Porsche Boxster 987 Spyder (2010-2012)

Date of unveil by Porsche AG: 2009 November 5
Premiere: 2009 December 2 at Los Angeles Motor Show
World market launch: 2010 February (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 saved 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 an 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. Mechanical rear differential lock came as standard. As part of the lightweight construction, the 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 the Boxster S and even a bit lighter than the 18" wheels on the Boxster S.

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 as minimalistic as a Boxster could 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

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

PDF

Boxster 987 Spyder

1/2010 · English

Boxster Spyder 3.4

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Anniversaries: Oct, 29 – 81st birthday of Hans-Peter Porsche (1940); Nov, 15 – 46th birthday of the 924 (1975); Nov, 19 – 13th birthday of the Boxster 987.2 (2008); Nov, 19 – 13th birthday of the Cayman 987.2 (2008); Nov, 26 – 58th birthday of the 904 (1963)