The 2014-2015 Porsche Boxster is about to get a mid-cycle refresh for the 2017 model year, and a new batch of spy shots->ke166 are giving us our best idea yet of what we can expect. Our photographers recently caught this preproduction prototype driving on the streets of Stuttgart near Porsche->ke1 headquarters, wearing little more than some transportation protection and foil on the headlamps.
The front fascia has been re-sculpted and appears to jut out more in the lower section. The grill is still partitioned into the three sections, but the middle appears to be blocked off with an optic sensor (likely optional) for assisted driving. The two larger grills on either side now have three horizontal slats instead of two, and redesigned LED strips. The headlights are redesigned too, but unfortunately obscured here.
The new side intakes are the same size, but they’re now surrounded by some new brightwork with two horizontal slats. The door handles are new too.
Moving around to the back we see a pair of redesigned tail lamps with two smaller light housings lower down on the rear fascia. The black lower section has been redesigned too, and, going by this car’s two circular exhaust outlets, this appears to be a Boxster S we’re looking at.
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Why it matters
The biggest changes for the Boxster->ke570 won’t be on the outside. The normally aspirated flat-six is out, and a new range of turbocharged flat-four engines are in. Current rumors suggest the standard Boxster will get a 2.0-liter engine, while the Boxster S will get a 2.5-liter. No power figures have been made official, but the larger of the two could be good for as much as 395 horsepower.
As for the hardtop 2016 Porsche Cayman, expect it to get the same cosmetic tweaks and new range of engines. The next Boxster and Cayman->ke5 will be the first Porsches to get flat-four power since the 1969-1976 Porsche 914 ceased production in 1976. Look for more on the new Boxster at the Frankfurt Motor Show->ke235 later this year, and the Cayman soon after.
2016 Porsche Boxster - Spy Shots
Read our speculative review here.