2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

November 9, 12:19 PMMilwaukee Sports Car ExaminerShields Bergstrom

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2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder. Photo courtesy of Porsche.

In keeping with the tradition of lightweight special editions, Porsche will debut a new version of the Boxster at this year's L.A. Auto Show. Called the 'Boxster Spyder,' the new addition to the Boxster line sheds some unnecessary flab and adds a bit of power.

The Spyder officially weighs in at 2,811 pounds, making it one of the lightest cars available from Porsche. Aluminum door skins fitted with the interior door panels from the GT3 RS help shed the pounds but most of the weight savings comes from getting rid of those pesky convenience items inside the car, such as a radio, air conditioning, navigation system, etc. All totaled, this adds up to a 176 pound weight savings of the normal Boxster.

Fortunately for us, Porsche knows that when you build a lightweight "purists" car, it's ALWAYS more fun with some extra power. The Spyder is fitted with the 3.4 liter six cylinder engine pumping out a respectable 320 horsepower, or 10 horsepower more than the Boxster S. When mated to the PDK twin-clutch transmission the Spyder can reach 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.8 seconds and continue on to a top speed of 166 mph (with the top down).

The new Spyder gets a slew of exterior tweaks including new rear deck which slightly resembles the Carrera GT's lines. A new rear spoiler, front and side vents and some slick rims help make the Spyder stand out from the other Boxster roaming the streets. Oh, and let's not forget the black 'Porsche' logo along the bottom of the doors, just in case you forget what kind of car you're driving. Porsche has also added a 'sports suspension', which apparently just lowers the car by 20 mm.

The Boxster Spyder will be on sale here in the U.S. in February 2010, with pricing set at about $61,000.

Overall, it would appear that Porsche has made some tasteful and 'fun' changes to the Boxster. But I am still puzzled by a couple things. First, why wasn't the Boxster built like this all along? And second, why is it that when a car company decides to create a special lightweight version of a car, in which nearly everything is removed, it always costs MORE than the better equipped standard car?

Here's a sample of the car in action:

 As always, let me know what you think, email me at: shieldsracing@gmail.com