Filed under: Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Plants/Manufacturing, Porsche
Porsche produces 200,000th Boxster
Last week was big for Porsche as the automaker produced the 200,000th Boxster. The Boxster line, which now includes the fixed-roof Cayman variant, is in the midst of its tenth year on the road. Production of the Boxster and Cayman exceeded 27,000 cars for FY 05/06, reflecting the model's growth since its introduction. At that time, Porsche expected 15,000 cars to be produced annually.
Car number 200,000 was a Boxster S born at Valmet Automotive in Finland and destined for a US customer -- no surprise, as the North American continent accounts for 40% of global Boxster sales. With styling clearly inspired by the Spyders of yore, the Boxster has evolved from concept car to a brand name as recognizable and important as Porsche's other star, the 911. And like its big brother, it serves an aspirational vehicle to many. Over the last ten years, the phrase "first Porsche" and "Boxster" became synonymous for an undetermined number of enthusiasts. A first Porsche is undoubtedly a special thing, and so, by extension is the Boxster.
Congratulations to Porsche on reaching the milestone.
(Press release after the jump)
[Source: Porsche]
PRESS RELEASE:
200,000th Boxster rolls off the line
Stuttgart/Uusikaupunki. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is celebrating a very special production milestone: The 200,000th Boxster has just rolled off the production line at its partner Valmet Automotive in Uusikaupunki in Finland. This landmark vehicle, a meteor grey metallic Boxster S, is being delivered to a customer in the US. Michael Macht, Executive Vice President Production and Logistics, said: "Ten years ago, no one would have believed what a huge success this Porsche mid-range roadster has become. Thanks to our flexible production system, we can manufacture the Boxster model series at both our main plant in Zuffenhausen and at Valmet. Today's milestone will especially inspire employees at both plants to continue the success story that is the Boxster."
At the roadster's launch in 1996, Porsche had assumed an annual production of 15,000 units. In the past fiscal year 2005/06, total sales of this model series, since extended to include the mid-range Cayman coupé, amounted to 27,906. The most important market for the Boxster is North America, which has a share of sales of around 40%, followed by Germany with up to 20%.
For the current model year, which began on August 1, 2006, both Boxster models have been upgraded again. The power of the 2.7-liter component in the basic model has now been increased by five HP to 245 HP (180 kW). The boxer engine in the latest Boxster S, which has grown in size from 3.2 to 3.4 liters, can unleash 295 HP (217 kW), 15 HP more than its predecessor.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gil 3:56PM (11/20/2006)
The Cayman is NOT the fixed roof boxster. It's an entirely different car.
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Anthony 4:02PM (11/20/2006)
The Cayman may be a different car, but this is a Porsche press release and apparently they consider it a extension of the line.
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Jr 4:42PM (11/20/2006)
Gil, you're ignorant. The Cayman is a fixed-roof Boxster. True mid-engine as with the Boxster, same interior, all that's different is the roof. Take a trip to the dealer before you comment.
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j 5:35PM (11/20/2006)
"no surprise, as the North American continent accounts for 40% of global Boxster sales."
No surprise? All things equal, wasn't there only a 40% chance? I'm not really a betting man, but those aren't my kind of odds.
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CorporateShill 6:22PM (11/20/2006)
Shame on Porsche for building 200,000 gas guzzlers. Porsche should either start building fuel efficient hybrids like the almighty Toyota or stop building cars at all.
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Saab analyst 6:57PM (11/20/2006)
Boxster model is very fuel economical as a racey 6 cylinder.
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David F 7:07PM (11/20/2006)
Base Cayman EPA est. fuel econ: 32mpg highway, 23mpg city.
2.7 L H6 @ 245 HP, definitely not bad.
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Bill Maher is an Idiot 7:37PM (11/20/2006)
The Boxster now uses the Cayman power plant. I guess that means the Boxster is to the Cayman as the Elise is to the Exige. I see a real difference there.
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Ben 9:09PM (11/20/2006)
Well put Jr.
Gil, get your facts straight before you cloud autoblog with your ill-informed posts.
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Mike from Scarborough 9:11PM (11/20/2006)
#6 You're kidding,,right??Good...My 2001 Boxter S gets average 20 to 25 mpg..I could get over 30 HWY but why bother.It's been by far the most enjoyable car to drive,It's not the quickest car at a 14/et.but the handeling is sick...The Interior not bad,,brakes awesome,,roof an engineering marvel..
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Andy 11:40PM (11/20/2006)
The Cayman is actually close in size to the 911, and did (until just recently) had a larger engine than the Boxster. The Boxster is a great roadster. Its handling, speed, and road manners are high up. If I were on the market for an upscale sports car under sixty grand, the Boxster S would be it.
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Hooty 1:17AM (11/21/2006)
Whatever, the Boxster is THE total chick car.
When was the last time you saw one on a race track? Never, they're all looking for parking at the mall. With one hand on Tiptronic, the other on the phone.
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Stacey 11:01AM (11/21/2006)
Hooty -
Go and drive a Boxster S and if you don't have a pure grin on your face the entire time then I'll be shocked.
There are tons of Boxsters at the track and they keep up with many of the faster cars.
The S2000 is 90% of the Boxster for half the price. For me, that extra 10% is worth double the price. There is a reason why the Boxster S and Cayman S destroy all of their competitors in head to head competitions.
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Perfectlap 1:10PM (11/21/2006)
Put the Cayman on the lift and you will see etched onto each part, serial numbers begining with 997 and 987 reflecting the Caymans roots in the benchmark roadster Boxster(987) and legendary 911(997) in almost equal parts. Like an M3 convertible, a fixed roof dramatically changes the car but at its core its a Boxster Coupe.
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Adam 10:55PM (11/24/2006)
The Caymen is a fixed roof boxster S..no dispute there. Porsche trys to market the Cayman as a different car to justify the higher price and some feable minded people fall for it.
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gary 3:54AM (12/03/2006)
a far better sports car value...
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/model_overview.asp?ModelName=S2000
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Porsche Boxster 8:35AM (1/17/2007)
They cayman looks totatally different!
www.boxsterforums.com
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Skybreak 11:49PM (5/25/2009)
"...it serves an aspirational vehicle to many..." - As good as the boxster is I think I'll bypass it and go straight to aspiring to a 911
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