Wednesday 19th November 2008

Breaking News: Porsche Boxster and Cayman Facelift

'09 Boxster and Cayman will be faster and more economical

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Porsche has freshened up the Boxster and Cayman range with a series of cosmetic tweaks and the new generation of engines. Visually the changes are subtle, consisting mainly of the fitment of new front and rear lights.

The new halogen headlights have integrated indicators which Porsche says are reminiscent of the Carrera GT supercar. There are fog lamps fitted as standard and de rigueur LED daytime running lights arranged in the air intakes. At the back there are new LED lights tapering out and new panels with diffuser inserts on the Boxster and a wind deflector plate on the Cayman.

Under the skin of the new cars lies the newly developed Boxer engines with more power on less fuel. Displacing 2.9 litres, the basic engine develops 255bhp in the Boxster and 265bhp in the Cayman, an increase by 10 and respectively 20bhp respectively over the preceding models.

The 3.4-litre power unit in the S-versions, benefiting from Direct Fuel Injection, now delivers 310bhp in the Boxster S and 320bhp in the Cayman S, up by 15 and 25bhp respectively. The Cayman S with PDK and Launch Control featured in the optional Sports Chrono Package accelerates to 62mph in 4.9 seconds, while the Boxster with its six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard reaches the same speed in 5.9 seconds.

All four models are available for the first time with the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, or PDK gearbox. Porsche says the system is carried over directly from motorsport and it replaces the former Tiptronic S. Fitted with PDK fuel economy is greatly improved over the outgoing model.

According to the EU4 consumption standard, the 2.9 Boxster and Cayman equipped with PDK record 26.3 mpg, an 11% improvement. The S-models use 16% less fuel than the previous Tiptronic S, managing 25.5 mpg.

Emissions of the engines have decreased also. Depending on model, emissions have been reduced by up to 16%. The Boxster and Cayman with the standard six-speed manual gearbox emits 221g/km CO2, and 214g/km CO2 when fitted with PDK. The Boxster S manual emits 223 g/km CO2, and 221 g/km CO2 with PDK.

The suspension has been tweaked in both cars to create a better drive and more comfort. Modification of the valve control map on the steering transmission serves furthermore to reduce steering forces, giving the Boxster and Cayman a ‘more agile and spontaneous steering behaviour’.

The wheels come in new design and are half an inch wider on the basic models in order to accommodate the larger brake system of the S-models on the front axle. Both the Boxster and Cayman feature the latest generation of PSM Porsche Stability Management now offering two new functions: Brake Pre-Loading and the Brake Assistant.

The next generation Cayman and Boxster go on sale in the UK and Ireland from February 21 2009. The Cayman is priced from £36,870 and the Cayman S priced from £45,050. The Boxster is priced from £34,420 and the Boxster S priced from £41,250. Customers will also be able to explore the dynamic attributes of their car, and develop their own skills behind the wheel, courtesy of a Driving Experience Programme at the new Porsche Driving Experience Centre at Silverstone.

 

[Rox]

Looks good

[willcrookz]

would prefer a 2nd hand 997 911 for those prices!

[phucks1976]

what are the co2 levels?

[cvegas]

LSD for Cayman?

[Wammer]

Why is it that car companys are making there cheap cars look like there top of the range cars. Porsche 996 911 looked almost identical at the front to the first boxter. The audi R8 is a combination of the TT and A5. And now Porsche have used design ideas off the Carrera GT for there latest model. I think it devalues the top models by making the lower models look the same. BMW made this mistake with the 6 series which looked an amazing car until they styled every other car in its range to match.

[Jimbo_vx]

Look good.

Cayman looking even more 911ish from the front though

[scz4]

Oh my god, when are Porsche going to develop a new Boxter and not just give it another facelift? I assume Porsche designers must all work part time, explaining the long life cycles.

[ad220]

Is Richard Hammond the new test driver for Porsche!!! How the hell can this guy see?

[Burnham]

"The Cayman S with PDK and Launch Control featured in the optional Sports Chrono Package accelerates to 62mph in 4.9 seconds"

Impressive stuff...

[TaylotS2K]

More lazy design. Boxster is much prettier than the ugly Cayman though.

[Rox]

TaylotS2K said:

More lazy design. Boxster is much prettier than the ugly Cayman though.

I really like the Cayman!! Have a look on the Porsche website, they have some nice pics of the Cayman & Boxster in various colours & wheels.

[MogulBoy]

I haven't bothered to work it out but do these prices indicate that the Caymans' are now a priced at a slightly lower premium relative to their Boxster bretheren?

A bit cheeky that they have given the Caymans' 10bhp more (each) but I guess they had to do something to maintain the price premium...

Overall, these look like good revisions to me. :thumbsup:

[All2Chewy]

I wonder if someone can answer a question that has been bugging me for a while. If a Mk1 3.4l 911 996 can accelerate to 62mph in around 5 secs, why does a 3.4l more modern engined boxster only acheive 5.9 secs?? Bearing in mind the 911 has four seats and is bigger?

[morgs_]

Quite like the look of that Boxer, I agree with others though, time for a proper change!

As for the cayman I can't comment, it just looks too horrific in that green! Why would Porsche even have it as an option, doesn't suit it at all!

[kambites]

All2Chewy said:

I wonder if someone can answer a question that has been bugging me for a while. If a Mk1 3.4l 911 996 can accelerate to 62mph in around 5 secs, why does a 3.4l more modern engined boxster only acheive 5.9 secs?? Bearing in mind the 911 has four seats and is bigger?

Traction.

ETA: Oh and politics, I guess.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 19th November 12:35

[cvegas]

LSD is an extra according to EVO - what a rip-off

[All2Chewy]

Thank you Kambites! So if you tried to use the full power of the Boxster engine when pulling away you would end up spinning the wheels so 5.9 secs is the maximum you can acheive without lighting up the rear wheels, if so then it could be worth getting some wider rear tyres for the boxster?

[Warick Hunt]

It doesnt matter what they do its still a flat beetle and about as desirable.

[Mubble]

So the original Mk1 Boxster S with only 255bhp could reach 60mph in 5.5s, but the new 310bhp Boxster S is slower at 5.9s?!

[vz-r_dave]

I am waiting for the much anticipated 2.0 litre boxster with its almighty 200HP power plant. Surely they cant call it a Porsche with that output?