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Porsche Boxster 981 (2012-...)

Date of unveil by Porsche AG:: January 12, 2012
Date and place of world premiere:: March 6, 2012 Geneva Motor Show
Date of world-wide market launch:: April 14, 2012

From this angle the Carrera GT design features are most notable© Porsche AG

Technical specification

Modification	Gearbox	Engine	Power	Torque	0-60 mph	0-100 km/h	Vmax	Weight	Power-to-weight
Boxster 981	manual 6-speed	2.7B6	195 kW	280 Nm / 206 lb.-ft.	5.5 sec.	5.8 sec.	264 km/h / 164 mph	1310 kg / 2888 lbs.	149 W/kg / 67.5 W/lbs
	PDK 7-speed	2.7B6	195 kW	280 Nm / 206 lb.-ft.	5.4 sec.	5.7 sec.	262 km/h / 162 mph	1340 kg / 2954 lbs.	146 W/kg / 66.0 W/lbs
Boxster 981 S	manual 6-speed	3.4B6	232 kW	360 Nm / 266 lb.-ft.	4.8 sec.	5.1 sec.	279 km/h / 173 mph	1320 kg / 2910 lbs.	176 W/kg / 79.7 W/lbs
	PDK 7-speed	3.4B6	232 kW	360 Nm / 266 lb.-ft.	4.7 sec.	5.0 sec.	277 km/h / 172 mph	1350 kg / 2976 lbs.	172 W/kg / 78.0 W/lbs

Never before in the history of the Boxster was a change of generation so comprehensive. It has lower weight (minus 25-35 kg / 55-77 lbs depending on the modification, compared to 987mk2), is longer (+32 mm / 1.3"), has much longer wheelbase (+60 mm / 2.4") and is lower (-10 mm / 0.4"). Width is exactly the same. The engine in the Boxster S is basically the same 3.4-litre as was in the 987mk2 Boxster S, just +4 kW, but the engine in the standard Boxster is again a 2.7-litre unit compared to the 2.9-litre in 987mk2 Boxster. Still, the power has been increased +7 kW.

Boxster 981 S vs. 911 991 Carrera Cabriolet - let the numbers speak!

Porsche	No. of seats	Gearbox	Engine	kW	lb-ft	Nm	0-60 mph	0-100 km/h	mph	km/h	kg	lbs	W/lbs	W/kg
Boxster 981 S	2 seats	manual 6-speed	3.4B6	232	266	360	4.8 sec.	5.1 sec.	173	279	1320	2910	79.7	176
991 Carrera Cabriolet	4 seats	manual 7-speed	3.4B6	257	287	390	4.8 sec.	5.0 sec.	178	286	1450	3197	80.4	177

With the comparable equipment level (2-zone AC, leather seats, interior surveillance), the Boxster S is 39% cheaper than the 991 Carrera Cabriolet. You think the Porsche rear seats are expensive, but this is Porsche's way to fight the overpopulation, the greatest threath for the mankind at the moment.

Manual 6-speed gearbox comes as standard and the 7-speed PDK is available as an option. Manual gearbox is by far more involving and therefore much more fun to drive. © Porsche AG

Geneva Motor Show 2012. Woflgang Porsche and Michael Mauer.

Production locations

The Boxster 981 production started in Porsche's main factory in Stuttgart in the beginning of 2012. On September 19, 2012, the production was also started in Volkswagen's plant in Osnabrück to have more production capacity for 911 in Stuttgart. In Osnabrück a small plant was opened in March 2011 for VW Golf Cabriolet production and for future production of Porsche 981 Boxster and Cayman. This is not the first time that vehicles have been produced for Porsche here. For example, in the 1960s 356 Hardtop Coupé bodies were made here, 1969-1975 914 was produced here and in the 1990s the bodies for 968 were made. From the start of the 981 production in Stuttgart, Volkswagen Osnabrück GmbH has been supplying the rear and side parts of the car.
Initially, the 981 production was agreed with Magna Steyr car factory in Graz, Austria, but after Volkswagen's takeover, their own plant was naturally chosen.

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