As good as Porsche’s 718 Boxster and Cayman are, they possess a significant Achilles heel: the engine. While the Subaru-like, turbocharged, 2.5-liter boxer fours provided superior performance and alleged fuel economy, they lacked the atmospheric noise and character of the flat-sixes that graced Boxsters and Caymans (Caymen?) of years past.
According to a report by Autocar, however, Porsche will be giving the Boxster its flat-six mojo back in the form of the upcoming 718 Boxster Spyder. It won’t be using just any old flat-six either, as Porsche plans to give the new Spyder the 4.0-liter, naturally-aspirated screamer straight out of the firm’s 911 GT3.
The GT3 engine. In a Boxster. Where the hell do we sign?
“Natural aspiration is one of our main USPs,” Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger told the British publication. “At Motorsport, we think we can achieve throttle response and immediacy a little bit better with an atmospheric high-revving engine than any kind of turbo.” Exactly how much horsepower the 4.0-liter flat-six will make in the 718 Boxster Spyder remains the subject of speculation. But considering the 911 GT3 produces 493 hp while the next-level-down 718 GTS twins produce 361 hp, an estimate in the lower-mid 400s is not a bad guess. The Spyder is expected to come with the driver’s choice of seven-speed PDK or six-speed manual transmissions.
As with previous Boxster Spyders, the 718 rendition will reportedly get a weight reduction, no infotainment or air conditioning—although we wouldn’t be surprised if Porsche includes an option to add them back in at no additional cost—a motorless soft-top that requires you to manually pitch a small tent every time you’d like the roof up, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
