Raise your hand if you were surprised to hear that the 3.4-litre flat-six-cylinder engine from Porsche's Cayman S coupe is now available in the Boxster S roadster for 2007.
Hmm... Not many hands, I see.
This really shouldn't be too big of a revelation if you have any awareness on how Porsche does business (i.e. relentless, year in and year out refinement). In fact both Boxster models now share powerplants with Porsche's hardtop Boxster; a.k.a. the Cayman.
Cayman + 911 = Boxster S
Unlike competing roadsters--like Audi's TT or BMW's Z4, that are derived from the working-class Volkswagen GTI and 3 Series, respectively--you can find plenty of big brother, rear-engine Porsche 911 Carrera in the rear-drive, mid-engine Boxster.
The $63,600 entry level Boxster, with its 245 hp 2.7-litre flat-six, competes against the $59,600, 250 hp TT 3.2 quattro, and the $60,900, 255 hp Z4 3.0si.
But the Boxster S test car, now powered by the Cayman S's 295 hp 3.4-litre six that until five years was essentially the same unit found in the 911, is in a different league.
The Boxster S's base price ($77,300) and engine power ratings match up better against the über Z4-on-steroids $69,900, 330 hp BMW M Roadster or the $85,500, 330 hp Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG.
The Boxster S test car, with metallic paint, floor mats, heated seats, wind deflector, and automatic climate control, tallied up to $80,396.
Plenty of poke in this Porsche
The Boxster also borrows from the Cayman S its standard, six-speed manual gearbox (on more gear than in the regular, non-S Boxster). A six-speed automatic comes only with a $7,100 Preferred Package; so sticking with the stick is a good idea.
This new six-speed manual utilizes shorter first- and second-gear ratios than the six-speed previously fitted in the Boxster S. The manual is also the way to get to fully enjoy the thrilling sound of a legendry Porsche boxer engine sitting literally behind the driver.
Hmm... Not many hands, I see.
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| The Boxster S is now available with the more powerful 3.4-liter from the Cayman. |
This really shouldn't be too big of a revelation if you have any awareness on how Porsche does business (i.e. relentless, year in and year out refinement). In fact both Boxster models now share powerplants with Porsche's hardtop Boxster; a.k.a. the Cayman.
Cayman + 911 = Boxster S
Unlike competing roadsters--like Audi's TT or BMW's Z4, that are derived from the working-class Volkswagen GTI and 3 Series, respectively--you can find plenty of big brother, rear-engine Porsche 911 Carrera in the rear-drive, mid-engine Boxster.
The $63,600 entry level Boxster, with its 245 hp 2.7-litre flat-six, competes against the $59,600, 250 hp TT 3.2 quattro, and the $60,900, 255 hp Z4 3.0si.
But the Boxster S test car, now powered by the Cayman S's 295 hp 3.4-litre six that until five years was essentially the same unit found in the 911, is in a different league.
The Boxster S's base price ($77,300) and engine power ratings match up better against the über Z4-on-steroids $69,900, 330 hp BMW M Roadster or the $85,500, 330 hp Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG.
The Boxster S test car, with metallic paint, floor mats, heated seats, wind deflector, and automatic climate control, tallied up to $80,396.
Plenty of poke in this Porsche
The Boxster also borrows from the Cayman S its standard, six-speed manual gearbox (on more gear than in the regular, non-S Boxster). A six-speed automatic comes only with a $7,100 Preferred Package; so sticking with the stick is a good idea.
This new six-speed manual utilizes shorter first- and second-gear ratios than the six-speed previously fitted in the Boxster S. The manual is also the way to get to fully enjoy the thrilling sound of a legendry Porsche boxer engine sitting literally behind the driver.
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| The S commands an extra $13,700 compared to the regular Boxster. |