Porsche’s plans for building a baby Boxster were unceremoniously put on hold when the company decided that the current generation wouldn’t appreciate a smaller sports car. Having the baby model put aside for the time being left many wondering what vehicle would take its place. A smaller Boxster is out of the question, but what about a Boxster Turbo instead?
Milanno Artworks took to the drawing board after this revelation of sorts and came up with this image of what a Boxster Turbo could look like. The rendering shows off a redesigned front bumper following the Turbo philosophy from other Porsche models, Turbo-style side intakes that have Turbo styling as well, a carbon fiber bumper, LED daylights, black wheels, black mirrors, and a black windshield frame. The interior looks to have received different elements in Piano Black, brushed aluminum, and Alcantara.
Considering the current Boxster S features a 3.4 liter flat-six engine with 315 HP, it would be cool to see around 350 HP shooting out of a Turbo model.
Excitement spread when Porsche revealed plans to bring in a smaller model to their line-up, but that fire will surely extinguish now that the company has announced that they think the current generation won’t appreciate a smaller sports car. During a recent interview, CEO Matthias Mueller said: ’’Possibly we need to wait until the next generation of customers before the idea of a small roadster will work for Porsche."
The future baby Boxster, or 550 as it was rumored to be called, was supposed to be launched by 2014 and, next to the upcoming Cajun, was part of Porsche’s attempt to boost annual global sales to more than 200,000 units by 2018. Apparently, Porsche will now be looking for a different tactic to achieve that same goal.
As far as Mueller is concerned, that new tactic can be found in a new new sports car positioned above the 911 that will be priced somewhere between 300,000 euros ($380,000 at the current rates) and 400,000 euros ($506,000 at the current rates). That is about half the price of the production version 918 Spyder set to arrive in 2014.
Porsche has spent years working on their 911, but while that might be their ultimate sports car, the Boxster is one of their best sellers. It was first seen as a disgrace to the Porsche name, as it was smaller and not as powerful, but once the Cayenne came along, all was forgiven.
The first ever Boxster was introduced in late 1996 as a 1997 model and a 2.5-liter flat six-cylinder engine powered it. Three years later, the new Boxster S variant was introduced with a larger 3.2-liter motor, while the base model received a more powerful 2.7-liter engine.
More changes came in 2003, 2005, and then again in 2007, when the Boxster got some of the stuff from the baby 911, called the Cayman. In 2009, the Boxster models received several new cosmetic and mechanical upgrades that upped the power and performance.
The changes kept coming and the Boxster kept taking them all in. Now the Boxster has been updated one more time and is looking better than ever.
UPDATE 01/12/2012: This review has been updated with the official images and specs for the Porsche Boxster.
Hit the jump to read more on the Porsche Boxster.
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The anticipation for the future generation Porsche Boxster is gaining momentum with spy shots aplenty of the sports car doing its rounds out on the streets. Unfortunately, any interior shots have been obsolete, but AutoExpress was able to snag one just in time to keep that momentum going. Their spy shot illustrates the fact that the future Porsche Boxster will be taking a page out of the Panamera and 911’s new updated interiors. The interior will feature an extended transmission tunnel with a bank of switches located behind the gearlever. These switches control the electric folding roof and the PASM active dampers, among other things. The satellite navigation system will receive a new, larger color screen and the seat will get softer leathers and higher grade metals and plastics.
The 2012 Porsche Boxster will be built on a platform that is longer than the current one. This lengthening is vital to the lineup if Porsche wants to be able to squeeze in the future baby Boxster. As far as power goes, the Boxster will use a slightly revised version of the 310-HP 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine, but rumors suggest that it might receive an advanced four-cylinder engine producing about as much horsepower as the current 2.9-liter six.
Along with the engines that are expected to be carried over, expect the short-throw six-speed manual and Porsche’s seven-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission to also carry over. The PDK works well, but we do have some complaints. The transmission can be somewhat awkward to operate in manual mode when using the steering-wheel-mounted buttons, not to mention the paddles can feel a bit cheap. We hope that this is corrected on the next-generation model, and with the updated interior, that may very well be the case.
Expect the future Porsche Boxster to be revealed at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.
Volkswagen’s predicted domination of the automotive world just launched its next attack with three production versions of the Volkswagen Bluesport concept. According to Volkswagen, the BlueSport will see three different levels of performance illustrated in three different badges: Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche. It can go without saying that the Porsche model will be the most powerful and, up until now, it was just known as the "baby Boxster." Well, that baby Boxster has finally been named. Say hello to the future Porsche 550.
The "550" name was first used in 1953 when Porsche unveiled a sports car inspired by the legendary 356. At that time, the 550 was not considered a successor for the 356, but Porsche’s future 550 will more than likely carry that title. The new 550 will be the first model to be built on Porsche’s new sports car architecture and will be offered with a mid-mounted, turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that will deliver around 200 HP. This engine will be mated to a dual-clutch seven speed transmission.
The future 550 will be launched in 2014 and, on the European market, will be priced about €8,000 ($11,500 at the current exchange rates) less than the current Boxster. That difference accounts for about 20% of the current Boxster’s price tag, which means our fellow Americans will have to pay about $38,000 to purchase it.
UPDATE 09/30/2011: British magazine CAR reports that the upcoming Porsche 550 will feature a new trademark horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine developing a total of 210 HP and 215 lb-ft of torque. If Porsche decides to create a more powerful version for the 550, that would mean it will use a 2.5 liter flat four turbo engine that delivers a total of 360 HP and 350 lb-ft.
Stay tuned for more details on the 2014 Porsche 550.
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