Porschephiles have been eagerly awaiting the return
of the Cayman GT4. But that’s not the only model in the Porsche 718 series to
which we can look forward. As you can see from these latest spy shots,
Zuffenhausen is also hard at working preparing a new Boxster Spyder.
Though the last one may be the best remembered,
Porsche has been applying the Spyder treatment to each iteration of the Boxster
to date. There was the 550 Spyder 50th Anniversary Edition based on the
first-generation 986 model, the RS 60 Spyder and Boxster Spyder based on the
second-gen 987, and the last Boxster Spyder based on the 981. The new 982-based
718 Boxster Spyder, however, promises to carry forward that tradition of adding
power and reducing weight even more proudly.
These spy shots show an undisguised
prototype with some rather large-looking exhaust tips protruding from the
diffuser. Rumor has it that the new Spyder will (like the Cayman GT4) adopt a
de-tuned version of the 911 GT3’s engine: a 4.0-liter flat six producing around
430 horsepower (instead of 500 in the GT3).
We won’t be completely surprised to see it match
that hypercar’s 3.9-second 0-60 time, too. The last Boxster Spyder (with 370
horsepower) was quoted for a 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds and top out at 180 mph.
(That was just one tick and three mph slower than the more potent Cayman GT4.)
With another 60 horses or so on tap, there’s no telling of what the new one
will be capable. But one thing’s for sure: the Boxster is no longer content
being the “baby Porsche.”
Cr : Carscoops