2011 PORSCHE BOXSTER S Information Manual

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In ‘Sport ’ mode, the suspension is set
to a harder damper rating. On uneven
roads, PASM immediately switches
to a softer rating, thereby improving
contact bet ween the t yres and the
road. When the road surface improves, PASM automatically reverts to the

original, harder rating. If ‘Normal’ mode is
selected and the driver’s st yle becomes
more assertive, PASM switches to a

harder rating to increase driving stability
and road safet y. The results are tangible: increased driving
stability, enhanced driving pleasure and
improved performance.
Steering.
One definition of efficiency is a system

that works only when it is needed, and then
does so in a particularly effective way.
This was the guiding principle for our
engineers in the development of the new
electromechanical steering system.
Whereas a conventional hydraulically
assisted steering system draws engine
power continuously, the electric motor
in the electromechanical arrangement
uses energy only when the steering

wheel is actually turned. As a result, fuel
consumption is reduced and the absence of hydraulic fluid eliminates the need for
servicing, both of which also have benefits
for the environment.
The Boxster concept was designed to of fer
outstanding cornering performance. The
new steering system delivers and it even
improves the typical Porsche steering feel. It features a variable steering ratio and
responds precisely and directly as well as
providing customary agility, a high level of
comfort and plent y of direct feedback from
the road. Power steering Plus, the optional
speed -sensitive power-steering system, mini
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mises steering ef fort during manoeuvring
and parking.
1 Front a xle of the Boxster S
2 Rear axle of the Boxster S

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Wheels.
The standard wheels on the new Boxster
models have been enlarged by one inch
compared with those of the previous
models. Made from a light weight alloy, the
larger wheels reinforce the car’s imposing
presence and further improve sport y
performance. The new Boxster is equipped with 18-inch
wheels. Their minimalist five-spoke design
is sport y and elegant in equal measure.
Tyre sizes are 235/45 ZR 18 and 265/45
ZR 18 at the front and rear respectively.
The Boxster S has 19-inch wheels with
a dynamic dual-spoke design. The t yre
size at the front is 235/40 ZR 19 and
265/40 ZR 19 at the rear.
The larger rolling circumference improves
comfort and performance. At the same time, the rolling resistance of the new gen
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eration of t yres has been reduced which,
in turn, helps to reduce fuel consumption.
Wheels up to 20 inches are available as an
option.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring (TPM).
Optional Tyre Pressure Monitoring (TPM)
sends warnings to the on-board comput -
er’s display screen in the event of low t yre
pressure. The 4.6-inch TFT screen in the
instrument cluster enables the driver to
check the pressure in all four t yres. The system updates quickly and accurately
after an engine start, t yre pressure cor
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rection or wheel change – for increased
comfort and safet y.
1 18 - inch Boxster wheel
2 19 - inch Boxster S wheel

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Brakes.
Porsche brakes set standards worldwide
for stopping power and stability. For
the new Boxster models, braking per for -
mance is as essential as driving perfor -
mance.
Both models are equipped with four-
piston aluminium monobloc fixed calipers
at the front and rear. This design means
that, not only are the brakes extremely
resistant to deformation, they are light -
weight for a particularly fast and sensitive
braking response.
The new generation of brake caliper at
the front axle, combined with enlarged
brake pads and the newly developed
brake booster, has managed to improve braking and component stability even
during continuous use. These two charac
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teristics have also been optimised by the
newly developed brake ventilation system
with a modified air spoiler at the front
and rear axles.
The enhanced dynamics of the Boxster
and Boxster S also demand appropriate
brake discs. All Boxster brake discs are
internally vented and cross-drilled for
improved braking in wet conditions. On
the Boxster S, the diameter of the front
brake discs has been enlarged by 15 mm
to 330 mm. At the rear, the diameter is
the same as on the Boxster – 299 mm
The brake calipers on the Boxster and
Boxster S are black and red respectively.
Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake
(PCCB).
From the start, Porsche has been synon -
ymous with motorsport. Ever since
1948, when we found our identit y on the
racetrack, we have taken the experience
we have gained and applied it to the
road. The optional Porsche Ceramic
Composite Brake (PCCB) is a fine exam -
ple. This brake system has already had
to cope with the harshest requirements
of motor racing and is fit ted in cars
that compete in demanding events such
as the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
The cross-drilled PCCB ceramic brake
discs for the new Boxster have a diame -
ter of 350 mm front and rear for even
more formidable braking performance. The use of six-piston aluminium mono
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bloc fixed brake calipers on the front
axle and four-piston units at the rear –
all finished in yellow – ensures extremely
high brake forces which, crucially, are
exceptionally consistent.
PCCB enables shorter braking distances
in even the toughest road and race
conditions. Excellent fade resistance
ensures greater balance when slowing
from racetrack speeds.
1 Standard brake on the Boxster
2 Standard brake on the Boxster S
3 Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB)

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Another key advantage of PCCB is the
extremely low weight of the ceramic
brake discs, which are approximately
50 % lighter than standard discs of similar
design and size. As well as enhancing
performance and fuel economy, this represents a major reduction in unsprung
and rotating masses. The consequence

of this is bet ter road holding and increased
comfort, particularly on uneven roads,
as well as greater agilit y and improved
handling. Please note that circuit racing, trackday
use and other forms of performance

driving can significantly reduce the
service life of even the most durable
pads and discs. As with conventional
high-performance braking systems, we recommend that all brake compo
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nents be professionally inspected and
replaced where necessary after every
track event.
Electric parking brake.
The electric parking brake, which can
be activated and deactivated manually,
is released automatically as you pull
away with your seat belt fastened. A hill
hold function is integrated as standard for the manual gearbox and for PDK.
It assists you in making a comfortable,
smooth and roll-free start on an incline.
Whenever you come to halt on an incline,
this is detected automatically and the
braking effect of the electric parking brake is supplemented by application

of the wheel brakes. As long as a gear
remains engaged, the brake pressure
is maintained at all four wheels. To pull
away, simply apply throttle (manual gearbox: apply throt tle and release the
clutch pedal). The wheel brakes are
released as soon as sufficient starting
torque is available and the parking brake
is released as the vehicle moves off.

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Porsche Stability Management (PSM).
Enhanced Porsche Stability Management
(PSM) is fit ted as standard. This system
automatically maintains stability even
at the limits of dynamic driving perfor -
mance. Sensors continuously monitor
the speed, yaw velocit y and lateral
acceleration of the car. Using this
information, PSM is able to calculate the
actual direction of travel at any given
moment. If the car begins to oversteer or
understeer, PSM applies selective braking
on individual wheels in order to restore
stability. Under acceleration on wet or low-grip
road surfaces, PSM improves traction –
as well as agilit y and safet y – using the
automatic brake differential (ABD) and
anti-slip regulation (ASR). Integrated ABS
is designed to minimise braking distances.
If you prefer an ever sportier drive, PSM
can be switched off. For your safet y,

however, PSM remains set to intervene if
the vehicle is braked and ABS assistance
is required. ABS and ABD remain switched on at all times. Also included with PSM
are engine drag torque control (EDC),
precharging of the brake system and
brake assist. If you suddenly release the
accelerator pedal, PSM automatically
prepares for your next action: the braking
system is precharged so that the brake
pads are already in light contact with the
brake discs. Maximum braking power is therefore achieved much sooner. Brake
assist detects a panic braking situation
and generates the brake pressure
required for maximum deceleration.
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Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV).
This optional system for increasing
dynamic performance and stability varies
the distribution of torque to the rear
wheels and includes a mechanically lock -
ing rear differential. When the car is driven assertively into

a corner, moderate brake pressure is
applied to the inside rear wheel. Conse -
quently, a greater amount of drive force
is distributed to the outside rear wheel,
inducing an additional rotational pulse (yaw movement) around the vehicle’s

vertical axis. This results in a direct and
sport y steering action as the car enters
the corner. At low and medium vehicle speeds, PT V
significantly increases agilit y and steering
precision. At high speeds and when

accelerating out of corners, the rear differ -
ential lock ensures greater driving stabilit y on a range of surface conditions, includ
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ing the wet and snow.
The results are remarkable stabilit y, easier
handling and outstanding traction as
well as
greater agilit y at every speed with
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precise steering and stable load transfer
characteristics. What else? As ever, lots
of
excitement at every t wist and turn.

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Sport Chrono Package.
Time is precious and every hundredth
of a second counts. The optional Sport
Chrono Package makes your driving experi -
ence priceless thanks to an even sportier
tuning of throt tle response and handling
characteristics.
The package comprises dynamic gear-
box mounts, a per formance display,
a digital and analogue stopwatch and
the SPORT PLUS but ton. When this
is pressed, optional Porsche Active
Suspension Management (PASM) switches
to ‘Sport ’ mode for harder damping
and more direct steering and therefore,
even more intensive road holding.
The trigger threshold for PSM is raised.
Agilit y is perceptibly enhanced when
braking for corners with PSM, allowing
even sportier braking and exit acceleration.
For even greater dexterit y, PSM can be set to standby while the car is still in
SPORT PLUS mode. For safet y, it is set
to intervene automatically only when ABS
assistance is required.
In conjunction with optional PDK, the Sport
Chrono Package comes with t wo additional
functions for a sport y drive that borders
on a motorsport experience. The first
is ‘Launch Control’, which is designed to
produce a racing start.
The second function is the involving

‘motorsport- derived gearshif t strategy’.
Using this, Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)

is geared up for the shortest possible
shift times and optimum shift points,
while torque boosts during gear changes
provide the maximum possible accelera -
tion. This involving experience is further
enhanced by overrun downshifts
and the
throttle-blip function for uncompromising
driving pleasure.
An additional display in the steering wheel
or either the instrument cluster indicates
whether the SPORT or SPORT PLUS
but -
tons and, with PDK, Launch Control have
been activated. In conjunction with the
optional Porsche Communication
Management (PCM), a special display
enables you to view, store and evaluate
lap times or other driving times. It shows
the total driving time, lap distance, lap
number and lap times recorded so far.

Performance is further intensified by
dynamic gearbox mounts. Read on to find
out more.
1 Sport Chrono display on the PDK steering wheel
2 Sport Chrono stopwatch
3 SPORT and SPORT PLUS but ton

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Dynamic gearbox mounts.
Dynamic gearbox mounts are included
as part of the optional Sport Chrono
Package. They are designed to enhance
both performance and comfort.
The electronically controlled system
minimises the oscillations and vibrations of the entire drive train, especially the
engine.
The gearbox is bolted to the body by t wo
mounts. Like any mass, it obeys the law

of inertia. This means that it will continue
moving in a uniformly straight line unless
some force causes it to change direction. Put more simply: when you are driving
into a bend, the vehicle will follow your
steering but, at first, the mass of the
drive train will not. This means that the
rear of the vehicle will ultimately be
pushed out wards as a result of the drive
train’s force of inertia.
Dynamic gearbox mounts minimise this
effect. Steering angle and both longitudi
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nal and lateral acceleration are constantly
recorded by sensors. The stiffness and
damping performance of the gearbox
mounts adapt to changes in driving st yle
and road surface conditions, which is
achieved by use of a fluid with magnetic properties. This results in greater

traction, perceptibly more stable handling
under load change conditions and in
fast corners and, in conjunction with the
‘Launch Control’ function for example,
extremely fast acceleration. Using the SPORT or SPORT PLUS but ton
you can switch the dynamic gearbox
mounts from ‘Normal’ to ‘Sport ’ or

‘Per formance’ mode and intensif y your
driving pleasure. In conjunction with optional PCM, the
G -Force graphic on the TFT screen in

the right-hand circular instrument enables
you to view the lateral and longitudinal
forces as they act on the vehicle.
1 Dynamic gearbox mounts