19.11.2008
Porsche has unveiled details of the revised Boxster and Cayman line-ups. In best Porsche tradition the exterior tweaks are minor and hard to spot – essentially new front and rear light clusters – but underneath it’s a more thorough update.
As leaked on DR back in July, the Boxster and Cayman get a new 2.9-litre engine, with power outputs rising to 255bhp for the roadster and 265bhp for the coupe (up 10bhp and 20bhp). The S models’ 3.4-litre flat-six now features direct injection and develops 310bhp and 320bhp respectively (up 15bhp and 25bhp over the old models). Both the 2.9-litre and 3.4-litre cars will be available with Porsche’s 7-speed PDK gearbox, replacing the old torque-converter Tiptronic S system.
In conjunction with improved engine efficiency (particularly in the case of the direct-injection 3.4-litre unit) PDK helps to markedly reduce fuel consumption: The Boxster and Cayman with PDK return 31mpg, the S models 30.1mpg.
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About Steve Davies
Steve is a media, venture, and technology advisor and a former Partner at KPMG Consulting, PriceWaterhouse Coopers and Managing Partner at EIM - his clients range from global web and media companies to small start-ups. He formed Drivers Republic (DR) in 2007, the UK's first digital automotive magazine, with a team of EVO and Autocar writers before creating SkiddMark, and also writes as a guest contributor on Unruly Media’s Meme Machine blog and for Econsultancy’s digital marketing blog.
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14 Comments
Steve
November 19, 2008I like what they’ve done with the rear design of the Boxster, but derivation wins again over anything radical. Mind you, Porsche are very good at improving a model through such revisions so it clearly works for them.
I pity the poor Porsche designers though. I imagine them in a dark room down in the basement at Stuttgart, they hear footsteps outside in the corridor and then a thin file is slid underneath the door. Eagerly they grasp the file in anticipation of a completely new design to challenge their imagination, but instead they read “Boxster/Cayman Redesign” followed by a dozen pages listing features and dimensions that they MUST not change. Verbotten.
Steve
November 19, 2008I like what they’ve done with the rear design of the Boxster, but derivation wins again over anything radical. Mind you, Porsche are very good at improving a model through such revisions so it clearly works for them.
I pity the poor Porsche designers though. I imagine them in a dark room down in the basement at Stuttgart, they hear footsteps outside in the corridor and then a thin file is slid underneath the door. Eagerly they grasp the file in anticipation of a completely new design to challenge their imagination, but instead they read “Boxster/Cayman Redesign” followed by a dozen pages listing features and dimensions that they MUST not change. Verbotten.
Marty
November 19, 2008Does anyone else rather like that Cayman in green?
Marty
November 19, 2008Does anyone else rather like that Cayman in green?
Daytonafan
November 19, 2008Like the new tail lights and the Cayman in Green. Price aside I’ve thought the Cayman was the most appealling of the modern Porsches and the addition of an LSD surely will add to its appeal.
Daytonafan
November 19, 2008Like the new tail lights and the Cayman in Green. Price aside I’ve thought the Cayman was the most appealling of the modern Porsches and the addition of an LSD surely will add to its appeal.
Nitrix
November 20, 2008When you go to the official launch, can you ask one of the Porsche guys if they have solved the problem in the Cayman cabin which gives the horrible pounding in your ears (the same effect you get when a window is slightly open). The local OPC said it was due to the hatchback moving, causing a pump action. I found it unbearable when driving the Cayman.
Also, why isn’t the 2.9 direct injection? I was hoping to save loads of tax when upgrading my Boxster but the Co2 is the pretty much the same as the old 2.7. They have made such great improvements on the ‘S’
Nitrix
November 20, 2008When you go to the official launch, can you ask one of the Porsche guys if they have solved the problem in the Cayman cabin which gives the horrible pounding in your ears (the same effect you get when a window is slightly open). The local OPC said it was due to the hatchback moving, causing a pump action. I found it unbearable when driving the Cayman.
Also, why isn’t the 2.9 direct injection? I was hoping to save loads of tax when upgrading my Boxster but the Co2 is the pretty much the same as the old 2.7. They have made such great improvements on the ‘S’
Chris
November 21, 2008Would be great if you can take a 3.2 Boxster S (2005 987) with you when you do the test as would love to know how close the base boxster is to it now in speed.
A 997 Carrera around the track with the new Cayman S with LSD will also be very interesting.
Chris
November 21, 2008Would be great if you can take a 3.2 Boxster S (2005 987) with you when you do the test as would love to know how close the base boxster is to it now in speed.
A 997 Carrera around the track with the new Cayman S with LSD will also be very interesting.
solowmodel
November 25, 2008I have to say the rear is very nice looking, and no doubt the improvements to the engine and the option of PDK will boost performance somewhat. Any idea on price increases?
solowmodel
November 25, 2008I have to say the rear is very nice looking, and no doubt the improvements to the engine and the option of PDK will boost performance somewhat. Any idea on price increases?
PaulJ
December 2, 2008As far as I know they are not fitting an LSD to the Cayman S, and it will be an option allowed only on the Boxster models. Obviously they don’t want it upsetting any elderly relatives…
PaulJ
December 2, 2008As far as I know they are not fitting an LSD to the Cayman S, and it will be an option allowed only on the Boxster models. Obviously they don’t want it upsetting any elderly relatives…