Porsche Boxster Spyder road test

Porsche first used the Spyder name for a sports roadster in 1953, when it introduced the 550 Spyder (the car that, famously, James Dean was driving when he died). For over half a century, the name has only been used for very special models such as the 909 Bergspyder, 718 RSK Spyder and the RS Spyder Le Mans Prototype race car, and now it has been given to a special edition of its “entry-level” mid-engined roadster, the Boxster. But is Porsche indulging in a marketing-inspired devaluation, or is the Boxster Spyder really special enough to justify using a name so steeped in heritage?

With a purchase price of £46,387, the Boxster Spyder isn’t cheap: in fact, it’s about £6,000 more than the Boxster S model it’s based on. On top of that, there’s a fairly extensive options list that can add back in some of the features that have been taken out (air con, radio, sat nav, etc), plus the likes of ceramic brakes (£5,349,) PDK automatic gearbox (£1,962) and sports seats (£2,049) that will quickly rack up the price of the car. Indeed, initial buyers are spending £56,000-57,000 speccing their cars. It won’t be exactly cheap to run,

Porsche Boxster Spyder

Porsche is introducing a new top version of the Porsche Boxster, a light mid-engined roadster making its world debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show in December. Weighing just 1,275 kg or 2,811 lb, the 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder is the lightest model throughout the entire range of Porsche cars.


The Boxster Spyder features a 3.4-litre six-cylinder with Direct Fuel Injection upfront of the rear axle. Maximum output is 320 bhp, 10 bhp more than in the Boxster S. Equipped with the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) twin-clutch transmission and the Sports Chrono Package, the new Spyder, using Launch Control, accelerates from a standstill to 62mph in 4.8 seconds The Porsche Boxster Spyder top speed, in turn, is 267 km/h or 166 mph – with the roof open.