2010 PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER engine

Taking an idea back to the basics, turning old values into new benchmarks,
reforming a vehicle concept even though it has forever been deemed a classic.
Aren’t these all apparent contradictions?
On the contrary, for it is in abiding by these very principles that our engineers
managed to realise a long-held dream. The dream of a roadster that has never before
existed in this form. It is more original, more sporty and more liberated than ever.
This dream is the Boxster Spyder.
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faithful to the Porsche tradition.
The result is the Boxster Spyder.
Bolder, more powerful and sport-
ier than ever. Porsche Intelligent
Per formance in pure form.
The Boxster Spyder.
A sportscar that represents a
pure driving experience. In an
age where the focus is usually
on practicalit y, moderation and
a desire for comfort, our engi -
neers have remained steadfastly The overall objective was to
improve performance. But,
again, in an intelligent way, not
simply by boosting engine
power. Instead, we scrutinised
every detail, while never
forget ting that the driver’s

needs should be our primary
focus. The need, for example,
to express one’s own desire for
sportiness and to reflect one’s
minimalist sense of st yle. It was
necessary to eliminate the weight
associated with comfort and
convenience. The result is a

manual hood instead of an electric
folding roof. No air conditioning
system. No radio. No cup holders.
An interesting paradox:
The more constrained you are,
the more liberated you feel.
The t wo luggage compartments
are perhaps the only concession
to convenience. What ’s been
added are aluminium doors,

specially designed 19-inch light-
alloy wheels and sports bucket seats. A power output of 320 hp
– which is 10 hp more than

that of the Boxster S. A suspen -
sion that has been lowered
by 20 mm to a harder sports
set ting. A mechanically locking
rear dif ferential. And a design
that not only reflects this com -
bination of force, sportiness,

purit y and ef ficiency, but intensi -
fies it too. The resulting vehicle
is a top - class athlete that has shed 80 kg for a power-to -weight
ratio of just under 4 kg / hp. A
driving experience that can be
summed up in one word alone:
unleashed.

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as well as on the road. It is
only logical that the name
Spyder should continue to
be
synonymous with a roadster in
its purest form, and that it
should pay tribute to traditional
values. Purit y of design, for
example, and forsaking modern
comfort in favour of perform -
ance.
Something else on which we
were decided was an open vehi -
cle concept, which – as the
name suggests – needs no roof.
Certainly not an electric one.
The Boxster Spyder concept.
The purposeful mid-engine
arrangement, the distinctive
light weight construction, the
extraordinar y agilit y, the precise
handling, the uncompromising
driving experience. Of course,
none of this is new for Porsche.
Even in the early 1960s, with
the 718 RS 60 Spyder, the
successor to the legendary
550 Spyder, Porsche developed
a roadster that possessed these
very traits and would go on to
write its own chapter in sportscar
history, for feats in hill-climbing If there had to be any hood at
all, it should be a manual one:
made from canvas. This radical
measure gave our designers
free rein to create an overall
appearance like no other. One
of the most striking results is
the extremely sport y rear end,
characterised by t wo muscular
haunches.
Unmistakable references to

Porsche history are also inher -
ent in the range of standard
exterior paint finishes (Carrara
White, Guards Red and Black), the 1960’s Porsche logo on the
side of the car, the motorsport
design of the side air intakes
and the deliberately minimalist
interior.
In summary, the Boxster Spyder
is a sportscar that evokes
strong emotions. It captures the
essence of sportscar histor y.

It was built by people who were
themselves a part of this history
and for people who now find
themselves transported back
there.
If you want to embark on a new voyage
of self-discovery, you should first free your mind.

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ratio that counts: the ratio
bet ween low mass – for excellent
agilit y – and high power – for
outstanding performance. This is
precisely why the power- boosted
3.4 - litre Boxer engine has been
counterbalanced by a weight
Drive system.
More engine power equals
increased dynamic performance.
To our engineers, this formula
has always been too simplistic.
At Porsche, with over 60 years’
experience in building sports-
cars, it is the power-to-
weight saving of 80 kg. The engine
improves on the already impressive
figures of the Boxster S by a
further 10 hp for a total power
output of 235 kW (320 hp) at
7,200 rpm, and maximum torque
of 370 Nm at 4,750 rpm.
The result is a vehicle with an
engine that boasts outstanding
performance figures, is very
smooth running, has increased
pulling power and excellent cor -
nering agilit y. When combined
with the intelligent light weight construction it has a power-
to-weight ratio of just under

4 kg/hp. Even the slightest touch
of the accelerator provokes a
sense of urgency, propelling the
Boxster Spyder from 0 to 62 mph
(100 km/h) in 5.1 seconds.
Three-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles
Not all escape artists
employ trickery.
With the hood open, the top
speed is 166 mph (267 km/ h),
accompanied by an engine
sound that is characteristically
Porsche. The power of the
engine is delivered to the road
by a precision six-speed manual gearbox. Gear changes provide
the connection between the
engine power and an active,
pure driving experience. In
terms of features designed for
comfort and convenience, there
is only room in our concept if
they are in keeping with the
sporting theme. Optional Porsche
Doppel
kupplung (PDK, see
Boxster main catalogue page 42)
of fers gear changes that take
place in milliseconds with no
interruption in the flow of power,
enabling the driver to enjoy
improved acceleration combined
with a high level of driving
comfort. And a distinct reduction
in fuel consumption.
7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)
Power output and torque chart for the Boxster Spyder
Boxster Spyder: 370 Nm at 4,750 rpm, 235 kW (320 hp) at 7,200 rpm
Power (kW)
Torque (Nm)
Engine speed (rpm)
200
280 300
320
340
360 380 400
420
40 60 80
100 120 140 160 180 200 220
240
260
1500 7500
2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6500 7000 220 240
260
1000
235 kW (320 hp)
370 Nm
280
440

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directly into the combustion
chamber with millisecond
precision by means of electro -
magnetically actuated injection
valves. The injection spray
and cone angles are tuned for
optimum mixture preparation
and combustion.
The results are increased
power output and torque, along
with lower fuel consumption
and emissions.
Top athletes always impress
because their hearts serve

as their engines. At Porsche,
this is nothing new.
The heart of the Boxster Spyder
has a particularly powerful
beat, and a pulse rate fit for
high performance.
Indeed, the engine features
direct fuel injection (DFI)
as standard. Fuel is injected
At Porsche, everything is open to improvement.
This is not a concession, it’s our motivation.
State-of-the-art engine technolo -
gies, e.g. VarioCam Plus, further
improve ef ficiency. This system
boosts low-end torque and high -
end power output.
Fuel injection and ignition
are controlled by the engine

electronics. The driver regulates
engine power using the
extremely sensitive electronic
accelerator pedal. The exhaust system, with its
short twin tailpipe finished in
black, not only creates a bold
visual accent but also provides
a distinctive sport y sound.

The sound builds to a crescendo
as the rev range increases in
conjunction with the optional
sports exhaust system.

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As standard, the Boxster Spyder
is equipped with an extremely
sport y suspension setup. This
means stiff, short springs,
large lateral stabilisers on the
front and rear axle, and four
shock absorbers tuned for hard
compression and rebound. The
body is 20 mm lower at the
front and rear axle than that of
the Boxster S.
Chassis.
The Boxster Spyder is more
than a sportscar. It ’s a super
athlete. If its development was a
captivating challenge, it is now
a question of how to satisf y this
athlete’s appetite for perform -
ance, how to fully exploit its
proximit y to the road and how
to liberate the forces generated
by the combination of light -
weight
construction and high-
performance engine.
What does all this mean for the
driver? A closer relationship
with pure driving dynamics, with
almost no pitch or roll, for a level
of agilit y that turns ever y corner
into an unforget table experience
– not least with the hood down.
Yet even this experience can be
improved upon. The mechanically
locking rear dif ferential, fit ted as
standard, further enhances the
traction of the driven rear wheels
on road surfaces with varying
grip and when accelerating out of tight bends. It also acts to
dampen load- change reactions
during fast cornering and

in the event of interventions
by the PSM control system
(see Boxster main catalogue,
page 63). Road-holding at the
limits of performance is even
more impressive. With the car
able to hold its course bet ter,
the driver is free to enjoy
sheer driving pleasure at every
t wist and turn.
It all begins with that which makes
the difference in the end: the spirit.

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19-inch Boxster Spyder wheelPorsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB)
wheels that are the lightest
available from Porsche in this
size, and ensure that the princi -
ple of lightweight construction
is carried through from head to
toe. The consequences are a
Sportiness without the ‘ifs’ and
‘buts’. Even the wheels abide by
this ideolog y. The Boxster Spyder
is equipped as standard with
specially developed 19-inch
wheels. To be more precise, reduction in unsprung masses,
excellent responsiveness and
increased agilit y. For greater
sportiness, the optional Sport
Chrono Package and Sport

Chrono Package Plus of fer an even more power ful engine
setup – and unbridled driving
pleasure. Selecting the SPORT
but ton on the centre console
activates ‘Sport ’ mode, which
makes the throt tle more

responsive and uncompromising.
Surely that must be the limit to
this athlete’s dynamic potential?
No, is the unequivocal answer in
the form of the optional Porsche
Doppelkupplung (PDK) and the
Even the strongest character has its weaknesses.
Like not wanting to give an inch.
SPORT PLUS but ton. Two further
functions blur the boundary with
motorsport: ‘Launch Control’,
which harnesses the tremendous
power of the Boxster Spyder and
unleashes it for a racing start; and the ‘motorsport- derived

gearshif t strategy’ for faster shif t
speeds, extremely short shif t
times and optimum shif t points.
In other words, maximum acceler -
ation, driver’s heartbeat included.The Boxster Spyder. A roadster
uncompromisingly reduced
to the sporting basics, but with
no sacrifice in terms of safet y.
The body, chassis and brakes
are precisely matched, and offer important safet y margins even
during high-performance driving.
And yet, these margins can be
further increased by the optional
Porsche Ceramic Composite
Brake (PCCB), for example.Developed specifically for
performance driving, the system
has braking per formance
to match the Boxster Spyder’s
impressive dynamics.

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Centre console and six-speed gear leverSports bucket seat
Dashboard trim strip
Nothing should distract the
driver from what really matters:
driving pleasure.
When you get in, it’s immediately
apparent. Whoever wants
to own an original roadster

The dashboard is the epitome of
purit y of design. The dial faces
of the circular instruments are
finished in black. The removal of
the instrument shroud provides
another accent on the theme of
minimalist and authentic design. will have to make sacrifices.

Door storage compartments?
No chance. Cup holders?
No chance. Conventional door
release levers? Dit to. But why should we have fit ted
levers, when door pulls are
so much more evocative of our
racing tradition? And, more
importantly, they are, by nature,
weight-saving. By no means
trivial details, they are part of a considered and, in the roadster
segment, superior strateg y:

purposeful lightweight design.
It ’s a solution that also includes
sports bucket seats with seat
centres in Alcantara. The result is
a further 12 kg reduction, and a way for the driver to experience
more acutely and more immedi
-
ately the power that pushes
the Boxster Spyder to the limit.
An air conditioning system has
no place in this concept either.
That would have added 12 kg. It ’s a concept that demands
strong conviction, for whoever
attaches so much value to

performance and authenticity
sets dif ferent priorities in terms
of comfort, and would prefer
to rely on the most natural of all air conditioning systems: the
headwind with the hood open.
Despite our strict adherence

to purit y of design, we wanted
to make one concession: the
windscreen with grey top -tint
and the wind deflector are standard. A lit tle indulgence

that makes open -top driving that
little bit more comfortable.
One last question: what other
potential for weight reduction
was lef t? Should we really have
gone so far as deleting even the radio? With a weight saving
of 3 kg and the powerful engine
sound of the Boxster Spyder to
compensate, that was an easy
decision.
How can a roadster strike a more authentic note?
Without a radio.
Instrument cluster