Content

• New Refinement for 2001
• Fast Facts
• Standard and Optional Equipment
• Technical Specifications
• Porsche® Boxster® and Boxster® S for 2001: Specification and Feature Comparison

PORSCHE® BOXSTER® OFFERS STABILITY SYSTEM FOR 2001

New Refinement for 2001

ATLANTA – The mid-engine Porsche® Boxster®, fresh from receiving a larg e r, more powerful engine for model-year 2000, gains a significant safety and handling benefit for 2001 with the newly optional Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system. In addition, numerous refinements to the content and appearance keep the Boxster ahead of the growing pack of competitive challengers.

Essentially, PSM can help keep the Boxster going in the direction the driver steers – on slippery or dry road surfaces. The PSM system replaces the previous optional traction control system, but still provides a traction control function for slippery surfaces. First introduced on the 911™ Carrera® 4, PSM uses data from several sensor inputs to detect a loss of grip at the front or rear. PSM can reduce instability by applying braking to individual wheels and, if necessary, altering engine power.

The PSM system operates so quickly that most drivers likely will not feel it make corrections. The driver can disengage PSM with a dashboard switch. However, for safety, PSM will engage under braking and then disengage when the driver lifts off the brake. While confident in the system’s ability as a dynamic handling aid, Porsche cautions drivers that PSM cannot counteract the laws of physics.

Enhanced Comfort

Porsche upgraded the interior of the standard Boxster for 2000 with a new soft-touch grain instrument panel and other interior trim and for 2001 has further enhanced the driving quarters. The convertible roof gains a cloth headliner (as on the Boxster S) to reduce interior noise, and the integrated supplemental safety bars now feature soft-touch covering.

All Porsche models for 2001 feature new light-emitting diode (LED) interior orientation lights. One LED provides gentle illumination of the cockpit and center console. An LED on the driver’s side door handle illuminates the ignition lock and light switch, and an LED illuminates each door latch. A newly standard three-spoke steering wheel with color Porsche Crest® replaces the previous four-spoke wheel. The car keys gain a color Porsche Crest, and Porsche improved trunk carpet quality.

For 2001, Porsche has grouped some popular options into packages. For example, auto-dimming inside and outside rear-view mirrors have been combined with rain-sensing windshield wipers into one package. Ordering the full power seats (power recliners are standard) with the optional remote entry system adds enhanced functions.

An additional standard interior color, Nephrite Green, was previously a special-order color. New available metallic exterior colors include Orient Red, Lapis Blue, Zanzibar Red, Seal Grey, and Meridian. Cinnamon Brown is a new special-order interior color.

Power Right Now

Porsche gave the Boxster a performance boost for model year 2000 when it replaced the original 201-horsepower 2.5-liter engine with a 217-horsepower 2.7-liter version of the boxer six. A twin-resonance air induction system from the 911 Carrera helps boost torque by allowing the engine to draw from higher velocity airflow between 3,100 rpm-5,100 rpm. The Porsche-patented VarioCam® system boosts low-end and mid-range torque by varying valve overlap between 1,250-5,120 rpm.

The 2.7-liter six-cylinder boxer engine provides real-world high performance, not just impressive statistics. The engine produces 192 lb.-ft. of peak torque at just 4,500 rpm. Just as important, the powerplant delivers a significant 147 lb.-ft. of torque at only 1,750 rpm and sustains peak torque to nearly 6,000 rpm. In contrast, some sportscars rely on “peaky” power output that concentrates power and torque at high engine speeds, requiring aggressive throttle action to extract maximum performance. The 2001 Porsche Boxster can accelerate from 0-62 miles per hour (0-100 km/h) in just 6.6 seconds.

Two Five-Speed Transmissions

Boxster customers can choose between the precisely shifting standard five-speed manual transmission and the optional Tiptro n i c® S five-speed automatic transmission. With the advanced Tiptronic S, the driver can place the shift lever into “D” and let the transmission do the shifting, or shift into “M” and control gear shifts with steering wheel-mounted thumb switches.

In automatic mode, Tiptronic S uses one of five programmed shift “maps” to respond to the driving style. For example, during leisurely driving, Tiptronic S will upshift early to provide a quiet ride and the best fuel efficiency. Quicker stabs at the gas pedal will call up a sporty shift program, which holds each gear longer for response and power.

Even while in automatic mode, the computer-controlled Tiptronic S responds like a driver working a manual transmission, downshifting or holding lower gears when cornering and driving on hills. Tiptronic S also allows the driver to select manual mode by pressing an up- or downshift button, even with the shift lever in the “D” position.

Safety by Design

Safety in the Porsche Boxster starts with the body structure, which features front and rear crush zones that protect a reinforced passenger compartment. Boron steel tubing reinforcements inside the windshield header and A-pillars and supplemental safety bars behind the seats provide added safety in rollover accidents. Supplementing the three-point inertia-reel seatbelts, the Boxster comes equipped with dual front airbags and the Porsche Side Impact Protection System that includes door-mounted side airbags, boron-steel door reinforcement beams, and energy-absorbing door panels. The 30-liter capacity sidebags provide protection for the chest, head, and pelvis.

Inspired by Racecars

The sleek Boxster body meets the wind with a low 0.31 coefficient of drag (Cd). A retractable rear spoiler located between the taillights rises at speeds above 75 miles per hour (120 km/h), reducing axle lift by 30 percent. The spoiler retracts when speed falls below 50 mph (80 km/h).

The racecar-inspired mid-engine layout concentrates the car’s mass near its center, providing quick response to steering inputs. Four-wheel independent suspension features a Porsche-optimized MacPherson-strut design for rigidity and aluminum components for low unsprung weight. Front and rear stabilizer bars and dual-tube gas-charged shock absorbers provide flat cornering. Standard power rack-and pinion steering yields a quick 2.98 turns lock-to-lock and a tight 35.8-ft. (10.9-meter) turning circle.

A “staggered” wheel/tire array (wider wheels and wider, lower-profile tires on the rear) contributes to neutral handling in the Boxster. The standard aluminum alloy wheels measure 16 x 6 inches in front and mount 205/55 ZR16 tires; the 16 x 7-inch rear wheels mount 225/50 ZR16 tires. Optional 17 and 18-inch wheel/tire packages enhance the already precise handling and offer a variety of wheel designs.

Racecar-Derived Brakes

The Boxster stops with four-wheel vented disc brakes with ABS 5.3 anti-lock control. Derived from the Porsche GT1 racecar, one-piece “monoblock” brake calipers reduce unsprung weight and heat. The front discs measure 11.7 inches in diameter and 0.95-inch thick (298 mm x 24 mm). The rear discs measure nearly as large – 11.5 inches in diameter and 0.8-inch thick (292 mm x 20 mm).

Power Convertible Roof

After unlatching a single lock handle in the center of the windshield header, pressing a console-mounted button lowers the roof under a flush-fitting cover in just 12 seconds. Available options to extend the comfort and utility in the Boxster include:

• A three-piece wind deflector to reduce wind buffeting and noise during top-down driving (available in various option packages).
• An aluminum hardtop with a full lining plus a glass rear window with defroster.
• An innovative roof transportation system that attaches to the convertible roof (open or closed) or the optional hardtop. Suitable for carrying skis, kayaks, or bicycles, the system will hold up to 165 pounds.

Extensive Standard Equipment

The roster of standard equipment in the Boxster includes: power windows with one-touch lowering and raising; AM/FM cassette stereo; leather-faced seats; transponder key anti-theft system; telescoping steering column, leather-covered three-spoke steering wheel, gearshift knob, door handles and handbrake handle; height-adjustable seats with power recliners; power front and rear trunk lid releases; heated windshield washer system, and heated power side view mirrors. The standard automatic climate control system includes a dust pollen filter augmented by a charcoal odor filter.

The optional Porsche Communication Management system integrates controls and displays for Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) navigation, an onboard computer, and climate control. A five-inch (diagonal) LCD color screen displays all functions. Optional Litronic high-intensity gas-discharge headlights increase lighting range and improve edge and side lighting.

Substantial Warranty

Every new model-year 2001 Porsche car sold in the United States and Canada is covered by a four-year/50,000-mile (80,000 kilometer), bumper-to-bumper limited warranty, which includes Porsche’s roadside assistance program. The galvanized body and 26-step paint and anti-corrosion process enable Porsche to warrant each car against rust perforation for 10 years and unlimited mileage. In addition, Porsche guarantees the paint finish for three years – also without a mileage limitation.

Fast Facts

The Porsche® Boxster® is a mid-engine roadster with a design that echoes such classic mid-engine Porsche sports/racing cars as the 550 Spyder and RS60. The Boxster gets its name from a combination of the classic Porsche horizontally opposed six-cylinder “boxer” engine and its roadster body. For model year 2000, a 2.7-liter, 217-horsepower version of the engine with a two-stage resonance intake system and an E-Gas electronic (“drive-by-wire”) throttle replaced the original 201-horsepower 2.5-liter six-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and the Porsche Tiptronic S five-speed automatic is available as an option. Light weight combined with a broad torque curve and a ro o m y, comfortable interior make the Boxster the ideal sportscar for everydaydriving. The standard power convertible roof lowers in just 12 seconds. An aluminum hardtop is optional.

Safety technology includes a patented crumple-zone body structure, dual front airbags, door-mounted side airbags, and anti-lock brakes. Boron steel tubing reinforcements inside the windshield header and A-pillars and supplemental safety bars behind the seats provide protection in rollover accidents.

New for 2001

The Boxster roof features a new cloth headliner (like the Boxster S) that reduces interior noise. The integrated safety bars are now covered in soft-touch material, and a new three-spoke steering wheel with color Porsche Crest® adds a sporty touch to the interior. New light emitting diode (LED) interior orientation lights enhance convenience by providing gentle illumination for the cockpit, console, ignition lock, and door latches. The front and rear trunks feature improved carpeting. New options for 2001 include the Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system and new-design 17-inch wheels. Some popular options have been grouped into packages. Nephrite Green is a new standard interior color for 2001, and new available metallic exterior colors include Lapis Blue, Orient Red, Zanzibar Red, Seal Grey, and Meridian.

Standard Equipment

Optional Equipment

Technical Specifications

Porsche® Boxster® and Boxster® S for 2001 Specification and Feature Comparison

Boxster S Exterior Differentiation

• Unique wheel design (17-inch vs. 16-inch wheels)
• Titanium-color trim in front grills, around windshield frame, and rear window of optional aluminum hardtop
• “Boxster S” rear nameplate in titanium color
• Brake calipers painted red, visible through wheels
• Twin central tailpipes (standard Boxster uses single central oval tailpipe)

Boxster S Additional Standard Equipment

• Remote keyless entry system
• Anti-theft system with infrared monitoring
• Windshield wipers with adjustable intermittent feature
• Silver-face gauges with aluminum-look trim
• Aluminum-look door handle and luggage compartment release handles
• Boxster S logo doorsill trim