Looking forward to seeing more info on this car.

 

Driving the rear wheels through a conventional manual gearbox – although a PDK twin-clutch could be offered too
– the new sub-Boxster machine will arrive in 2014.

There are no details regarding performance, but weighing around 1,200kg, the two-seater should be able to do 0-60mph in around 6.0 seconds
and hit a top speed of 145mph. But it will also be efficient, returning 40mpg and emitting less than 160g/km of CO2 thanks to start-stop.

With a manually operated folding canvas roof, the two seater 550 will be a very back-to-basics Porsche. Smaller than the Boxster, it will be even more agile and one of the most driver-focused cars in the line-up.

 

update:


4 cylinder engine for the 551, Boxster, Cayman officially in the works


http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110905/CARNEWS/110909935




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I think if this comes in a coupe variant, people who want a smaller coupe have found their car.

I'm interested. There is no way I could daily this thing, but it looks like it could be a lot of fun on track.

 

I'd have to agree that it is 'wrong'... only because the way this is turning out, it's going to be more of a tuner.

 

Why can't they just make a faster and better looking Boxster, I know it will be close to the 911 but to be honest it's a different car. The Boxster is a 2 seater Roadster, even the 911 Cabrios are not Roadsters so what's the big deal. They should make a Boxster GT3 with ~450hp flat-6 or even 500 like the GT3 4.0 and make it affordable. Yes, performance and affordable aren't friends but they'll sell alot. People love the Boxster chassis and if they made it properly fast even JC would stop calling it "the Porsche for people who can't afford a 911". I love the Boxster but it needs more power. A 4 cyl Boxster is just....NO. If you want fuel economy don't buy a sportscar. Besides the new PDK Porsche's have great fuel economy considering their performance. Please don't ruin the Boxster's look, make it nice looking and give it an NA flat-6 with ~380hp and then make a Boxster GT3 and give it ~450-500hp flat-6 like the GT3 4.0

 

I like your optimism. I understand, and do not necessarily disagree...

Why not put the expected power in the Porsches? Why purposely hold them back? I can't see that weight is that much different between the layouts. Why not use the same engines in the Boxster, Cayman, and 911 (and Boxster S, Cayman S, and 911S)?

Not only does this make sense logistically (cutting costs, by reducing the variants of engine blocks), but it may sell more of the lower models (I realize that Porsche knows this, and purposely markets these accordingly). For those who want the 911, they will still have the 911.

 

looks like a pontiac solstice

 

You have a good point. There is a company out there that does a wonderful job (in terms of power increase and reliability, and what more could one want?) turbocharging the Cayman/Boxster. They have done, I believe, close to 100 mods if not more. Look at the money Porsche is passing up by not doing this themselves. I guess I don't understand corperate thinking.

 

YES! Please give one to TPC for me, then I will buy it

 

You read my mind!

 

And that is my intention since Porsche won't do it!

 

I like your attitude. I am curious to c if the 4 banger they put in will b powerful enough to pull the weight. Anyone know what this things curb weight will b?

 

Has it been written whether they'll be developing their own engine or sharing something like the Audi/VW 2.0T for such an application?

 

From a profit perspective (similar to Porsche), it would make sense to use platform sharing to cut costs.

No need to reinvent the wheel, err... engine.