When the Porsche Boxster E prototypes were announced back in February, we didn’t think we would hear too much about them for awhile. Prototypes can undergo testing for a long time before the vehicles actually make their first appearance, but Porsche proved that it is yet again ahead in the game by introducing the electric sports car at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Berlin. Everyone who attended the event had the opportunity to ride around in the vehicle and it seems that the electric Boxster illustrated that Porsche is fully capable of creating an electric sports car that can still drive like a Porsche. We’re certainly intrigued.
The Boxster E is powered by two independent electric motors - one on the front axle and one on the rear - that develop a total power output of 241 HP and a maximum total torque of 398 lbs-ft at a maximum engine speed of approximately 12,000 rpm. With this amount of power, the car will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and can hit a top speed of 124 mph, all while producing zero tailpipe emissions.
Hit the jump to read more about the Porsche Boxster E.
The Porsche Boxster has been around for about 15 years and has only seen two generations and a facelift in 2008. Luckily for the guys over at Porsche, the mid-engined roadster is doing fine without the extra renovations. For 2011, the Boxster isn’t coming at us with extra packages or additional bells and whistles, but it is arriving in style with its usual sleek and unique exterior, and its good ol’ faithful 2.9L six cylinder Boxer engine.
The Porsche Boxster doesn’t really scream incredible speed with a power output of 255hp at 6,400rpm and 214 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s 0-60mph sprint of 5.6 seconds isn’t the best time for sports cars in this class and its 163mph isn’t the best either. What is cool about this engine setup is the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) which can minimize these performance numbers and provide a more comfortable ride.
Pricing for the 2011 Porsche Boxster starts off at a reasonable $47,600 for the base model which comes with the standard six-speed transmission. Add the seven-speed PDK gearbox and that price jumps up to $51,020. And then there’s the addition of a few "extras" that could jet propel this price to a not-so-comfortable, underwear up the butt kind of feeling.
Hit the jump to get the good, the bad, and the oooh about the 2011 Porsche Boxster.
Porsche has found a pretty interesting way to promote their vehicles; releasing a series of commercials that illustrate how their vehicles can be used for everyday activities. The series consists of the "Snowmobile," "Pickup Truck," "Getaway Car," "School Bus," and "Pet Carrier." Yeah, Porsche thinks their cars can manage all of those tasks.
“It’s not only about the weekend joyride. It’s the only car in the world that combines true sports car exhilaration and the drivability for daily use. This campaign brings this fact to life, painting a bigger picture of the real Porsche value proposition, in some cases through the words and images of owners themselves,” says David Pryor, vice president of marketing for Porsche Cars North America.
Of course, whether we agree or not, Porsche has certainly come up with an ingenious way of promoting their 911, Cayman, and Boxster models, although we just don’t them actually utilizing their personal Porsches for any of these tasks.
The dawn of the electric sports car is fast approaching and a number of automakers are scrambling to get their models out before the seemingly expected industry boom, which could very well happen in the next few years.
While that’s still a matter of subjectivity, what we do know is that a number of automakers have begun developing their own electric sports cars with German automaker Porsche becoming the next in line to do so after introducing three Porsche Boxster E models.
The cars are still designated as ‘prototypes’ so we don’t expect these cars to hit the streets anytime soon. Details on the model’s complete specifications are still being kept under wraps - possibly until further testing is done – but from what we’ve gathered, the Boxster E models are going to be powered by a 29 kWh battery that sends the power out to two electric motors, producing a combined output of 241 horsepower. According to Porsche, the Boxster E prototypes are capable of matching the numbers set by the Boxster S, which translates to a ‘north-to-60’ time of five seconds and a top speed of somewhere around 170 mph.
As we’ve said, production of this car is still far down the road, if ever. For now, Porsche is concentrating on giving the prototypes more development hours and test runs to determine the feasibility of having their own electric sports car. While we’d love to see it happen, the decision still remains with the boys from Stuttgart. So here’s to hoping that they come out with more than just prototype models in the future.
Black is undoubtedly the color most often worn to any elegant affair and Porsche is taking full advantage of that fact with another special edition model dressed to impress in a sleek black exterior. Mimicking the Carrera Black Edition revealed just a few days ago, the Boxster S model is taking its turn in the spotlight with the same package. However, unlike the Carrera, the Boxster S Black Edition will be limited to only 987 units with U.S. prices starting at $65,200. Sales will begin in March 2011.
The Black exterior carries the dark horse theme around to the model lettering at the rear, the roll-over bars, the rear side air intake grilles, and the twin tailpipe of the exhaust system. A set of black 19" Boxster Spyder wheels complete the aggressive exterior look.
The color also rolls in to the interior to mold itself onto the standard, three-spoke Sport Design steering wheel, the trim strips of the dashboard and of the gear shift lever or PDK selector, the dials on the instrument cluster, and the partial leather seats.
The color change won’t be the only thing distinguishing this model as Porsche is providing three optional packages to further customize this special edition: "Comfort", "Infotainment", and "Design".
Hit the jump to read more about the Porsche Boxster S Black Edition.
