Porsche Boxster

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The Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman are mid-engined two-seater sports cars manufactured and marketed by German automobile manufacturer Porsche across four generations - as a 2-door, 2-passenger roadster (Boxster) and a 3-door, 2-passenger fastback coupe (Cayman). The first generation Boxster was introduced in 1996; the second generation Boxster and the Cayman arrived in late 2005; and the third generation launched in 2012. Since the introduction of the fourth generation in 2016, the two models are marketed as the Porsche 718 Boxster and Porsche 718 Cayman. The Boxster and Cayman have been manufactured in Stuttgart (Zuffenhausen), Germany (1996-present) as well as Uusikaupunki, Finland by Valmet (1997-2011) and Osnabrück, Germany (2012-present). The nameplate Boxster is a portmanteau of boxer, a reference to its flat or boxer engine engine, and roadster, a reference to the body style. The nameplate Cayman is an alternative spelling of caiman, a reptile in the alligator family.

 

The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engined two-seater roadster. It was Porsche's first road vehicle to be designed as a roadster since the 550 Spyder. The first-generation Boxster (the 986) was introduced in late 1996; it was powered by a 2.5-liter flat six-cylinder engine. The design was heavily influenced by the 1992 Boxster Concept. In 2000, the base model was upgraded to a 2.7-liter engine and the new Boxster S variant was introduced with a 3.2-liter engine. In 2003, styling and engine output was upgraded on both variants.

Production of the 986 began at the former Porsche 928 facility in Stuttgart, Germany in 1996. Valmet Automotive also manufactured Boxesters under contract to Porsche at a facility in Uusikaupunki, Finland. The Boxster was Porsche's biggest volume seller from its introduction in 1996 until the company introduced the Cayenne sport utility vehicle in 2003. As of September 2012, additional production of the 981 started at the former Karmann-factory in Osnabrück. [2] In 2005, Porsche debuted the second generation of Boxster, the type 987, with a more powerful engine and styling inspired by the Carrera GT. Engine output increased in 2007, when both Boxster models received the engines from their corresponding Porsche Cayman variants.

In 2009, the Boxster models received several new cosmetic and mechanical upgrades, further increasing engine output and performance. The third generation Boxster (type 981) was launched at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The Boxster's name is derived from the word "boxer", referring to the vehicle's flat or "boxer" engine, and the word "roadster", referring to the vehicle's two-seater capacity and convertible top.