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

All of the editors over at CARandDRIVER have sat down and chosen their top 10 cars for 2012 that are available for sale in the United States.

As always, the cars on the list don’t have to be the newest, and they don’t have to be expensive as nothing over $80,000 is even allowed to make the cut.

Audi, Ford and Honda all had two models that made the list.

So who made the list this year?

CARandDRIVER 2012 10Best Cars:

• Audi A6/A7.
• BMW 3-Series / M3.
• Cadillac CTS-V.
• Ford Focus.
• Ford Mustang / Boss 302.
• Honda Accord.
• Honda Fit.
• Mazda MX-5 Miata.
• Porsche Boxster / Cayman.
• Volkswagen Golf / GTI.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: CARandDRIVER

We’ve been hearing about a Porsche baby roadster for a while now – but today we have some sad news for those that were eagerly awaiting its arrival. According to Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller, Porsche’s decision to build an entry-level roadster will depend on the global economy.

Mueller said that the decision depends on how the global economic situation pans out, particularly in relation to the automotive industry. He said that even if Porsche decides to go ahead with the car, sales won’t begin until 2014, or later.

“The financial crisis is real and we need to see how far it develops into an economic crisis develops,” said Mueller “If this happens and it leads to a cooling of the auto industry, then this would certainly impact our strategy.”

The entry-level roadster would be a successor to the 550.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

The Stuttgart automaker sold 97,000 units last year and said that it would deliver ‘more than’ 100,000 units in 2011.

The new 2012 Porsche 911 will go on sale this December followed by an updated Boxster in the first half of 2012.

By 2018, Porsche aims to double sales to 200,000 cars and SUVs.

Click here for our original post on the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera.

Refresher: Power for the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera comes from a new 3.4 liter boxer inline 6-cylinder making 350-hp. The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S is powered by a 3.8 liter boxer making 400-hp. Mated to a Porsche’s PDK 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the 911 Carrera runs from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and 4.2 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package’s Launch Control function. The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S with a PDK goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and 3.9 seconds with the Launch Control function of the optional Sport Chrono Package. Top speed for the 911 Carrera S and 911 Carrera comes in at 188 mph and 179 mph, respectively. Prices start $82,100 for the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera and $96,400 for the 2012 911 Carrera S.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

“This doesn’t look like cooling and decline,” Mueller said. He said that the worldwide automotive market would reach 100 million vehicles by 2020, up from an estaimted 62-63 million this year.

Porsche is aiming to increase sales to about 140,000 vehicles next year, up from an estimated 120,000 units in 2011. Sources say that boost in sales will come from the new Porsche 911 and the upcoming Boxster.

By 2018, Porsche aims to sell 200,000 units on an annual basis and expand its lineup from the current four to seven.

Refresher: Power for the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera comes from a new 3.4 liter boxer inline 6-cylinder making 350-hp. The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S is powered by a 3.8 liter boxer making 400-hp. Mated to a Porsche’s PDK 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the 911 Carrera runs from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and 4.2 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package’s Launch Control function. The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S with a PDK goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and 3.9 seconds with the Launch Control function of the optional Sport Chrono Package. Top speed for the 911 Carrera S and 911 Carrera comes in at 188 mph and 179 mph, respectively. Prices start $82,100 for the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera and $96,400 for the 2012 911 Carrera S.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

Porsche reportedly has a new sub-Boxter coupe currently in the works called Project Mimo, with a working title for the car a Porsche 550. Along with Audi’s R5 and Volkswagen’s BlueSport projects also in the planning stages, none of the three have officially begun creation.

The new Porsche model is expected to be a mid-engine model with coupe and roadster versions, although Spdyer and Speedster versions are possible. Motors will be a horizontally opposed four-cylinder, five for the Audi, and rear wheel drive will be available along with electric power steering, and manual and seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions.

Power has the potential to hit 210-hp and 215 lb-ft of torque for the 1.9-liter engine. A faster version is still on the table with a bigger flat four that is being crafted for upcoming Boxter and Caymen models.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: CAR

So it’s been forever since we’ve been hearing rumors about Porsche doing a 4-banger and a new entry-level sports car. Today, we have a new report shedding some light on Porsche’s 4-cylinder plans. According to AutoWeek, high-ranking Porsche officials at the company’s Weissach research and development center in Germany have confirmed engineering work is moving-forward on a 4-cylinder horizontally opposed gasoline engine.

The new boxer engine will first debut in a mid-engined entry-level sports cars that is internally known as a spiritual successor to the iconic 550 Spyder. It will eventually make its way under the hood of the third-generation Boxster and second-generation Cayman.

Two versions of the new 4-cylinder engine will be offered including a base 2.0 liter and a larger 2.5 liter, which is said to make up to 380-hp.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoWeek

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

Last week at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Berlin, Porsche showed off two Boxster E prototypes where it apparently attracted many prospective customers. Is this to say that Porsche will be producing the Boxster E? Not entirely – the company hasn’t confirmed anything yet, but with all the ‘interest’ being generated in the car, we might see a limited production for testing (something like the BMW ActiveE).

Power for the Porsche Boxster E comes from two independent electric-motors, one on the front and one on the rear axel. That helps it pump out a total of 241-hp with a maximum torque of 398 lb-ft of torque at a maximum engine speed of around 12,000 rpm. The power gives the Porsche Boxster E the ability to run from 0 to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds with a top speed of 124 mph.

Click here for more news on the Porsche Boxster E.

The two electric motors get their ‘fuel’ from a lithium-iron-phosphate based traction battery that allows a driving range of 107 miles on a full charge.

Since all Boxster Es are quiet on the road, Porsche engineers have designed an Active Sound Design system that provides drivers with acoustic feedback as well as alerting any individual around the car.

Currently Porsche is testing three prototypes of the Boxster E as a part of the ‘Model Region Electro-Mobility Stuttgart’ large-scale trial.

Check out the press talk after the jump.

Porsche Boxster E:

Press Release:

Boxster E prototypes attract many prospective customers

Stuttgart. The two Boxster E prototypes which Porsche showed off at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Berlin last week have proved to be a real attraction to the public. At this forum for sustainable mobility, which was staged for the eleventh time this year, representatives from politics, industry, trade and research discussed the environmentally-friendly mobility and vehicle concepts of the future. The trips in the electric Boxsters were in particular demand amongst the expert audience. On a sporty circuit, the vehicles demonstrated that a Boxster with electric drive still remains a genuine Porsche in terms of driving dynamics. In the wake of the GT3 R Hybrid, 918 Spyder and 918 RSR, the Boxster E is yet another sports car concept exhibiting the brand’s characteristic combination of research and driving pleasure.

The Boxster E, with one electric motor apiece on front and rear axle, runs on purely electric power with four-wheel drive and is equivalent to a Boxster S in terms of driving dynamics. Together with two other Boxster Es, in which an electric motor drives the rear wheels, the prototype is being used to explore the everyday practicality of all-electric vehicles and how they are used, especially in terms of driving and battery charging. What the researchers are after is an understanding of the requirements facing future products, where to go next with Porsche Intelligent Performance and how to integrate electric vehicles into the infrastructure.

The practical trials with the three Boxster Es are part of the “Model Region Electro-Mobility Stuttgart” large-scale trial. The Stuttgart model region is being sponsored as part of the Federal Government’s “Electro-Mobility in Model Regions” project. The Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS) is making approximately 130 million euro available from the Federal Government’s economic stimulus package II for eight model regions nationwide. The project is being coordinated by NOW GmbH, the National Organisation for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology.

Thanks to its design as a mid-engine sports car, the Porsche Boxster is the ideal vehicle platform for conducting realistic trials with electric-drive systems. The open-top two-seater car is very light, enabling the new components that are the electric motor, battery and high-voltage technology to be accommodated within the vehicle in a crash proof way. Together with the low drag, this reduces driving resistance for optimal range. Also of importance for a Porsche sports car, even one that is electrically driven, is the high driving dynamics potential, not least as a consequence of the balanced axle-load distribution peculiar to the mid-engine design.

The Boxster E is an all-electric vehicle without any additional combustion engine on board. Propulsion is provided by two independent electric motors with constant mesh gearboxes that act on the front and rear axles. The rear drive unit comprising motor and transmission, together with the power electronics for controlling the electric motor is located where the manual transmission and exhaust system are accommodated in the conventional Boxster. In the front end, the space vacated by the 64-litre fuel tank, now redundant, is occupied by the second drive unit. The power electronics unit in the adjacent luggage compartment serves the front axle electric motor. The Boxster E thereby features all-wheel drive without mechanical transmission of power. To ensure maximum driving stability and traction, a central electric control unit looks after the synchronisation of the two electric motors and controls the drive torque distribution to the front and rear axle.

The two electric motors develop a total power output of 180 kW and a maximum total torque of 540 Nm at a maximum engine speed of approximately 12,000 rpm. That means that the two electric motors in tandem deliver significantly higher drive power than what is available from present day hybrid vehicles’ electric-power units. Not only does the Boxster E’s all-electric drive produce no emissions – it also offers a completely novel form of driving pleasure. The electric drive’s maximum torque kicks in virtually from the first turn of the engine. The Boxster E moves almost silently while at the same time developing powerful propulsion from the very outset. The two motors enable the two-seater to sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.5 seconds from a standing start. Its top speed, limited to 200 km/h (124 mph) is achieved without any gear change at all – whether automatic or manual. The two machines’ high power output offers a second advantage into the bargain: It means more recovered power is available because more energy can be recovered during braking. This increases efficiency of the drive unit.

In the case of the two other Boxster Es with rear wheel drive there is no front electric motor, which means that they deliver a power output of 90 kW and a rated torque of 270 Nm. They manage the sprint from a standing start to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.8 seconds with their top speed being achieved at 150 km/h (93 mph). Because all Boxster Es are comparatively quiet on the road, Porsche engineers have designed an Active Sound Design system that provides drivers with acoustic feedback as well as alerting any passersby.

Irrespective of variant, the heart of every Boxster E is manufactured by Porsche. This lithium-iron-phosphate based traction battery is fitted in place of the combustion engine. Each of its cells has a nominal voltage of 3.3 V and an individual capacity of 20 Ah. Based on the NEDC, the combined energy from 440 individual cells is good for approximately 170 kilometres (107 miles) of driving pleasure in the Boxster E with its ready-for-the-road weight of a mere 1,600 kg. For an overall weight of 341 kg, the battery’s energy content is 29 kWh of which for inherent physical reasons approximately 26 kWh are available for use – an outstanding performance for a battery. Its maximum power output is 240 kW, or 60 kilowatts more than the all-wheel Boxster E draws under full load. The battery and power unit components are connected to two water cooling circuits. As with the conventional power unit, the heat exchangers are accommodated behind the front air intakes.

The battery is anchored to the same points on the body structure as the combustion engine in the Boxster S. There are numerous advantages to this, especially in the event of a crash, because by using the same load paths as in the Boxster S, the battery is optimally retained within the vehicle while at the same time being protected from damage by the surrounding body structure thanks to its central position within the vehicle. As with the combustion engine in the production vehicle, the traction battery is installed in the Boxster E from below and can be swapped out very quickly if so required. This is also facilitated by special motor sport fasteners that enable the battery to be disconnected from the cooling circuit without air getting into the system.

The traction battery is charged via a charging cable. Any conventional socket can be used as an energy source. The charging port on the vehicle features an illuminated ring and as with any Porsche sports car the vehicle is recharged at the front end. The charger is accommodated at the front of the car. It converts alternating current from the socket into direct current, enabling the traction battery to store the electric energy. Its charging capacity is a maximum of 3.3 kW meaning that is takes approximately nine hours for a full charge. The charging time can however be reduced using a rapid charging function. There is enough space left over for luggage in the front luggage compartment despite the electronic components; the Boxster E’s rear luggage compartment remains unchanged.

It goes without saying that all of the production models’ important safety and comfort features are replicated in the Boxster E as well. The new brake system enables an optimal melding of the braking forces of the electrical generators and the mechanical brake system, the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB). The electrically powered air conditioning compressor accommodated in the front luggage compartment ensures comfortable temperatures inside the vehicle.

Not only are the clutch pedal and gearshift lever absent in the Boxster E, there is no rev counter either. In its place is a special E-Power meter in the central instrument cluster display. A swing to the right indicates power call-off and to the left power recovery. Recuperation – namely the recovery of energy by using the electric motors as generators – can be modified by means of the push buttons in the steering wheel. The effect: a sort of on-demand engine brake. Otherwise, when the driver lifts his foot off the accelerator, the Boxster E simply sails on, using the moving vehicle’s kinetic energy. Among its other functions, the instrument cluster’s right-hand TFT display acts as an intelligent range management system, displaying useful driving information: the range remaining or how many miles can be gained by switching off the air conditioning system.

- By: Omar Rana

2011 Porsche 911 Black Edition Cabriolet

Porsche new CEO Matthias Mueller recently had a sit down with Automotive News Europe and revealed some interesting product plans for the company’s future.

Right off the bat, Mueller mentioned that the next-generation 911, which we’ve been hearing about for quite some time now, will be the most successful 911 of all time. Mueller said that Porsche wants to sell about 30,000 units a year – as compared to 20,000 in 2010.

Joining the new 911 in 2012 will be the entry-level models of the Boxster and the Cayman. How much cheaper will be the entry level Boxter and Cayman be and will they use 4-cylinder turbo engines? We’ll have to wait and see.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News Europe

Porsche Boxster E

Watch out Tesla Motors, Porsche has begun the official trials of three all-electric Porsche Boxster models in Germany.

Known as the Porsche Boxster E, the models are powered by a 29kWh battery that provide fuel to a pair of electric-motors that put out a combined 241-hp. While official performance figures have yet to be released, Porsche says that the figures are comparable to the Porsche Boxster S, which goes from 0-62 mph in 5.3 seconds. No word on how many miles the Porsche Boxster E gets on a full charge.

Porsche says there are currently no production plans for the Boxster E, but we expect it to hit the roads after it goes through a small test program.

Porsche Boxster E:

- 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

Car and Driver's 10Best Cars for 2011

Car and Driver has released its annual 10Best Cars list for 2011, with the list featuring some familiar faces and some new ones. The list features some high-horsepower vehicles such as the 556-hp Cadillac CTS-V and for the first time ever, electrically powered vehicles with the Chevrolet Volt.

“Our 10Best award celebrates the best cars on sale in America for less than $80,000,” said Car and Driver VP/editor-in-chief, Eddie Alterman. “In our testing,” Alterman continued, “we are looking for those automobiles that deliver spectacular value, real driver engagement, and the highest fulfillment of their intended missions. Our testing takes place over a week on real roads in the real world, marshalling more than 60 new test cars and our entire editorial staff. It’s a real workout, and the best cars on the market emerge victorious.”

Click here to read Car and Driver’s article on the 10Best Cars for 2011.

Side Note: Honda Fit? Really? We would replace that with the Nissan LEAF.

Check out the full list after the jump.

Car and Driver’s 10Best Cars for 2011:

• BMW 3-series/M3
• Cadillac CTS-V
• Chevrolet Volt
• Ford Mustang GT
• Honda Accord
• Honda Fit
• Hyundai Sonata
• Mazda MX-5 Miata
• Porsche Boxster/Cayman
• Volkswagen Golf/GTI

- By: Omar Rana

2010 Porsche Boxster

The Porsche Boxster will be getting bigger in the 2012 model year – at least that’s what insiders have told UK publication AutoCar. If the reports are true, the 2012 Boxster will grow in size to make room for a smaller and cheaper entry-level Porsche based on the Volkswagen BlueSport Concept.

The next Boxster, which will move from its current production by Valmet Automotive in Finland to Stuttgart, will be nearly 173 inches long and will provide more room for luggage and passengers.

Volkswagen feels that the BlueSport Concept, which was unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, received such a positive reception from fans that it deserves to be built. However, to make a business case for the investment on a new platform for the BlueSport, Volkswagen Group needs Porsche, Audi and the VW brand to sell a total of 100,000 units annually.

We’re pretty interested to see what they come up with.

Volkswagen Concept BlueSport:

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoCar

Porsche Boxster

Many you may have forgotten but Porsche will expand its hybrid offering beyond the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid with the Panamera S Hybrid sedan early next year. Besides the Porsche 918 Spyder, which has yet to be officially announced for production, Porsche announced today that it is currently working on three research vehicles with all-electric-drive.

Based on the Porsche Boxster, the three electric sports cars will allow engineers at the company to study electric-drive components and battery systems for a battery powered vehicle.

So will we ever see a fully electric Porsche on the roads? Short answer is yes, but ‘when’ is still up in the air.

“We will definitely be offering an electric sports car in future. But such a concept only makes sense if it offers product qualities typical of a Porsche,”  Michael Macht, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche AG, said.

Hit the jump for the press release.

Press Release:

Porsche Develops Research Cars with Electric Drive

Porsche Intelligent Performance: Hybrid Drive for Everyday Use, Electric Cars in Research

Stuttgart. Electric drive will take on an increasingly important role in the further enhancement of Porsche Intelligent Performance. To combine greater efficiency with even lower fuel consumption and emissions, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is working consistently not only on the ongoing development of hybrid concepts already in regular production, but also on practical tests as part of the Stuttgart Model Region for Electromobility, using three research cars with all-electric drive based on the Porsche Boxster.

In the test process, these three electric Boxsters are to provide an initial first important insight into new electric drive components and battery systems for all-electric vehicle drive. This field test intended to also provide further findings on the infrastructure required for electromobility, user behaviour and the demands made of future products, is to start in early 2011.

Porsche has been committed to electric mobility for a long time, thus helping to preserve the environment and save resources in our world: The spectacular concept study of the 918 Spyder high-performance mid-engined sports car with plug-in hybrid combines high-tech breakthroughs in engine technology and electromobility with a truly fascinating range of further qualities. Emissions otherwise to be found only on a super-mini of just 70 g/km CO2 with three litres fuel consumption for 100 kilometres in the NEDC (equal to 94.1 mpg imp), come with the performance of a super sportscar developing well over 600 horsepower.

The hybrid system of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid has been developed especially for racing, with two 60 kW (82 hp) electric motors on the front axle boosting the 480 hp six-cylinder power unit fitted at the rear. Replacing conventional batteries there is an electrical flywheel power storage system re-charged whenever the driver applies the brakes and thus delivering energy to the electric motors. The 911 GT3 R Hybrid has already proven its racing qualities in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

Introducing the Cayenne S Hybrid, Porsche also offers the first production car in the range able to run under electric power alone. With maximum output of 380 hp, the Cayenne S Hybrid makes do in the NEDC cycle with just 8.2 ltr/100 km (equal to 34.5 mpg imp), and CO2 emissions reduced to a mere 193 g/km. This hybrid technology will also be featured in the future Panamera S Hybrid due to enter the market next year.

- By: Omar Rana

Facing a great deal of pressure from EU law makers to reduce emissions, Porsche is planning on offering its next-generation Boxster with a new 4-cylinder or even a turbocharged 3-cylinder. According to the Boxster model line director Hans-Jurgen Wohler, Porsche is planning to offer an entry-level model with a downsized engine in a move that will help it reduce fleet emissions.

“A Boxster with a four-cylinder engine, or maybe even a three-cylinder turbo, could produce between 180bhp and 200bhp and emit just 180g/km of CO2,” Wohler told AutoCar. “Given the Boxster”s history “” that it started with a 200bhp, 2.5-litre engine “” I think this is possibly something that customers could accept.

“We are under a great deal of pressure from the EU law makers to reduce emissions, but we don”t know yet how much we”ll have to come down by,” he added.

In order to avoid fines, companies like Porsche that produce less than 300,000 units a year will have to reduce their fleet CO2 emissions by 25 per cent compared with 2006 levels in order to avoid fines.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: AutoCar

• Key Competitors: BMW Z4, Audi TT, Nissan 370Z Convertible, Mercedes-Benz SLK.
• Power: 3.4L 6-cylinder w/ direct fuel-injection – 320-hp (10-hp more than Boxster S).
• Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission.
• Performance: 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds; top speed of 166 mph with the top down.
• Availability: February 2010.
• Pricing: $61,200.

Whether or not you understand the need for a model like the Porsche Boxster Spyder – it is here to stay. Weighing in at just 2,811 pounds, the 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder gets 10 more horses than its Boxster S sibling and can hit a top speed of 166 mph with the roof down (we doubt you’ll be hitting that speed on any major U.S. highway but it’s nice to have bragging rights).

With it’s unique rear shell with its ‘speedster humps’ aft of the passenger seats, the Spyder sure does have some unique style. The soft-top however, is not your standard press-a-button-pop-a-latch type. In fact, it’s a tad bit intricate and it took quite a few Porsche employees to play with all the latches and separate pieces (ok ok, so a few were just there to watch) to put up the top.  Needless to say, you’ll probably need to have the car parked and set up the top with a buddy. Luckily, you won’t need any tools to make it happen.

The 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder will join the rest of the Boxster family in February 2010.

Follow the jump for live high-res photos.

2009 LA: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder:

All Photos Copyright © 2009 Jack Rosenfeld ““ egmCarTech.

2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder:

- By: Kap Shah

Canadian company Magna International is requesting at least 400 million euros in compensation from Porsche AG for their cancellation of a contract in which the former would produce the latter’s Cayman and Boxster model sports cars in its Austrian factory.

Porsche, which is currently in the process of merging with Volkswagen Group AG, seeks to cancel the contract, but Magna has already done 400 million euros worth of development in their factory towards the project.

The original contract called for Magna to build the two models for eight years, starting in 2012.

-By Stephen Calogera

-Source: Reuters