Porsche Boxster Spyder Returns for 2016

Luke Vandezande
by Luke Vandezande

Porsche’s lightweight, enthusiast-focused Boxster Spyder is back in the 981 generation with a host of significant improvements.

As was the case with the previous Boxster Spyder, the new generation focuses on being lighter and more capable than its siblings. Is it any shock, then, to learn that it succeeds?

Yes, this is the lightest and most powerful version of the Boxster ever thanks to a host of improvements. It sits 20 millimeters lower to the ground on a firmer suspension. It also borrows brakes from the Porsche 911 Carrera and gets a 3.8-liter flax six making 375 hp like the Cayman GT4, but with slightly less power. Unlike the last Spyder model that offered both a stick and a dual-clutch transmission, this one is available exclusively with a manual.

2015 New York Auto Show Coverage

Also unlike the past Boxster Spyder, the lightweight cloth top on the new car won’t be a pain in the behind to raise and lower. It still calls for manual operation in the name of weight savings, but it has a mechanism to make the topless transition much easier to perform. Like that car, air conditioning and a radio are both stripped from the base equipment list and are available as no-cost options.

Porsche says the new car will have a top speed of 180 MPH, which is an increase of six MPH over the Boxster GTS and a 16 MPH increase over the base Boxster. Of course, none of those comes cheap. The base Spyder will cost $83,905 including delivery, which is a $30,000 price increase over the Porsche’s least expensive convertible.

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Luke Vandezande
Luke Vandezande

Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.

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