8 December 2008

Porsche 911 & Boxster

The iconic Porsche 911 receives yet another makeover in 2011 with subtle modifications and refinements prevailing. For example the rear arches are slightly re-profiled, the door mirrors move from the window onto the actual doors themselves and the headlamps are slightly more sloped. As with every manufacturer Porsche {link} have improved emissions and reduced fuel consumption on the new 6 cylinder engines although there is nothing radically new to them nor to the PDK seven speed auto gearbox or manual six speed unit.
The turbo and GT versions of the new 911 will follow much later, as they always do _ more than likely late in 2012 for the Turbo with GT2/3 versions 8-10 months apart.

Once the Porsche showrooms have filled with the new 911 in 2012 the familiar (and recently updated) Boxster platform (Boxster and Cayman) receives an update. This time the update is more radical than that of the 911, although only in a mechanical sense as bodywork restyling remains subtle and minor. The new Boxster platform will see a small, turbocharged 4 cylinder engine make an appearance for the first time. Producing around 200-225PS the new engine will be fitted to entry level Boxsters in an attempt to improve their environmental status and impact. To aide the 4 cylinder Boxsters with performance weight saving measures are being developed, whether these will transfer over to the larger engined versions has yet to be seen.

Due before the 2012 update are two versions on the current platform; an RS performance orientated model and a 'top-chopped' Spyder model.

The new 4 cylinder entry level model on the Boxster platform could be seen as a move back towards the co-operation with Volkswagen on the 914 of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Wheter a cheaper version could be restyled to fit the Volkswagen brand a la Touareg/Cayenne remains to be seen.

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