km : Automotive News

The Boxster range, which currently consists of the base and S models, is about to add a new member to the family, one that will wear the legendary Spyder name. But this Spyder won't be like the special edition models Porsche released in both 2004 and 2008--it isn't simply a paint and trim package, but a very serious reworking of the Boxster formula. It's also, at 2811 pounds, the lightest Porsche one can buy today.

That's a far cry from the original 550 Spyder's 1213-pound curb weight, but in this modern age anything under 3000 pounds seems impressive. Even Lotus, the king of lightness, has an Evora that's within spitting distance of that dreaded ton-and-a-half number. Those weight savings come most obviously from the Spyder's switch to a lightweight, hand-installed fabric top, but look closer and you'll also see lightweight seats and inside door handles that have been replaced by loops of seatbelt material. The door skins are also aluminum and the door panels, borrowed from the 911 GT3 RS, are lighter. We're expecting a deeper explanation of the reductions when the car officially debuts in early December.



More than an exercise in saving weight and looking wonderful (we love the Carrera GT-like double bulges behind the seats,) the Spyder also gets a modest 10-hp bump over the Boxster S, producing 320 hp from its 3.4-liter, direct-injection flat six. The combination of power and weight is good enough for a 4.6-second 0-60 mph time using the optional PDK gearbox's launch control function, a reduction of a few tenths over the S. A limited-slip differential is standard. Top speed is 166 mph, though the top won't stay on at that point, and fuel economy should go untouched.

If the Spyder also looks lower to you, well, you must have a very impressive eye for these types of things. A new, specially-developed suspension drops the car an added 20 millimeters. Sales start worldwide in February of 2010, and it'll obviously be sold in the U.S. given its debut location. Pricing starts at a surprising $61,200.

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