Porsche Boxster
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| Missing image 2005BoxsterS.JPG 2005 Porsche Boxster S | |
| Porsche Boxster | |
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| Manufacturer: | Porsche |
| Production: | 1996 – present |
| Class: | Roadster |
| Body style: | Two-door convertible |
| Engines: | 2.5 L flat six 2.7 L flat six 3.2 L flat six |
| Competitors: | Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class BMW Z4 Chrysler Crossfire Mazda Miata |
The Porsche Boxster is a convertible sportscar released in late 1996. The Boxster has a mid-mounted engine, two doors, two seats, and a folding cloth roof. Throughout its production it has been Porsche's smallest and cheapest sportscar model. The Boxster's name plays on the words 'boxer' (its horizontally-opposed engine configuration) and 'roadster'. Boxster production began at the former Porsche 928 facility at Stuttgart after the 928 was discontinued due to poor sales.
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986
Porsche internally designated the first generation of the Boxster the 986. The visual appearance of the 986 is heavily inspired by the Porsche Spyder and Speedster. The Boxster features two models; the standard model with a 200 bhp (150 kW), 2.5 L flat six cylinder engine (enlarged to 2.7 L and 225 bhp (170 kW) in later model years), and the model "S" with an enlarged 3.2 L engine producing 258 bhp (186 kW). Combining the traditional Porsche virtues of quality, reliability, performance, and handling, with styling reminiscent of the larger 911 (to the point where buyers of the 911 complained that their car looked too similar to the Boxster), the car has been popular both with car industry journalists and with buyers—it is Porsche's biggest volume seller.
987
Porsche internally designated the second generation of the Boxster the 987. The 987 Boxster made its debut at the 2004 Paris Motor Show alongside the 997 911. The car became available for model year 2005 as both a convertible and a coupé.
The appearance of the car remains very similar to the previous generation. The base engine is a 2.7 L 240 hp (179 kW) flat-6, with the Boxster S getting a 3.2 L 280 hp (208.8 kW) engine.
Awards
The Boxster has been on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list six times, from 1998 through 2003.
The Boxster S (986s) was rated as one of the top ten Porsches of all time by Excellence magazine.
References
- "Into the Sunshine: 2005 Porsche Boxster Revealed", an article in the "News" section on page four of the 10 May 2004 issue of AutoWeekde:Porsche Boxster