Now if this little SLK55 AMG will cost around $60K and it's got 355hp... and the new 987S has only got 280hp... and with a couple of options will easily cost $60K... doesn't that qualify as Porsche getting caught with their pants down?
Now admittedly the MB doesn't come with a manual transmission and they are only building 1,000 of them... so the 987 will still hold some territory. But man... what a threat to this market segment. Here is a little quote from the article.
http://www.autoblog.com/entry/3734287975341619/
"355 horsepower and 376 pound feet of torque is a superb mix and will turn all Porsche Boxster S owners green with envy. Unfortunately the engine is matched to a seven-speed automatic with manual control on the steering wheel and shifter. Even without a manual transmission this beast is a beauty too."
...and here is a quote from the original edmunds.com article.
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/firstdrive/103166/article.html?tid=edmunds.h..wkedmunds.firstdrive.1 g.*
" ...the SLK55 AMG is a thoroughly competent sports car now, with everything it needs to be a comfortable, capable high-performance standout. The bad news is that the price will end up round about $60,000, and there will only be about 1,000 cars a year sent to the U.S. market, with the first shipment only weeks away."
It sounds like the theory of keeping the Boxster out of 911 territory only lets competitors move in on the segment. Porsche should just go for it and build a turbo Boxster to defeat cars like this AMG.