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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Quick Spin: TPCRacing Cayman S Turbo picks up where Porsche left off

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Porsche, Quick Spins

TPCRacing Porsche Cayman S Turbo - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Porsche introduced the Cayman in 2006, one thing was abundantly clear: Porsche had muzzled its midship coupe to prevent cannibalizing 911 sales. Despite a more favorable weight distribution and an unflappable chassis, the Cayman lacked the power to exploit its excellent underpinnings, even in "S" guise. So like its Boxster sibling, the Cayman was destined to play second fiddle to Porsche's iconic rear-engine flagship. From a business perspective, Porsche's decision made sense. For enthusiasts, it was yet another bitter pill from Zuffenhausen.

When the Cayman underwent a refresh, there was always hope that a turbocharged variant would be included in the line-up. Predictably, that never happened. So the Cayman continued to stand on the lower/middle rung of the Porsche ladder, offering less power and a lower price than the 911. The Cayman could dance. It just needed an extra bit of oomph.

That's where Mike Levitas comes in. Mike is the brains behind TPCRacing of Jessup, MD. Born of a family of automotive tinkerers, Mike spent most of his formative years learning about turbos and turning that knowledge to race cars - fast, reliable race cars that won championships. Like most other Porsche enthusiasts, Mike thought the Cayman could use more power. Turbocharged power. But unlike most of the marque's devotees, Mike made it happen.

Gallery: Quick Spin: 2009 TPCRacing Cayman S Turbo

Continue reading Quick Spin: TPCRacing Cayman S Turbo picks up where Porsche left off

Quick Spin: TPCRacing Cayman S Turbo picks up where Porsche left off originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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