Car Throttle

The Boxster's been around for 15 years now.  It's funny that it still feels new, but I suppose a Porsche with the engine in the right place is still a fresh concept - relatively speaking.  Porsche unveiled the third generation of the mid-engined sportscar today ahead of it's debut at Geneva, and in typical Porsche fashion they've made everything slightly better. While the new Boxster looks similar to the old one - why mess with a good recipe? - the chassis is all new.  Like the 991, the new Boxster has a longer wheelbase, wider track width, and shorter overhangs.  The biggest change is a switch to an aluminum body - so even though it's larger than the outgoing model, it's lighter as well.  The

Sports cars come in all shapes and sizes. The question of "what constitutes a sports car?" is not one with an easy answer.  Some people would say "Well, it's got to have two seats, and a folding roof."  So, the Mitsubishi Evo isn't a sports car?  "Well, it's got to be really fast."  So the Mazda Miata isn't a sports car?  "Well, it has to be rear-wheel-drive."  So the Honda CRX isn't a sports car? The definition of a sports car is an ethereal, ever-changing thing.  30 years ago, there were no such things as sports sedans.  Sedans for were for boring people, sports cars were for exciting people with rockstar lives.  The original BMW M5 punched a solid hole through that theory, and today we've

Hybrids.  Blech.  Sick of hearin' about em. I don't know if you are too.  Electric motors, like CVT's, don't do a whole lot for me.  I like gasoline engines, the sound of a working valvetrain, the ticking of injectors, the blare of quad exhaust pipes on the back of a Carrera S as it pulls off of a stoplight.  I doubt Porsche really likes hybrids either, which is why it's been doing them it's own way.  In the past few days, details have snuck out regarding two Porsches with electric motors, and both are interesting from an enthusiast perspective. First up is the Boxster E.  Oh, lord - an Electric Boxster?  That's just what we need.  Take the flat six out of the world's most

Another day, another Porsche. The brand that seems focussed on making as many possible derivatives off of as few chassis as possible introduced their latest flavor today, the Cayman R.  Think of it as a Boxster Spyder without the goofy teepee-tent roof, or if you like think of it as a lighter, harder, more basic Cayman S.  However you explain it, it looks like a seriously delicious recipe. Primarily, they've focussed on a making it a better driver's car the right way: less weight, faster responses.  The Cayman R is 121 pounds lighter than the normal Cayman S, weighing in at only 2,855lbs.  The weight loss program is similar to it's topless brother, the Boxster Spyder.  It includes lightweight sport seats, super lightweight alloys, leather straps

Price cuts are always good for consumers. Lately, a lot of incentives have been thrown around in the marketplace in the form of low financing and rebates. Toyota in particular has been racheting them up, along with a big advertising campaign, in a bid to increase sales in the face of the unintended acceleration controversy. Price cuts are a different thing though, and they are coming to a brand that usually (make that never) sees them -Porsche. Let's just just call it a stimulus for the rich. The strength of the Canadian dollar has led Porsche to reduce prices on it's lineup in the country - by about two percent overall. The Porsche Boxster  now comes in at $55,600 ($55,467 U.S.) vs. $59,600 ($59,457 U.S.), and the Cayenne at $54,200

The Los Angeles International Auto Show still isn't upon us yet, but Porsche isn't waiting until then to release everything it has on the new Spyder. Rather than letting information leak out ahead of the show, they are releasing the information themselves - with the first Spyder release and as well as driving footage. Along with the recent Evolution 911 competition, this is all part of a plan to get the focus back on product. Fine by me! The Boxster Spyder gets a 10 horsepower  bump over the Boxster S, bringing the total to 320. With the top down, it races to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. Exclusive wheels, a new sport suspension that lowers the Spyder by 20 millimeters, and a standard limited

The Porsche Boxster Spyder was just released today, and it will be making it's debut at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The Boxster Spyder is the lightest model in the Porsche lineup, weighing in at 2,811 pounds, about 176 pounds less than the standard car. Weight reductions are achieved by the lightweight Spyder-specific top and the use of aluminum door skins from the 911 GT3 RS. Today's announcemment included high-resolution images, but Porsche has also made a video of driving footage showing the Boxster Spyder winding its way through the mountains. Usually we have to wait a bit longer for such videos to be released. Thanks, Porsche! httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5dWGX1iVcc

The Los Angeles International Auto Show is just a month away, and Porsche is already getting around to releasing a new model. The Boxster has been a great seller for Porsche in the past, but sales of the mid-engined roadster have been particularly hard hit in the downturn. A new Boxster model, possibly powered by an Audi engine, might be in the works to try and increase sales. Until then, Porsche is content to introduce this new model - and it is more than just a trim level. The Boxster Spyder puts a particular emphasis on weight reduction, with Porsche pegging it as a successor to the classic 550 Spyder. As such, the Boxster Spyder is the lightest model in the Porsche lineup, weighing in at 2,811

With the on-again/off-again, now maybe on-again entry-level Porsche roadster that was rumored to be produced uncertain, it looks like Porsche is considering all options. While Porsche is still making a good amount of money in it's core business selling cars, sales have still been hit by this recession just like everyone else. In particular, sales of the Boxster are down by some 60% for the year 2009. So what is Porsche to do? Why, cut prices of course! How they're might do so is the interesting part. Auto Motor & Sport is reporting that Porsche is considering putting the engine from Audi's TT-RS into the Boxster for an entry level model. Yes, you heard that right - an Audi engine in the Boxster. I think it's more of