Boxster S

Boxster S 3.2

I have now been told of the absolutely final official situation with the S. So no doubt it'll change again: Boxster S

It is due in April 1999.
$9,000 increase in price (£10,000 or so).
Visual changes will include a 3 hole front, a painted rear air intake, 996 style aluminium gear stick and 18" wheels. The exhaust has two huge round exit pipes. No ugly wings.
A friend of mine (who has to stay unnamed, you understand) has driven one - he says "The car is quite nice. I guestimate naught-60 in the low 5's and probably a 155 mph top speed. It is much stronger than a standard Boxster but, as you would imagine, a bit less than a 996. Handling and brakes are first rate. Bigger rubber and cross-drilled brake callipers seem to improve what was already a great car. Very racy exhaust note on the car that was here. Much deeper and raspier."
It'll have a 3.2 litre engine, with 250 bhp and a 7,000 rpm red line.
Think about it. 250 bhp is directly between the Boxster and the 996. But the same state of tune as the 2.5 litre would give 261 bhp. So by selecting a slightly greater capacity than required, they've gone for what everyone (me included) has said is missing: TORQUE.
6 speed gearbox as standard.
160 mph.
0-60 around 6 seconds.
As fast round Weissach as a 993.
It still may be offered with a sequential 6-speed computer controlled gearbox, with no clutch, alongside the conventional Tiptronic. This will be like a motorcycle 'box, but with a computer looking after the throttle and clutch for high speed changes. One steering wheel button will change up, the other down. One magazine dubbed this the "Wiptronic". Made by Bosch, allegedly.

The pictures here were taken by Tony Ramos (who is not the source for the rest of the material!). They are of a test car, hence the cosmetics are just as per the standard 2.5l car.

Boxster S Also, it has been confirmed that there absolutely definitely will be a Turbo. Don't know when, nor indeed anything else, other than it sounds like fun.

What I want is a regular Boxster, with a 300 bhp 996 engine and 6 speed box (should just drop in, having reversed the crown wheel and done some gear linkage fettling). So, Porsche, how much for a 996 lump? PX for a run in 2.5 litre unit a possibility...