the following is from Autoweek (this week) -- check it out at
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews &loc_code=index&content_code=05753133
(May 29, 2004)
Into the Sunshine: 2005 Porsche Boxster revealed in roadster guises
Here's how Porsche's second-generation Boxster will look when it heads into showrooms across North America less than a year from now.
PORSCHE’S POPULAR MID-ENGINE entry-level roadster is extensively reworked for 2005 with many changes that promise to make this second-generation model as memorable as the original when it was launched in 1996.
Codenamed 987, the 2005 Boxster will be built in both roadster and coupe guises in a move to boost Porsche sales beyond the record levels of the 2002 model. The roadster appears first, at the Detroit auto show next January; the coupe’s premiere comes at Frankfurt in September 2005.
Mirroring changes to the next 911 due in September, the Boxster’s exterior is subtly redesigned with oval headlights, separate turn indicators and new angular taillights. Bodywork is more muscular and 911 Turbo-style ducts are adopted up front to feed the front-mounted radiator. The engine is cooled by enlarged air ducts extending farther down the side of the body than on today’s model and dissected by four louvers to channel the air backward in a more efficient manner.
Other exterior changes include the door-handle pulls (vs. the current flap style) and a slightly wider rear spoiler to increase downforce at speeds above 75 mph.
Power for the revamped Boxster comes from two lightly reworked horizontally opposed engines—the existing 2.7-liter and 3.2-liter units each gaining around 10 hp and a considerable boost in low-end torque. An optional six-speed Tiptronic with steering wheel-mounted shift buttons will join a carryover six-speed manual. The double-clutch unit coming on the new 911 should be offered later on the Boxster, according to Porsche insiders.
The new Boxster rides on similar underpinnings to today’s eight-year-old model, but its MacPherson strut suspension hardware uses lighter components and a wider track for greater responsiveness and grip. The car also gets lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels—as seen on this prototype—to reduce unsprung weight.
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