The Boxster concept
Spending time in the virtual world canbe great fun. The only thing is, you can’tfeel the wind against your skin as youaccelerate through every twist and turn.
The Boxster celebrates real life. Whetherit is known as a design classic, apowerful mid-engined sports car or apure-bred roadster it does full justiceto its famous predecessors, such asthe 356/1 or the 550 Spyder.
We were faced with the question ofhow it could do so in the future. As ever, the answer was to be foundin the harmonious blending of stylewith functionality and of tradition withinnovation. But what is harmony? Something quaint? Something softand delicate? Not for us.
This is why we have refined our ideaof what a roadster should be and honedand sharpened it to give it a completelynew expression.
Porsche Boxster Service Repair Manuals
What use is expertise if it isn’t put into practice and applied to the road?
In the Boxster, the 2.7-litre horizontally opposed six cylinder engine delivers 195 kW (265 hp); in the Boxster S, the 3.4-litre equivalent generates 232 kW (315 hp). Both mid-mounted engines feature direct fuel injection (DFI) and VarioCam Plus for a significant increase in both power output and efficiency. The SPORT button on the centre console is fitted as standard and opens up even more agile responses. Power is transmitted to the wheels by a lightweight six-speed manual gearbox or the optional 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK).
A series of innovative technologies is key to achieving exemplary efficiency. As standard, these include the auto start/stop function, electrical system recuperation (p. 42), energy-saving electromechanical power steering, intelligent thermal management and, in conjunction with PDK, the coasting function. The result is a significant reduction in fuel consumption and, therefore, a reduction in CO 2 emissions of up to 16% compared with the previous model (depending on the equipment variant).
Porsche Stability Management (PSM) provides stability at the limits of sporty performance. Available as an option, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) offers continuous adjustment of damping forces based on the selected mode. Dynamic performance can be further improved with optional Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV).
The optional Sport Chrono Package includes dynamic gearbox mounts. They contain a fluid with magnetic properties, which enables them to adapt instantly to driving conditions and counteract the effects of inertia. The results are perceptibly more stable handling during performance driving, as well as a higher level of ride comfort.
The hood on the Boxster models makes it easy to clear your head. Fully electric, it opens and closes in around nine seconds and is operable up to a speed of 50 km/h. The intelligent lightweight construction, which uses aluminium for substantial parts of the bodyshell, doors and luggage compartment lids, helps to achieve an excellent power-to-weight ratio.
Porsche Boxer engines
At Porsche, the mid-mounted boxer engine is more than a tradition, it is a legend. One of the most renowned examples of its use was in the 550 Spyder. In conjunction with an intelligent lightweight construction, this arrangement delivered outstanding agility and cornering dynamics and proved to be a key factor in the countless victories achieved on some of the world’s most famous racetracks. In the 1960s, the 718 RS 60 Spyder contributed to the triumphant success of the mid-engined race car with wins in hillclimbing and endurance events.
The mid-mounted engine belongs at Porsche and it belongs in the Boxster. The advantages speak for themselves. The concentration of mass close to the centre of the vehicle and the low centre of gravity produce extraordinary agility and cornering dynamics. At the same time, weight is uniformly distributed between the front and rear axles and handling characteristics are particularly well balanced. The combined result enables the driver to fully enjoy every corner and maintain excellent control over the vehicle.
Porsche Boxster Workshop Manuals
For us, there are many reasons to remain faithful to the mid-mounted engine concept, to keep transferring performance from the racetrack to the road and to continue to combine tradition with innovation. And we do this always on the proviso that high power is achieved with comparatively low fuel consumption and emission figures.
With this aim, we developed two compact and lightweight boxer engines that are characterised by their ability to deliver high levels of power and efficiency simultaneously. Both engines are equipped with efficient technologies as standard, including VarioCam Plus, direct fuel injection (DFI), auto start/stop, electrical system recuperation and enhanced thermal management.
What else could we have given the mid-mounted engine? An even more agile response. One press of the SPORT button on the centre console makes engine performance even more dynamic for driving pleasure at the limits of performance. Let’s take a look in more detail.