But this time around, Porsche isn’t kidding when they say that this is an all-new Boxster. Internally named the Type 988, the new Boxster is the most thoroughly updated model since the predecessor, the Type 987, which debuted almost eight years ago.

Much like the latest 911, the internally coded 991, the Porsche Boxster 988 gets a completely new lightweight body, allowing it to ride on a longer wheelbase with a wide track, all while weighing less than the outgoing model. Visually, the Boxster receives some of the treatments that were first seen on the Panamera, such as the more raked trunkline and the taillights.

Thanks to a change over to electromechanical power steering and the new body, the new Boxster is also 15% more fuel-efficient on the European cycle. Powering the new Boxster is a new 2.7L flat-four, good for 265hp, while the new Boxster S gets an updated 3.4L flat-four that makes 315hp. Both feature standard manual cog swappers while Porsche’s PDK-nonsense (pronunciation-wise at least at an English standpoint) is also available. Sprints to 60 clock in at 5.4 seconds for the standard Boxster and 4.7 seconds with the real-man’s three-pedal setup. Porsche didn’t say themselves, but I’d expect some slightly quicker times with the PDK.

They’ll arrive at your nearest dealers at the beginning of this summer with a base price of $49,500 for the normal Boxster, $60,900 for the Boxster S.

- By: Chris Chin

Closer to the models’ 15th birthday, Porsche announced today that production of the Porsche Boxster and its sister model, the Cayman, has exceeded 300,000 units.

“Together with its timeless attractiveness, this two-seater, mid-engine car from the Dr. Ing. h.c. H. Porsche AG, Stuttgart has what it takes to make yet another sports car icon,” Porsche said. “As an anniversary model, a Boxster Spyder with Platinum Silver metallic finish and Carrera red natural leather interior trim rolled off the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen production line in June, destined for a German customer.”

The Porsche Boxster model range currently consists the four variants including the Boxster, Boxster S, Boxster S Black Edition and Boxster Spyder. These go hand-in-hand with the Porsche Cayman, Cayman S, Cayman S Black Edition and Cayman R Coupes. Output on the lineup ranges from 255-hp to 330-hp.

- By: Omar Rana

2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition

Following the recent release of the Porsche 911 Black Edition, the German sports car maker has introduced the limited-edition Porsche Boxster S Black edition. Besides all the features that the Black Edition adds, the 911 Boxster S Black Edition’s 3.4L flat 6-cylinder gets an extra 10-hp for a total of 320-hp.

Pushing that much power, the Porsche Boxster S Black Edition runs from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 170 mph when mated to the PDK transmission. The optional Sport Chrono package further reduces o-60 mph to 4.6 seconds with the addition of launch control function and more aggressive Sport and Sport Plus shift.

Along with a bunch of standard equipment, the Porsche Boxster S Black Edition starts at $65,200. When you compare the MSRP to a comparatively equipped Boxster S, the Black Edition saves as shopper $3,200. Not a bad deal.

Check out Porsche’s press release and the high-res image gallery after the jump.

2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition:

Press Release:

Porsche Boxster S Black Edition Has More Features, More Value and More Horsepower

This 320-horsepower roadster will go fast, especially with production limited to only 987 units worldwide

ATLANTA – February 2, 2011 – Following on the heels of the recently announced 911 Black Edition, Porsche introduces a new, luxurious and limited edition Boxster S this spring. The 2012 Boxster S Black Edition features a 10-horsepower boost and a long list of standard equipment at an attractive price.

This new mid-engine sports car is only available in solid black and features a monochrome treatment with a black body, black convertible top and black-painted 19-inch Boxster Spyder design wheels. Normally contrasting trim pieces from the Boxster S are also painted for a uniform look: the supplemental safety bars and side air intake grilles are painted black, as are the twin exhaust tailpipes and the model designation on the rear luggage compartment lid. A Black Edition model designation is embossed on the side of the fabric roof.

The monochromatic theme continues to the interior where black is the only available color, with aluminum and stainless steel used as accents. The brushed stainless steel door-entry guards feature Black Edition lettering, and the standard SportDesign steering wheel features twin aluminum-look spokes with a rim of smooth-finish black leather. Also painted black are the trim strips on the dashboard and around the six-speed manual shift lever or the gear selector for the optional Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) seven-speed double clutch transmission, while the instrument dials are black instead of the usual white. Two final touches are the Porsche crest embossed on the headrests and a limited-edition badge on the glove compartment.

Like the 911 Black Edition, the Boxster S Black Edition combines Porsche’s popular option packages to deliver additional value to customers. The black-painted exterior and interior touches are part of the Design package available on other Boxster models. The Convenience package, also standard, includes Bi-Xenon™ headlights with dynamic cornering function, a wind deflector, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, rain sensor and automatic climate control. Finally, the Infotainment package adds a touch-screen Porsche Communication Management system with navigation, BOSE® surround-sound system and XM® Satellite Radio with XM NavTraffic®.

The Black Edition’s chassis builds on the foundation of the Boxster S, which already features exceptional balance and handling. The lightest 19-inch wheels in the Porsche lineup are fitted 235/35 ZR 19 tires up front and 265/35 ZR 19 in the rear, providing a visually dynamic upgrade from the 18-inch wheels on the regular Boxster S.

A 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection, mounted in front of the rear axle, produces 320 horsepower — 10 more than in the Boxster S while also delivering excellent fuel economy, particularly when coupled with the PDK transmission. With PDK, the Boxster S Black Edition will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds and reaches a top track speed of 170 mph while achieving EPA estimated fuel economy of 19 city and 26 highway (20/29 when equipped with PDK). An optional Sport Chrono package further reduces 0-to-60 acceleration times to 4.6 seconds, two-tenths of a second faster than the Boxster S, while providing a launch control function and more aggressive Sport and Sport Plus shift strategies.

The 2012 Boxster S Black Edition price is $65,200 which gives buyers added value on several levels considering the extra functional and visual upgrades and the enhanced power output. When compared to the MSRP of a comparably equipped Boxster S, this limited edition model saves the buyer $3,200.

- By: Omar Rana

• “¢  2.5L 6-cylinder develops 255-hp in Boxster and 265-hp in Cayman.
• “¢  3.4L 6-cylinder makes 310-hp in Boxster S and 320-hp in Cayman S.
• “¢  2009 Boxster and Cayman models offered with 7-speed dual-clutch PDK.

We just saw the 2009 Porsche Cayman and Boxster at the 2008 LA Auto Show less then a month ago. Porsche today announced that pricing on both 2009 models has gone up by almost $2,000. The 2009 Porsche Boxster starts at $47,550 while the 2009 Porsche Cayman starts at $51,250.

Throw the “S” on the back of each model (and of course more power under the hood) and the price jumps up by $10,000. If you don’t know how to drive a manual, Porsche will offer you its new 7-speed dual-clutch automatic PDK transmission for an additional $3,420.

If you want a navigation system get ready to drop $3,110 and another $695 for Bluetooth hands-free. Universal audio interface (iPod, USB, AUX) will go for $440; XM Satellite Radio will carry a price tag of $750; adaptive bi-xenon lights will cost you $1,560; mechanical locking rear differential will run you $950; Sport Chrono Package with a manual transmission or with the PDK will cost $960 or $1,320 respectively; a heated steering wheel can be added for $90; and heated seats and ventilated seats will sell for $500 and $800 respectively.

Click here to see live images of the 2009 Porsche Cayman and Boxster from the 2008 LA Auto Show.

Follow the jump for the high-res image galleries (we’ve updated both galleries with new images).

2009 Porsche Boxster and 2009 Porsche Cayman:

2009 Porsche Cayman:

2009 Porsche Boxster:

• “¢  2009 Porsche Boxster and 2009 Porsche Cayman get mild facelift.
• “¢  All 2009 Boxster and Cayman models offered with 7-speed dual-clutch PDK.
• “¢  2.5L 6-cylinder develops 255-hp in Boxster and 265-hp in Cayman.
• “¢  3.4L makes 310-hp in Boxster S and 320-hp in Cayman S.

Here they are – brand and new and supposedly ‘redesigned,’ the 2009 Porsche Boxster and the 2009 Porsche Cayman. So what else is new besides the facelift and an upgraded interior? All 2009 Boxster and 2009 Cayman models are offered with Porsche’s new 7-speed double-clutch gearbox PorscheDoppelkupplung (PDK). As you know, Porsche PDK technology allows for better fuel-economy and quicker shifts.

Both models will go on sale in the U.S. starting March of next year. Pricing for the 2009 Porsche Boxster will start at $45,800 for the base model and $55,700 for the Boxster S. The 2009 Porsche Cayman will start at $49,400 while the Cayman S will go for $59,100.

2009 Porsche Boxster S – Live from 2008 LA Auto Show:

2009 Porsche Cayman S – Live from 2008 LA Auto Show:

2009 Porsche Cayman S:

2009 Porsche Boxster S:

Press Release:

World Debut of New, More Powerful 2009 Porsche Boxster and Cayman Models in Los Angeles

For the first time at a U.S. auto show, Porsche brings its original, 60-year- old sports car, Porsche No. 1, and 550 Spyder

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Marking a worldwide premiere, Porsche today pulled the wraps off its new-generation 2009 Boxster and Cayman models at a press conference at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show. Reminding everyone of the long historical roots of these modern cars, the German sports car maker also displayed the first car to don the Porsche name, affectionately known as Porsche No. 1, as well as the company’s first-ever race car, the 550 Spyder, which is on loan from the collection of Jerry Seinfeld. Both are among the most historically significant sports cars of their eras and represent Porsche’s first mid-engine designs — the same engine configurations now thoroughly refined in both the new Boxster and Cayman.

The new Boxster — the famous two-seat roadster first launched by Porsche in 1997 — and its mid-engine coupe sibling, the Cayman — which debuted in 2006 — offer more powerful flat-six boxer engines, which are even more fuel efficient than the powerplants they replace. On the outside, the Boxster and Cayman also receive subtle, yet very distinct, refinements that update the classic sports car design of both automobiles individually. Both add new standard and optional features for the 2009 model year.

The new 2009 Boxster and Cayman models go on sale in the U.S. in March of next year. 2009 Boxster pricing in the U.S. starts at $45,800 for the base version, $55,700 for the Boxster S, $49,400 for the base Cayman and $59,100 for the Cayman S.

“Today is our first presentation of the new 2009 mid-engine sports cars, and here is the right place,” said Detlev von Platen, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “We wanted to celebrate their worldwide premiere here in Los Angeles since it is, by far, the city with the highest population of Boxsters and Caymans anywhere.”

For the first time, the Boxster S and the Cayman S use Porsche’s new direct fuel injection (DFI) and all versions of these models can be ordered with the company’s innovative 7-speed double-clutch gearbox PorscheDoppelkupplung (PDK). PDK is a race-inspired technology that is essentially two transmissions in one: it combines the driving convenience of an automatic with the sporty and fuel efficient operation of manual gearshifts by employing two fully automated parallel clutches. It can be driven as a full automatic or it can be shifted manually via paddles on the steering wheel or through the shift knob. The result is more power with improved fuel efficiency, a development that helps Porsche meet today’s demands for reducing environmental impact, yet maintain the brand’s performance persona.

“Our mantra at the research and development is that every new model has to outperform its predecessor and does so by offering significant fuel savings,” said Wolfgang Durheimer, Board Member in Charge of Research and Development, Porsche AG. “Both Boxster and Cayman pass this test with flying colors: not

only are they noticeably quicker and more responsive, they are at the same time even more frugal than the cars they replace.”

The new base engine in these models is a 2.9 liter flat six cylinder that develops 255 hp in the Boxster and 265 hp in the Cayman, representing an increase in power of 10 hp and 20 hp, respectively, over the preceding models. The 3.4 liter power unit in the S versions, which benefits from Porsche’s Direct Fuel Injection (DFI), now delivers 310 hp in the Boxster S and 320 hp in the Cayman S.

The universally hailed mid-engine concept used in the new Boxster and Cayman models has a long history at Porsche; this heritage is on display in L.A. with the first Porsche from 1948, a one-of-a-kind, mid-engine two-seat sports car lovingly called Porsche No. 1, as well as a historic, mid-engine Porsche 550 Spyder, the first Porsche car specifically designed for racing. Company founder Dr. Ferdinand ‘Ferry’ Porsche developed and built the Porsche No. 1, or as it is officially known, the Type 356-001, in Gmund, Austria, after he searched and was unable to find the car of his dreams 60 years ago.

“Look at his (Ferry Porsche’s) first Porsche of 1948 and his quest for the pure sports car,” said Klaus Berning, Board Member in charge of Sales and Marketing, Porsche AG. “It is a simple, yet rather sophisticated design, and it is a blueprint for an idea that would decades later become the highly successful Boxster: its revolutionary mid-engine concept together with a functional, aerodynamic roadster design, lightweight and a small, highly efficient engine resulted in a sports car that was nimble, responsive and quick, and it rewarded its inventor with sheer driving pleasure — a rare quality in those days.”

Another extraordinary car on display is the Porsche 550 Spyder — a car that was introduced in 1953 at the Paris Motor Show and later became the mid- engine inspiration for the modern Boxster. The car began in 1951 as a small Porsche 356 Spyder that was created and raced by Walter Glockler; several years later, the factory decided to build such a car, making it the first Porsche designed specifically for use in auto racing.

The 550 became known as Spyder or RS, and was the first of Porsche’s formidable mid-engine race cars, giving Porsche its first overall win in a major sports car racing event, the 1956 Targa Florio. Several class wins at Le Mans 24-hour event, and wins throughout Europe helped the 550 become a legend in the motorsports world. With over 70 examples produced, the 550 RS Spyder marked the beginning of Porsche’s customer race car program that has grown to become a worldwide success.

This 1955 550 RS Spyder is on loan from the special collection of Jerry Seinfeld.