2nd, the gear change takes time as the gears are on the same shaft and the power must first be shifted to the other shaft before the gear change can be carried out.

Interestingly, the official acceleration figures with manual gearbox vs. PDK are not comparable because they are measured from the moment the car starts to move and not from the moment the start is given in the drag race. The acceleration from standstill with the PDK without launch control is comparable to the previous Tiptronic cars, so considerably weaker than with the manual gearbox. If, for example, you use the PDK in the drag race and you have activated the Launch Control, you have a dilemma, if to start accelerating immediately not to wear the clutch or to wait for the green light and cause wear to the clutch.

The main visual difference of the GTS is the front spoiler. Boxster GTS shares its front spoiler with the Cayman GTS.© Porsche

From this angle the Carrera GT design features are most notable© Porsche

Single exhaust pipe tells it is the 2.7-litre version© Porsche

Porsche Boxster 981 rear trunk — © Porsche

Manual 6-speed gearbox comes as standard and the 7-speed PDK is available as an option. Manual gearbox is by far more involving and therefore much more fun to drive. © Porsche

With the red tachometer face, both gauge needles are white© Porsche

Porsche Boxster 981 Adaptive Cruise Control and camera based traffic sign recognition system — Adaptive Cruise Control and camera based traffic sign recognition system© Porsche

Porsche Boxster 981 red interior — © Porsche

Geneva Motor Show 2012. Woflgang Porsche and Michael Mauer.

Production locations

The Boxster 981 production started in Porsche's main factory in Stuttgart in the beginning of 2012. On September 19, 2012, the production was also started in Volkswagen's plant in Osnabrück to have more production capacity for the 911 in Stuttgart. In Osnabrück a small plant was opened already in March 2011 for VW Golf Cabriolet production. The 981-series Porsches, Boxster and Cayman, are also made there. This is not the first time that vehicles have been produced for Porsche in Osnabrück. For example, in the 1960s 356 Hardtop Coupé bodies were made there, 1969-1975 914 was produced and in the 1990s the 968 bodies were made. From the start of the 981 production in Stuttgart, Volkswagen Osnabrück GmbH has been supplying the rear and side parts for the cars.

Before the 981-generation the Boxsters and Caymans were produced in Valmet Automotive factory in Uusikaupunki, Finland. Initially, the 981 production was agreed with Magna Steyr car factory in Graz, Austria, but after Porsche's takeover, Volkswagen's own plant was naturally chosen.

Porsche Boxster 981 Osnabrück Volkswagen plant — © Porsche

Article © James Herne / Stuttcars.com