Los Angeles Auto Show: 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder
The 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder will go on sale in February of 2010. Anticipation is already high even though Porsche won't officially introduce the car until the Los Angeles Auto Show in December.
Modeled after a combination of the 1953 550 Spyder and the open-cockpit RS Spyder Le Mans prototype, the 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder is made from some of the most successful and popular Porsches in history. With the soft top closed and the single-piece rear deck lid, the Spyder steals the looks of the Carrera GT supercar.
This new Spyder is a bit more race-inspired than past models. That may be because the 550 was Porsche's first car made specifically for the race track. It eventually found its way on to public roads and furthered its victories in then-popular road races. Both the original Spyder and the newest model share low weight, supreme agility and the mid-engine.
Porsche packed more power into a lighter body with a lower center of gravity and included an all-new sports suspension. The car weighs in at 2,811 pounds, making it the lightest Porsche model. The 3.4-liter, six-cylinder direct fuel injection engine is placed in front of the rear axle, positioning it for the ideal weight distribution in this light-weight car.
The horsepower doesn't qualify as lightweight, coming in at 320. For most enthusiasts, the 0 - 60 time of 4.8 seconds is worth taking a look at. This is achieved with the help from Porsche's PDK double-clutch gearbox and the Sports Chrono Package. With the soft top down, the Boxster Spyder reaches a top speed of 166 miles per hour on the track. Since you won't be driving this fast on an open road, with or without the top down, it's a safe bet that the 2010 Boxster Spyder will be faster than almost any car next to you at a red light.
The interior of the Porsche isn't exactly luxurious, but being born in a family of race car types, it focuses on driving. Regular door handles have been replaced with fabric door pools like those found in the 911 GT3 RS. Lightweight sport bucket seats include large side bolsters and are made with a carbon fiber shell. Optional interior equipment includes automatic climate control and a radio.
See this new Porsche at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show in December or watch for it on a street near you at the beginning of the 2010 year. The new 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder will be a production vehicle, not a special edition, and will have a base price starting around $72,000, making it easily accessible to most Porsche fans.