Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder (2010-2012)

Date of unveil by Porsche AG: November 5, 2009
Premiere: December 2, 2009 Los Angeles Motor Show
World market launch: February 2010 (as a 2011 model)

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder, roof on side view — © Porsche

Technical specification and comparison

Modification	Engine	kW	lb-ft	Nm	Gearbox	60 mph	100 km/h	100 mph	200 km/h	mph	km/h	DIN weight	Power to weight
Boxster 987.2 Spyder	3.4B6	235	272	370	manual 6-speed	4.9 sec.	5.1 sec.	10.8 sec.	17.5 sec.	166	267	1275 kg 2810 lb	184 W/kg 83.6 W/lb
					PDK 7-speed	*4.6/4.8 sec.	*4.8/5.0 sec.	*10.3/10.6 sec.	*17.0/17.3 sec.	165	265	1300 kg 2866 lb	181 W/kg 82.0 W/lb
Boxster 987.2 S	3.4B6	228	265	360	manual 6-speed		5.3 sec.	11.6 sec.	18.4 sec.	170	274	1355 kg 2987 lb	168 W/kg 76.3 W/lb
					PDK 7-speed		*5.0/5.2 sec.	*11.1/11.4 sec.	*17.9/18.2 sec.	169	272	1380 kg 3042 lb	165 W/kg 75.0 W/lb

Top speed figures of the Spyder are measured without soft top (speed limited to 124 mph/200 km/h when top on). DIN weight = car with 90% fuel, no driver, no cargo, German versions with standard equipment. * with Launch Control.

The Spyder's most striking feature, the manual canvas hood in place of an electric convertible top saves 21 kg/46 lb. Weighing 1275 kg/2811 lb, the Boxster Spyder was the lightest street legal Porsche in decades (lightest after the eighties 944). Although technically rather similar to the Boxster S, the Spyder got a all-new 0.8"/20 mm lower sports suspension. Together with the weight reduction measures, the center of gravity was lowered by 1.0"/25 mm. The sporty chassis was characterized by its stiff and short springs, large anti-roll bars on the front and rear axles, and specially tuned tension and pressure stages of its four shock absorbers. Added to this was a mechanical rear differential lock installed as standard. As part of the lightweight construction, 8.5+10 x 19” unique and weight-optimized wheels were developed. The 19" Spyder wheels were around 10% lighter than optional 19" wheels on Boxster S and even a bit lighter than the 18" wheels of the Boxster S. In September 2010, 'Car and Driver' magazine awarded the Boxster Spyder with the title "best-handling car in America".

Options included Boxster Spyder Alcantara interior, lightweight lithium ion battery (-10 kg/22 lb), automatic climate control (+12 kg/26 lb), radio and speakers (+3 kg/7 lb), sports exhaust system (it wasn't standard item) and other selected Boxster options. As the Spyder was designed to be aa minimalistic as a Boxster can be, Porsche's official saying was: "The two luggage compartments are perhaps the only concession to convenience."

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder front spoiler — © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder — Note the absence of struts on the side air intake grilles © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder, canvas top on — Porsche described the 987 Spyder as "consistently open" to let customers understand it is not exactly a car for the rainy days. The canvas was called as an ‘emergency top'. The two-part structure makes it possible to use just one part of it as a sunshield (as seen on the photo), creating a completely new driving experience.© Porsche

Silver Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder — © Porsche

White Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder, side view — Aluminium doors and no door pockets saved almost 15 kg/33 lb in total © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder roof — Only the sunshield fitted© Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder roof explained — Sunshield and windstopper together try to make the cockpit weather proof, but don't expect it to be 100% waterproof roof like on other Boxsters© Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder in the dark — © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder, white, crema, silver, red, blue, black — Carrara White, Cream White (Special color), Platinum Silver Metallic, Guards Red, Aqua Blue Metallic, Black (Basalt Black Metallic and darker non-metallic both were available) © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder waiting for the rain to end — Porsche's caption for this photo is "Roofs weigh too much" © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder rear spoiler — © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder, 550 Spyder — In standard configuration, at 1275 kg/2800 lb, the 987 Spyder was the lightest production Porsche of its time and in very long time, but... the original 550 Spyder weighed just ~550 kg/1200 lb. The difference is at least 725 kg/1600 lb.© Porsche

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Silver Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder posing in the tunnel — © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder top view — © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder, showing side windows — © Porsche

Silver Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder side view — © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder by the ocean — © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder 300.000 — In June 2011 this car was used to celebrate the 300.000th 986 and 987 Boxster/Cayman mid-engined Porsche produced in 15 years © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder front spoiler daytime driving light — Minimalistic LED position lights © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder interior with bucket seats — Standard bucket seats help to save 12 kg/26 lb© Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder instrument cluster — © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder PDK SportDesign steering wheel with paddle-shift — © Porsche

Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder dashboard — © Porsche

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Boxster 987 Spyder

1/2010 · English

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Anniversaries: Aug, 23 – 22nd birthday of the Boxster 986 (1996); Aug, 29 – 53rd birthday of the 906 (1965); Sep, 03 – 143rd birthday anniversary of Ferdinand Porsche (1875); Sep, 08 – 50th birthday of the 909 (1968); Sep, 09 – 25th birthday of the 911 993 (1993)