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Those health nuts are on to something. Lighter and more trim is better where agility, energy efficiency and athleticism are concerned - and it's much the same in the automotive world.
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Justin Pritchard/PaceNews
The 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder is a lightweight and fast sports car.
But in the same way a standard human can't realistically slash the carb-caked pretzels, pizza and pasta entirely from their diet, a standard car can't realistically slash features like its air conditioning, cruise control and stereo system.
But the Porsche Boxster Spyder is no standard car. In an un-salted nutshell, this particular Boxster model is an engineering exercise in high-performance lightweight construction. It effectively puts the standard Boxter, svelte as it was, on a diet that makes it the lightest Porsche currently available.
Aluminum doors, lightweight wheels, and a revised rear cover all trim weight, making the Boxster Spyder faster and less thirsty. Engineers even installed a smaller fuel tank, shrank the front fog lights, fitted a special lightweight battery and yanked the speed-deployable spoiler from the standard car in favour of a fixed unit.
Inside, door handles are replaced by fabric tug straps, storage cubbies are all but deleted and the standard equipment list doesn't even include a radio, cupholders or air conditioning.
Even the one-piece, one-way-adjustable racing bucket seats are made of carbon-fibre. These are comfortable and sportily snug once settled into, and they're also the biggest clue that drivers are about to turn the key on something very, very serious once they finagle their way into to the cockpit.
Finagle?
Yes.
Like a race-car, there's no graceful way into or out of the Boxster Spyder. There's also limited at-hand storage for your stuff, limited rearward visibility, a rough ride, and plenty of road and wind noise.
Part of that wind noise comes from the Spyder's unique, lightweight roof.
The heavy motorized unit has been replaced with a primitive soft top that's erected and removed via a special dance involving tabs, clips, latches and careful folding. It's like setting up a tent.
Drivers need to be careful not to scrape the rear of the car with the various bits of hardware and cables that may dangle from the top in the process. This roof isn't quiet or air tight, and one could even slip their hand into the car between the roof and window with a bit of effort. It does keep heat nicely within the cabin though, even in sub-zero temperatures.
In all, working and living with this new lightweight roof may be a bit of a pain, but top-down cruising in a car like this does provide plenty of redemption. That's especially true when firing its exotic, wailing exhaust note off of nearby buildings, tunnel walls and motorists.
A hand-built 3.4 litre flat six engine is mounted down low just behind the passenger compartment. The engine is only accessible from underneath so it can't be seen-- but boy oh boy, can you ever hear it.
With the optional performance exhaust kit put in its 'loud' setting, drivers, their lucky passenger and everyone within about a half a mile can clearly hear the engine's every breath. Each touch of the throttle is met with an aggressive increase in exhaust volume and forward momentum, and downshifting to pass is strictly optional.
Shifted fast and hard, Boxster Spyder leaps into the next gear, especially with the optional short-throw shifter fitted. Drivers will likely find excuses to swap cogs as often as possible, even if the engine will happily pull things along from under 2000 RPM.
Opened up, the high-strung mill flings the Spyder's body down the road and out of corners with tremendous urgency, and thrust piles on heavily towards the 7,500 RPM redline.
This engine performs best when its spinning fast, and sound effects will likely play in the heads of drivers while they try to sleep.
Add in the stiff clutch and a lightning-quick, road-reading steering system, and you've got a drop-top that really and truly sucks its pilot into the experience of performance motoring. Of course, the lowered suspension, stiffened springs and widened track kick up the Boxster's already-exceptional handling even further. You work to drive this car fast, but its endlessly rewarding.
Despite the performance, it gets very good highway cruising mileage, too. With both a trunk and a 'frunk', there's even plenty of space for two people's worth of luggage.
Still, and obviously, this isn't a car for everyone.
Boxster Spyder is cramped, rough, noisy and short on interior space. But for those after a world-class, top-down driving experience unparalleled in hardcore factor and simplicity, it makes plenty of sense. As a performance car that puts on a show for its driver, the Boxster Spyder absolutely hits the nail on the head.
As an exclusive, no-B.S. performance weapon, it's a one-of-a-kind machine.
porsche boxster pictures
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porsche boxster photos
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