Monday 24th November 2003

Boxster 550 Commemoration

Marking 50 years since the 550 Spyder was introduced

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Porsche has announced the creation of an exclusive 2004 Boxster S model designed to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the legendary Porsche 550 Spyder. It will be unveiled at the Detroit show in early January 2004. It's been given the handy title of the "50 Years of the 550 Spyder" Boxster S.

The new model is equipped with the most powerful engine ever offered in the Boxster model line with a 260bhp, 3.2-litre flat-six.

Sportier suspension settings, 5 mm-wide wheel spacers on all four wheels, and standard 18-inch Carrera wheels improve handling, while a 15 percent shorter shift travel in the standard six-speed manual transmission provides quicker gear shifting.

Named after its corresponding internal design project number, the 550 Spyder was the first Porsche sports car created exclusively with racing in mind. Among its numerous racing successes was a class victory in the 1954 Carrera Panamericana - the famed Mexican road race.

As most 550 Spyders were painted silver, the new special edition Boxster S is finished in GT Silver Metallic, a color only found on the Carrera GT and "40 Years of the 911" models. The soft top is in Cocoa

For additional visual emphasis, wheel spokes are painted in Seal Grey, and a coloured Porsche crest adorns each wheel hub cover. The brake calipers have an aluminum paint finish. Other unique features include silver-painted grills above the rear strut openings, a specially created stainless steel tailpipe, chrome plated and polished Boxster S lettering on the rear and safety bar padding that matches the car's interior.

Production of the new Boxster S edition is limited to 1953 units to commemorate the 550 Spyder's introduction at the 1953 Paris Motor Show. The cars will go on sale in the United States and Canada in March 2004 at a price of $59,900 US and $85,300 CAN.

[Swilly]

Why do companies come up with such duff and naff pitches?

Why not make available the 260bhp engine for all Boxster S's?

[clubsport]

Er! isn't 260 bhp standard for the face lifted Boxster S that arrived last Autumn ?
Quite like it myself, it will make great conversation when you are getting a trim.

[ettore]

260bhp is standard for the 03S - I thought the speciao edition was supposed to have 266? (not that it will make much difference)

[domster]

And when's 9M's Boxster RS going to hit the streets (in Mint Green, Rubsytone etc.)?

That should be man enough for Clubsport

[craigw]

they should have made it closer to the original boxster concept, that was gorgeous.

[stevenrt]

The 550 was gorgeous and yet the Boxster is one of the ugliest cars on the road. Unusual they didn't try to mimic the original shape more closely. The 911 however is now just about the most beautiful car on the road.

On the other hand, I was driving behind a Cayenne the other day and was transfixed by its bulk and ugliness. So in fact Porsche sell some of the most beautiful and most ugly cars in the world.

[craigw]

I know its down to personal preference and I'm not a huge Boxster fan but I dont know how you could ever call it ugly.

[domster]

stevenrt said:

The 550 was gorgeous and yet the Boxster is one of the ugliest cars on the road. Unusual they didn't try to mimic the original shape more closely. The 911 however is now just about the most beautiful car on the road.

But the 911 and the Boxster share the same front end

"Is it ugly or beautiful? I dunno, it hasn't come close enough yet."

[Don]

I actually rate the Boxster to look at. But the Porsche brand has never majored on making its cars beautiful - they sell on the fact that they are good.

This Boxster limited edition appears to me to be a reasonably cynical piece of marketing to keep Boxster sales going in 04 before the introduction of the substantially revised car in MY05...

[rob.e]

Did someone say "RS"??

If they really want to commemorate the original 550 sypder, then lets have a lightweight focussed boxster with bucket seats, harnesses, big brakes, no air con, sat nav or anyother heavy unnecessary kit...

[joust]

Is it me - or do the shut lines on the door look very "un-porsche" - it looks as if you could stick your finger in them!

J

[lightweight]

I am sure someone will correct me but I beleve all boxters are built by Valmit auto in finland shutlines on all modern porsche cars are not perfict but consistantly average . What makes porsche special is how they drive I had a regular Boxter S as a courtesy car last time mine was serviced and it was a fantastic drive This special edition seems to be part of this years stratergy to bring out a model a month:-)looks like the yanks will love it to

[Bodo]

To compare a Boxster with a 550 Spyder seems as tasteless to me as reviving the James Dean accident for marketing purposes

[senator]

stevenrt said:

On the other hand, I was driving behind a Cayenne the other day and was transfixed by its bulk and ugliness. So in fact Porsche sell some of the most beautiful and most ugly cars in the world.

I LOVE MY CAYENNE AND ITS LOOKS - I WILL CRUSH ANY 911 DRIVING DETRACTOR UNDER ITS 19" WHEELS.

You wait - as it becomes more familiar you'll warm to it!

[PERCYPORSCHE]

this press release is for the north america were the boxster s is 258 bhp as standard. so thats an extra 2bhp. those lucky americans. still i think it looks nice, but not going to be available in uk anyway.

[ettore]

I think it is available in the UK - I`v heard of people with orders in...

[smele]

Can't work out if it's going forwards or backwards in the pictures.

But anyway, the new gear change looks good, I thought it was one of those horrible auto systems for a while.

[johnnystorm]

I'm suprised no-ones mentioned the wheel spacers!
FFS, is this a Porsche or a Corsa? This is another special edition that just boils down to some fancy trim options, surely they could throw together some proper alloys? After all 1953 examples is hardly "limited".

[Miguel]

What I find amusing is that now that companies, such as BMW and Porsche, have been making cars for lawyers and other such people who can afford them for the past 15 years or so, rather than the purists that they used to cater to, many of the yuppies who'll buy this special edition Boxster will probably not even know what a 550 Spyder was.