Boxster Spyder

As we always say a video is worth...love the "retro lettering" on the car.

The Porsche press release:

HARDCORE PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER TO DEBUT IN LOS ANGELES

Purist roadster is more powerful, more efficient, more extreme –
and will be the lightest Porsche when it goes on sale in March

MISSISSAUGA – November 5, 2009 --- Porsche AG will introduce the lightest, most powerful and most extreme version yet of the Boxster at the Los Angeles Motor Show in December. Weighing just 1,275 kg, the mid-engined Boxster Spyder is in fact the lightest Porsche model, representing the traditional Porsche sports car values of light weight, efficient performance, nimble handling and open-air driving pleasure.

The Boxster Spyder’s formula is derived from Porsche’s most successful road-going sports and racing cars, like the legendary 550 Spyder and the open-cockpit RS Spyder Le Mans prototype. It continues Porsche’s philosophy of homologating race cars for the road, reflecting a common wish expressed by Porsche customers.

The new member of the Boxster family was developed first and foremost for driving in the open air. The low-slung, lightweight manual soft top extends in a seductive sweep to the rear. When closed, its silhouette, together with the extra-low side windows and the two striking bulges on the single-piece rear decklid, is reminiscent of the Carrera GT supercar.

More power than the Boxster S, significantly less weight, a lower centre of gravity and an all-new sports suspension give the Boxster Spyder the driving dynamics to back up its looks. Power comes from a 3.4-litre six-cylinder with Direct Fuel Injection mounted in front of the rear axle. Maximum output is 320 bhp, 10 bhp more than in the Boxster S.

Equipped with Porsche’s PDK double-clutch gearbox and the Sports Chrono Package, the new Spyder accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, while fuel consumption is a mere 9.3 L/100 km on the New European Driving Cycle. Top track speed is 267 km/h with the roof open.

In terms of its fundamental concept, the entire Boxster family is the spiritual successor to the legendary 550 Spyder, built back in 1953. Both models share the same mid-engine roadster concept, low weight and supreme agility. The 550 Spyder was the first sports car that Porsche developed specifically for racing, but which was also homologated for the road. Weighing just 550 kg, the 550 Spyder scored numerous victories on race circuits and in the road races so popular at the time; it was followed by other extremely successful Porsche Spyders such as the 718 RS 60 in 1960.

Like its racy exterior, the interior of the Boxster Spyder is stripped-down and focused purely on driving pleasure. Automatic climate control and a radio are optional, while the standard sport bucket seats feature a lightweight design with carbon-fibre shell and larger side bolsters. Fabric door pulls, like in the 911 GT3 RS, replace the traditional door handles.

Unlike the special-edition 550 Spyder and RS60 Spyder models introduced in 2004 and 2008, the new Boxster Spyder is a regular production model, despite its far-reaching design and technical changes from the Boxster S.

The Porsche Boxster Spyder will go on sale in February 2010, at a base price of $72,900.

Vro9m Ro9m

Good Morning!

We know its noticeably cooler, the cappuccino is hot, the biscotti are out of this world this morning, make yourself comfortable.

All the planning might not have worked, this week we were fortunate to have our own "Camaro week" we posted the comparison yesterday, with the review of the 2010 Camaro SS in the making. We shared our thoughts on muscle cars and pony cars, just scroll down if you missed them. 

The SEMA show opened a few days ago, its not as large or outlandish as years past from what we heard, and again there are lots of Camaros including the Jay Leno Camaro. The nice thing about SEMA, it captures the imagination, it fuels the imagination, and give the aftermarket segment of the industry a reason to get together and do some business. 

The bulk of the aftermarket activites tend to fly under everyone radar screen, its unglamorous most of the time except for SEMA. Its a huge segment of the automotive industry.

Think of vehicles as iPhones and the aftermarket supplying apps.

Chrysler presented their 5 year plan on Wednesday, in 2009 a 5 year plan is quite an undertaking, fraught with dangers, uncertainties, and skepticism. Good for Fiat to finally show increased transparency, and give an indication of how they see the world. If it would not be for our money Chrysler would be extinct, and if it would not be for Fiat Chrysler would not be there either.

Lets give these folks a chance, and lets see what happens. They are facing a serious upstream swim.

Is it a surprise that Toyota pulled out of F1? There is a huge difference between having the resources to participate in F1, and having the intellectual commitment to win in F1. Toyota like Honda, like BMW are all realizing that they do not have the intellectual commitment to win in F1. The other point, does F1 deserve the intellectual commitment? Its a two way street, lets hope that Jean Todt brings a breath of fresh perspectives.

Racing series have to be relevant, win the intellect and hearts of spectators, if the series is losing ground with spectators....need we say much more. The series that are in real trouble are also the ones that have been the most successful at one time. 

Why did Warren Buffett buy Burlington Northern? Did he need the biggest train set on the planet? Hear from the man himself. His perspective is interesting and informative.

In the Opel saga should Frank Stronach be happy or disappointed? 

Did you know that Fords just launched an inflatable seat belt?

Some cool stuff from Dean's Garage...80's GM Image Cars.

This is a fascinating read, gives you an idea of what it was like years ago to get information and the feel of exotic cars...Karl Ludvigsen road testing and sharing his impressions of a Tipo 61 Birdcage Maserati, take a moment to read the article.

Facebook for Business

Another cool and informative presentation...

 

Thinking Visually

This is cool, informative....

 

Pony Car

1964 MustangIn the early 1960's Lee Iacocca took a Falcon platform turned it into the Mustang, and proceeded to capture the hearts and minds of the time, and catch all the other manufacturers flat footed. Today it would be considered a new and innovative market segment.

Combine the Mustang with Shelby (GT350) and suddenly here is an interesting mix, where the cars can be raced on the track, not just drag raced. Ford has a 289 cu.in small block which is the engine of choice in the Mustang. 

If Ford can do it with a Falcon platform, GM takes a Chevy II platform and turn it into the Camaro and Firebird, and Chrysler does the same with the Challenger and Barracuda. 

What made these cars very popular was the Trans Am race series, and the classical case of "Race-Win-Sell" with Ford / GM / Chrysler / AM very involved with "technical assistance" for the various Trans Am teams of the time. 

The Trans Am series had 5 Litre engine ruling, the image of these cars was mostly with a "small block" engine.

Pony car comes from the early Mustang ads showing a mustang (pony), the GM versions were known as F cars at the time. A Mustang, Camaro, Challenger is not a muscle car, never was one. 

The halo effect of being able to buy from the showroom floor what was raced on Sunday in the Trans Am series, be it a Boss 302 Mustang, Z28 Camaro, Challenger T/A in the late 1960's it was really cool at the time. The cars were a disaster for street use, while making a powerful statement. You had to be a hard core gearhead to endure the quirks of a Boss 302 or Z28, on the street with absolutely no low end torque, mechanical lifters, monster carburators, fouled plugs, oil consumption, the engine was the sound system in the car. At the same time from about 3,500 RPM to 7,000 RPM hang on its an interesting ride. 

In addition components used on the race version, had to be made available on the street version sold in a showroom, 4 wheels disc brakes, cross ram intake manifolds are some examples. The acid dipping and other imaginative tricks were not openly discussed.

Pony cars, they were doing double racing duty, road racing in the Trans Am series, and since the engines from the muscle cars would easily drop into them, drag racing with big blocks. 

With sportier/distinctive styling, generally less power, better handling, and better brakes pony cars have been more enduring, than muscle cars. Another feature was the minimal rear seat, and trunk. Pony cars we not family cars.

In the Trans Am series the cars were raced aggressively, with Mark Donahue, Parnelli Jones, Sam Posey, Jim Hall, Dan Gurney to mention a few driving, and would regularly trade paint. That Ford and GM were rivals actively competing would be an understatement...they were arch rivals!

At a time of no computers, no internet, no cell phones, no online forums, every gearhead was on the leading edge of all the available information, and often knew all the codes for the obscure options to get a car with an edge. 

We invite you to share your thoughts, opinions, and Pony Car experiences.