To appease calls for a much faster Boxster, Porsche displayed a new high performance flagship version alongside the 2.7 at Frankfurt in ‘99: the 3.2-litre Boxster S. However, Porsche knew the 217bhp machine would not be enough to satisfy some of their customers and it was obvious the Boxster platform was capable of handling considerably more power - its Flat 6 engine was after all shared with the 996 (simply de-tuned in order to not take sales away from its bigger brother). The Boxster 2.7 was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1999.

Three years after production began, Porsche discontinued the original 201bhp 2.5-litre Boxster in favour of a 2.7-litre iteration. One aspect of the efficiency gains came in parts compatability – the Boxster shared an array of mechanical and body components with the 996-type 911 that arrived in September 1997. Having consulted with Toyota and instigated new cost-effective manufacturing techniques, the Boxster began a bright new era for Porsche. In addition to low sales volume for a range of models that could all trace their origins back to the 1970s, Porsche was hampered by outdated and inefficient production methods. However, sales figures for this model alone were not sufficient for a firm of Porsche’s size the old and increasingly unpopular 968 and 928 were shifting in tiny numbers.

Prior to the Boxster’s arrival, the 993-type 911 had instigated a tentative revival beginning in the autumn of 1993. The resultant Type 986 Boxster was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1996 and production began the following August.ĭuring the next three years, Porsche built over 55,000 Boxsters which had a transformative effect on the company’s balance sheet. Inspired by a pair of Audi concept cars in late 1991 (the Quattro Spyder and Avus), Porsche decided to create a design study for a new two-seat Roadster: the Boxster.Īfter the Boxster Studie took the Detroit Motor Show by storm in January 1993, Porsche management gave the green light to develop a production version.

Porsche booxter s