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2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

Less is more

Heritage is important to Porsche. With more than 28,000 race victories to its name and a 60-year history of building world-class sports car, it’s simple to see why.

Special-Edition Spyder

That company pride has inspired Porsche to offer special edition models in recent years as tribute to past successes. Starting this spring, Porsche is adding another notable model to its lineup. The 2011 Boxster Spyder is a lightweight roadster that Porsche compares to the mid-engine 550 Spyder road/racecar of the 1950s. But this one is more than just a special-edition model. It’s the third model in the mid-engine Boxster lineup.

Porsche designed the Boxster Spyder to be the best-performing Boxster, taking out a total of 176 pounds and giving it a unique look. The weight savings start with the aluminum doors and rear deck, which shed 36 pounds. That rear deck features a pair of fairings that mimic the shape of the roll bars, and taper toward the rear. Classic sports cars of the 1950s and ’60s from Porsche, Jaguar, Ferrari, and others used similar fairings, and that’s where the Boxster Spyder gets its retro look.

Instead of a power top, the Boxster Spyder has a two-piece canvas top that weighs only 13 pounds and stows in the trunk. It consists of the top itself, with a carbon fiber header, and a wind blocker that incorporates a rear window. It takes about two minutes to take the top off or put it on, but the bigger concerns are security and wind noise. The top doesn’t fully seal, allowing a lot of wind noise inside the cabin and leaving enough of a gap for would-be thieves to reach in and open the doors.

Minimalist Interior

More efforts to reduce weight were made in the cockpit. Porsche left out the radio, cupholders and air conditioning, and used the 911 GT3’s door panels, which feature nylon loops for the door pulls. The A/C alone saves about 29 pounds, while a pair of leather-and-alcantara sport bucket seats with carbon fiber frames weigh about 26 pounds less than the Boxster’s standard power sport bucks. We found the lightweight seats to be supportive and formfitting to keep drivers in place during spirited driving. However, they may be too skinny for some wider backsides.

Buyers aren’t doomed to a minimalist interior, though. The radio, cupholders, and power seats are all no-cost options, and all the other options available with other Boxsters can be had in the Spyder. Plus, for about $3000, buyers can save another 22 pounds by opting for a lithium-ion battery, an option previously offered only in the 911 GT3.

The Boxster Spyder gets some “go-fast” parts, too. It comes standard with an electronic brake differential and a locking rear differential. Suspension tweaks include revised camber settings, shorter springs that are 10 percent stiffer up front and 30 percent stiffer in the rear, and stiffer shocks and anti-roll bars. The shorter springs lower the car 20 millimeters and combine with the weight savings to lower the center of gravity 25 millimeters. The Spyder’s 19-inch wheels also weigh about 11 pounds less than the Boxster S’s 18s, reducing the car’s unspring weight.

Driving Impression

Most important, though, is the engine. The Boxster Spyder features the same direct-injected 3.4-liter flat six-cylinder as the Boxster S, but it is tuned like the more powerful version in the Cayman S. That means it produces 320 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. That’s 10 horses more and seven more pound-feet of torque than in the Boxster S.

The standard transmission is a six-speed manual, and the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) automated manual transmission is optional. The PDK comes with steering wheel shift buttons, and larger steering wheel paddles are optional. Thanks to the lighter weight and additional power, the Boxster Spyder is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds with the PDK, 0.2 seconds quicker than the Boxster S.

Porsche gave journalists the chance to drive the Boxster Spyder on the roads around Monterey, California. On the highway and in twisty switchbacks, we were especially impressed with the smooth, powerful, and tractable engine. The flat six provides plenty of punch at all speeds, and passing is a breeze no matter how fast you’re going. We also were amazed by how willing the car was to accelerate quickly at highway speeds.

Transmission and Suspension

Either transmission is a joy. The manual is easy to shift and provides a tangible connection to the car. The PDK comes with standard and Sport settings (and Sport Plus when the Sport Chrono Plus package is ordered). In the base setting it is perfectly happy to shift early and deliver improved fuel efficiency as well as a docile driving experience. In either Sport mode, the shifts are later, keeping more power on tap at all times. The PDK works by holding one gear while readying the next, so power delivery is never interrupted and the shifts themselves are impressively smooth. The launch control feature that comes with the Sport Chrono Plus package allows the PDK-equipped car to reach that 4.7-second 0-60 time.

The suspension tweaks make the Boxster Spyder a faster acting and quicker car than the already joyous Boxster. The Spyder dives more readily into turns, reacts quicker in fast changes of direction, and stops shorter than other Boxsters. It has the same extra-sensory steering that responds immediately and provides plenty of feedback. The brakes are easy to modulate and inspire confidence, especially the optional carbon ceramic brakes, which never fade during performance driving.

The stiffer suspension does have some drawbacks. When encountering bumps, the Spyder’s suspension rebounds more quickly, creating some bouncing motions, which drivers may find busy and annoying. Sharp potholes also register with a greater jolt than in the base car.

All things considered, though, the changes made to create the Boxster Spyder are for the better. They add up to a purist’s sports car that’s best driven with the top down. With its unique styling, willing power, and superb handling, the Boxster Spyder is an exciting new sports car that does the Porsche legacy proud. (www.porsche.com/usa)