Autoblog

2014 Porsche 918 Spyder

Michael Harley — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Porsche, Deep Dive

The Supercar Out To Trigger A Paradigm Shift

The Porsche 918 Spyder has top-mounted exhaust pipes in similar fashion to the flare launchers on the original 1966 Batmobile. How bitchin' is that?

Not nearly as fascinating as what lies beneath the coupe's carbon fiber skin.

The all-new supercar, arriving late next year, is the most complex vehicle Porsche has ever designed. The hybrid gasoline-electric exotic features a race-bred 4.6-liter V8 supplemented by two electric motors drawing power from a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack. It boots up like a computer, glides combustion-free like something out of a science-fiction movie and then ignites its fuel-fed engine to blast in excess of 200 mph.

The 918 Spyder's existence is as significant as the Le Mans Porsche 917 and as technologically groundbreaking as the 1986 Porsche 959 - it suggests that hybrid supercars will not only prevail, they will dominate.

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2014 Porsche 918 Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: 2012 Porsche Cayman Clubsport headed for LA Auto Show

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Porsche, Rumormill

2010 Porsche Cayman S - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Porsche enthusiast site Planet-9.com, a hardcore version of the Cayman, dubbed CS or Clubsport, will be shown at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show in December. This isn't the first time we've heard rumblings of a lighter, more powerful Cayman, but now that Porsche has successfully launched the Boxster Spyder, it's only fitting that the same sort of package be offered on its harder-core hardtop sister.

Expect the Clubsport to produce around 333 horsepower from its 3.4-liter flat-six, an increase of 13 hp over the Cayman S. From there, lightweight 19-inch wheels will be standard, as will fabric door pulls, aluminum body components and a slightly revised front fascia that we've seen on the Boxster Spyder. Obviously, the real goal with a Clubsport model is lightness, and Planet-9 reports that the CS should be about 162 to 184 pounds lighter than the stock Cayman S.

If the LA Auto Show reveal stands true, the Cayman CS should be hitting the road sometime in 2011 as a 2012 model, priced from around $66,300. Fingers crossed, everyone.

Gallery: 2010 Porsche Cayman S

[Source: Planet-9]

Rumormill: 2012 Porsche Cayman Clubsport headed for LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder drops a weight class and hits harder than ever

Michael Harley — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Porsche, First Drives

2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder - Click above for high-res image gallery

The blueprint goes something like this: Take an aging sports car and raid the corporate parts bin for a few high-performance items likely stolen from a flagship model. Tweak the suspension tuning, throw on some wider rubber, pare down the standard features, add a smidgen more horsepower and then make a few cosmetic changes so it stands out on the showroom floor. Finally, slap on a more expensive price.

We've seen it done many times, but rarely executed so well. Using the recently freshened Boxster S as a starting point, Porsche has developed an entirely new Spyder model that joins the Boxster lineup as its new flagship. While the two-seater follows the aforementioned recipe, we have to admit that it appears to be anything but kit-based and shortsighted.

Porsche recently gave us some seat time with its latest concoction in the mountains above Malibu. What has the automaker done to distinguish the Spyder from its lesser Boxster siblings? What key ingredients have been added - or are missing - to make it so special? Is it the best-handling Porsche model in today's lineup? This and much more to be answered after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder drops a weight class and hits harder than ever

First Drive: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder drops a weight class and hits harder than ever originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TPC Racing to turbocharge Porsche Boxster Spyder

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Porsche, Specialty

TPC Racing Porsche Boxster Spyder - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Boxster Spyder may be one of the purest Porsches to date, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. However, unlike the majority of tuning firms, TPC Racing is different. They take a holistic approach to the project at hand and in the case of their white-on-black Spyder, they're not just looking to improve the Porsche's performance, they're out to build a supercar.

We've spent time with the company's Cayman S Turbo and there's no doubt they've got the skills to accomplish the task (20+ years of motorsports knowledge helps), but how do you improve on something that's damn-near perfect right out of the box? In this case, the answer (predictably for TPC) comes in the form of forced induction.

Although they've already increased the output of the flat-six to 321 horsepower with a few ECU tweaks, the planned turbo upgrade will boost the power to 470 hp... at the wheels. In a 2,811-pound roadster.

But if you only want the power upgrade, look elsewhere. TPC won't offer the engine work alone, opting instead for a comprehensive upgrade package that includes a round of suspension mods that won't just make the Spyder stick harder, but offer infinite adjustability through Porsche's two-mode shock system. The whole kit-and-caboodle will set you back around $16,000 ($10k for the engine mods and $6k for the suspension), but once it's completed, the $80,000 entry price should be enough to shame some of the world's most high-powered exotics.

Kilometer Magazine will be following the build, so expect more updates to come in the following weeks.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

[Source: Kilometer Magazine]

TPC Racing to turbocharge Porsche Boxster Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: MT pits Tesla Roadster Sport against Porsche Boxster Spyder

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Videos, Porsche, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Roadster Sport versus Porsche Boxster Spyder - click above to watch video

We've been fortunate enough to drive a number of different Tesla Roadster models now, including a week-long review that was just published. Owners of high performance sportscars like the Roadster sometimes like to take their rides to the track for some of the kind of fun you can't really have when you are constantly on the lookout for hidden constables. While we haven't had the chance to track a Tesla, one of the favorite cars for such activities is the Porsche Boxster.

Motor Trend magazine's Kim Reynolds and Arthur St. Antoine took the latest edition of the Boxster, the new Spyder to Willow Springs along with a 2010 Roadster Sport. It makes for very interesting comparison since the 2011 Boxster Spyder is the most minimalist version of the Porsche and the Tesla has a slightly more upscale interior than its Lotus Elise progenitor.

At nearly twice the price of the German, the Tesla offers tremendous performance but requires more effort to learn its limits in part because of the reduced feedback it offers. Nevertheless, St. Antoine in particular was surprised at how well Tesla's "science experiment" works. When considered purely from a bang-for-the-buck perspective, the Roadster makes no sense compared to the Porsche, but to be fair, on-track performance has never been the Tesla's raison d'etre anyhow. Check out the video after the jump.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport

Gallery: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Video: MT pits Tesla Roadster Sport against Porsche Boxster Spyder

Video: MT pits Tesla Roadster Sport against Porsche Boxster Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: Porsche debuts lightweight 2011 Boxster Spyder

Michael Harley — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:19:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Porsche

2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder - Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche rolled out the 2010 Boxster Spyder, the third model in the Boxster lineup, for its world debut at the LA Auto Show, with an entirely new look and - we are led to believe - a driving personality nearly on par with the 911 GT3 RS.

Hidden deep and low in the belly of the Spyder is a tuned version of Porsche's 3.4-liter flat-six, rated at 320 hp (ten more than the Boxster S). While the added horses are welcome, it's the 176 pounds of mass lost that really raises our interest. To achieve these savings, Porsche has fitted the Spyder with a lightweight carbon fiber-ribbed soft top, unique rear decklid, low side windows, aluminum door skins and interior door panels with straps swapped from the 911 GT3 RS. Air conditioning, cupholders and an audio system have been left back on the factory floor (don't worry, Porsche will let you add them back for a price). With a curb weight of just 2,811 pounds, it is the lightest model in Porsche's lineup. With a power-to-weight ratio rivaling the Carrera S, the Boxster Spyder with a dual-clutch PDK transmission will now rip to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.

However, that's only part of the enthusiast-oriented story. Porsche replaced the dampers with an all-new sport suspension, riding 20 mm lower than the other models, to drop the center of gravity and improve handling over the standard Porsche Boxster and Boxster S. Fitted with a standard limited-slip differential and lightweight wheels, the package looks just fine to us. As expected, the pure driving enjoyment of the Porsche Boxster Spyder won't come cheap - base pricing starts at $61,200 when it arrives in February 2010.

Gallery: LA 2009: 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading LA 2009: Porsche debuts lightweight 2011 Boxster Spyder

LA 2009: Porsche debuts lightweight 2011 Boxster Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Porsche Boxster Spyder

Noah Joseph — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Porsche

2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder - Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche drivers don't like waiting. That's why they buy a Porsche, after all. So while a few weeks might not seem like a long time for most people, to a Porsche driver used to rocketing to 60 miles per hour in four-point-right-now seconds, the span of weeks must seem like an eternity.

Although we're still weeks away from the LA Auto Show, where Porsche is set to unveil the new Boxster Spyder, Zuffenhausen has kept its enthusiasts placated with a fresh batch of photos showing its newest, lightest vehicle in all its glory. We'll be on hand for the unveiling next month, but before then check out the updated high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

[Source: Porsche]

Pics Aplenty: Porsche Boxster Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA Preview: Porsche reveals new lightweight Boxster Spyder [w/VIDEO]

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Porsche

Porsche Boxster Spyder - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're less than a month away from the LA Auto Show, which means that automakers are starting to dribble out some of what we'll be seeing there. The gang from Zuffenhausen will be rolling out a new lightweight edition of the Boxster dubbed "Spyder" especially for those who live where the sun shines and the roads twist. Like the classic 550 Spyders of the Fifties, the top mechanism in this new Boxster is merely a formality - rather than providing fully enclosed driving is more of a sun-shade than anything else.

Overall, Porsche's engineers have pared off about 176 pounds from the Spyder, bringing it down to 2,811 pounds. Propulsion comes via a direct-injected 3.4-liter boxer six with a 10 horsepower boost over the Boxster S for a total of 320. With the automaker's seven-speed PDK dual clutch gearbox, the Spyder gets to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and manages a combined 25.3 mpg (US) on the EU drive cycle.

In Porsche's time-honored "less is more" (money) world, the Boxster Spyder goes on sale in February 2010 with a base price $61,200. We're quite sure your local Porsche dealer will happily offer to put back some additional weight in your car in the form of options, but, hey - at least your wallet's heft will be pared back significantly to help offset the difference. For the rest of you dreamers, be sure to check out our high-res gallery below along with the some videos and the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading LA Preview: Porsche reveals new lightweight Boxster Spyder [w/VIDEO]

LA Preview: Porsche reveals new lightweight Boxster Spyder [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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