Boxster + Cayman
New engines join mild exterior updates for entry-level Porsches
The bottom-rung of Porsche's range has been given a mid-life refresh, unveiled at the LA Auto Show. On the outside, it looks like the usual German job of LED lights and tweaked bumpers but under the skin, the changes are more dramatic.
A pair of new six-cylinder boxer engines makes an appearance, the Boxster and Cayman getting a 2.9-litre that produces 255bhp in the soft-top and 265bhp in the coupe. The S versions get a 3.4-litre, with the Boxster boasting 310bhp and the Cayman 320bhp. The engines get direct injection, and are based on the new-generation engines that have appeared in the mk2 997 - a car we reckon has lost a bit of character with the introduction of the new units.
The upside is improved economy, though, with these new engines managing upwards of 30mpg in the Boxster and Cayman, making them a much more viable ownership proposition - at a time when less economical sports cars are really struggling to sell.
Fuel economy is boosted by the introduction of Porsche's PDK double-clutch gearbox, the seven-speed transmission optional across all the cars at the cheaper end of Porsche's range. This also cuts 0-62mph times by a couple of tenths a second. Times range from 5.9sec for a non-PDK Boxster to 4.9sec for a Cayman S PDK. A six-speed manual comes as standard.
The cars boast a wider track, newly set up, sharpened suspension and a wealthy options list including a limited-slip diff, PASM - or active suspension management, to you and me - and Porsche's pricey but highly-acclaimed ceramic brakes.
Despite being Porsche's most competitively priced cars, the Boxster and Cayman are outsold by the 911 and Cayenne. There's a small price rise to accompany the new models' improvements, with the cars going on sale on February 21 2009:
Boxster - £34,420Boxster S -£41,250Cayman - £36,870Cayman S - £45,050
We've also spied the brand-new, 2011 Boxster out testing as well as a Speedster version of the current car. See that here.
