Programmed for top sporting grades

Model-Year 2001 - Boxster S

The highlights

Loosely translated from the original German

Strong performer

Porsche expanded the roadster market segment in the last model year and raised the bar even higher in the competition with the new Boxster S. The Boxster S is one of the absolute leaders in terms of acceleration, top speed, driving dynamics, braking performance and active and passive safety. With a weight of 1,295 kilograms, it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. Its top speed is 260 kilometers per hour.

Six cylinders deliver 185 kilowatts (252 hp)

The Boxster S draws its power from a 6-cylinder boxer engine, the displacement of which has been increased to 3.2 liters. The engine delivers its maximum output of 185 kW (252 hp) at 6,250 rpm. The full torque of 305 Newton meters is available from 4,500 rpm. But even at lower speeds, the 3.2-liter does not necessarily require a lower gear. Its particular strength is a very harmonious torque curve from low to high speeds.

Six gears for pure driving pleasure

The new six-speed manual transmission, which the Boxster S is equipped with as standard, is specially tailored to this engine characteristic. The optional Tiptronic S also offers something new. It is equipped with the so-called manual short-term influence during automatic operation. This means that even in the D position, the rocker switch on the steering wheel can be used to intervene in the transmission and quickly shift up or down.

Enormous cornering stability

The Boxster S impresses with its outstanding driving dynamics. This is not only guaranteed by the balanced mid-engine concept. The sporty and Porsche-typical chassis tuning also deserves top marks for cornering stability. It has been completely revised and the spring/damper system has been made tighter to match the higher performance. The development engineers naturally paid particular attention to the braking system. The result: The larger braking system has enormous power reserves, so that even in the well-known Porsche fading test - an extreme test with 25 consecutive brakings from high speed - there is only a slight increase in pedal force.

Extensive standard equipment

Titanium-colored air intakes at the front and titanium-colored Boxster S lettering on the rear trunk lid characterize the new Porsche roadster. Other external features that can be identified at first glance: central air intake at the front, standard 17-inch wheels with styling specially designed for the Boxster S, red-painted brake callipers, twin exhaust tailpipes. Inside, the upgraded equipment is expressed primarily by the painting of numerous plastic parts with black soft paint and by the seats covered in high-quality Alcantara.

Programmed for top marks in sport

Boxster S - that means faster, stronger and of course safer. The new model has improved in all sport disciplines. With the standard six-speed manual transmission, it sprints from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.9 seconds. Acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h takes exactly 10.3 seconds in top gear and the top speed is 260 kilometers per hour.

The increase in performance is hardly visible on the outside of the Boxster S. The standard 17-inch alloy wheels with black Porsche crest and the perforated brake discs with red-painted brake callipers are perhaps the clearest indication. Otherwise, only subtle details indicate the high-performance artist: for example, an additional central air intake at the front and a striking double exhaust tailpipe at the rear, which replaces the familiar oval shape.

Sparkling power behind the cockpit

The power pack in the Boxster S also rests between the cockpit and the rear axle. The engine has undergone significant development. The boxer engine with six cylinders now draws its power from a 3.2 liter displacement. This increase in displacement not only guarantees a significant increase in power by 35 kW (48 hp) to 185 kW (252 hp) at 6,250 rpm, but also a strong increase in torque from 245 to 305 Newton meters at 4,500 rpm. The new 3.2 liter engine is characterized by a very harmonious torque curve, which is expressed above all by improved torque in the lower and upper speed ranges. Four-valve technology, the "VarioCam" camshaft adjustment and the two-stage resonance intake system guarantee a full torque curve up to the maximum speed of 7,200 rpm.

The engine management is carried out by the Motronic ME 7.2, which has already proven itself in the 911 Carrera 4. Compared to the M 5.2 known from the Boxster predecessor model, it differs in particular in the E-Gas (electronic accelerator pedal) function. The advantages are not only the better damping of load change reactions. At the same time, starting, gear changes with the Tiptronic S transmission and the traction control can be made more harmonious.

The latest technology in the form of two tri-metal-coated three-way catalytic converters is also hidden in the dual-flow exhaust system of the new Boxster S. The coating of the metal carrier consists of a mixture of platinum, rhodium and palladium, which has a higher temperature resistance and starts at lower temperatures than the bi-metal coating used previously. At the same time, the proportion of precious metal in the catalytic converter has been more than doubled. Another highlight in the conversion of pollutants is the division of the metal carrier into two with a swirling section in between. The new catalytic converter technology in conjunction with the already familiar secondary air injection has paid off. The Boxster S even meets the strict LEV (Low Emission Vehicle) standard for the USA and the EU3 limits that apply from January 1, 2001.

Shift or let it shift

In order to be able to fully exploit the performance spectrum of the 3.2-litre engine, a sporty six-speed manual transmission was developed. The result is a harmonious gradation of the gears with optimal use of the engine torque and perfect connections when shifting up. The top speed is naturally reached in sixth gear in the range of maximum engine power. The sixth gear has been added to the gearshift pattern to form a double H. Reverse gear is in its own lane at the front left next to first gear. The Boxster S is also available with the five-speed Tiptronic S on request. The gear ratio has been adapted to the higher driving performance. The five gears make it easy to use the available engine power individually within the possible speed range. With the so-called manual short-term influence, the gears can now also be changed manually using the rocker switches on the steering wheel, even if the selector lever is still in the automatic position.

Uncompromisingly sporty chassis

The increased performance and a slight increase in weight of the Boxster S required a revision of the overall tuning of the chassis. In addition to adapted springs and stabilizers, this includes above all the shock absorbers, which are designed to be tighter. At the same time, the suspension behavior was optimized, which increases comfort. In contrast to the front axle, which underwent no changes apart from the new tuning, the rear axle was adapted to the increased performance by revising the wheel guides. Longer rear axle steering arms now increase the toe-in moment stiffness, and there is less toe-in change during compression. Larger wheel bearings also increase the camber stiffness. Both points have an effect on more stable driving behavior at high speeds and when cornering.

Master of deceleration

The criteria for the design of the braking system were selected according to the operating loads that occurred, with Porsche going far beyond the applicable national legislation. The brakes are designed to withstand extreme loads when driving over mountain passes or in a sporty driving style. The standard 17-inch alloy wheels on the front axle (7J x 17 ET 55) with 205/50 ZR 17 tires and on the rear axle (8.5J x 17 ET 50) with 255/40 ZR 17 tires gave the chassis engineers the necessary leeway to achieve the desired deceleration values. This meant that the brake discs could grow to 911 Carrera dimensions. The diameter on the front axle is now 318 millimeters, and the width has been increased to 28 millimeters. On the rear axle, the diameter is now 299 millimeters and the width is 24 millimeters. In addition, the brake discs are perforated, which not only improves cooling, but also the response when the wheel brakes are wet. The water film that forms between the disc and the pad is thus effectively reduced. The four-piston fixed caliper principle made of aluminum also plays a decisive role in this context. The monobloc concept patented by Porsche with its well-known advantages such as high component rigidity, excellent heat dissipation and reliability is of course also used in the Boxster S.

Comprehensive safety concept

In the front of the car, Porsche continues to rely on the connection between longitudinal and cross member structures. This support connection ensures the precisely defined distribution of the forces that occur in a crash. In particularly high-stress areas such as the doors and the bulkhead supports, reinforcements made of extremely strong boron steel are used as before, which receives its superior properties in a special press-hardening process.

The Boxster S also shows exemplary behavior in the event of a rollover. High-strength tubes are integrated into the extremely rigid A-pillars, which give the windshield frame a high level of stability. A roll bar made of high-strength stainless steel located directly behind the seats also helps to ensure that the survival space for the occupants is as well protected as possible in the event of a rollover.

In addition to driver and passenger airbags, the Boxster S is equipped as standard with the "POSIP" (Porsche Side Impact Protection) side airbag system. The special thing about POSIP: The two airbags are designed in such a way that they can also develop their protective effect in an open convertible. Only Porsche offers these side airbags suitable for convertibles. With a capacity of 30 liters each, they not only offer the occupants the usual protection in the shoulder area in the event of a side collision, but also catch the body from the chest to the head.

Look and equipment refined

The designers have given the interior even more sporty elegance. This is particularly evident in the use of black soft paint. The subtle matt black particularly enhances the area of the dashboard, the center console and the door panels. A sporty aluminum look is used for the hood and door openers as well as for the gear lever insert. The top has a precisely fitted fabric roof liner. It prevents you from seeing the roof frame and reduces the noise that penetrates from outside through the fabric roof into the car interior.

Anyone who sits in the Boxster S can see and feel the significant upgrade. The seats are covered with high-quality Alcantara on the seat centre as standard. Subtle changes have been made to the instrument panel. The grey-silver dials of the round instruments, which are also framed with aluminium-coloured rings, are particularly striking. The styling details also include the door sills on the driver and passenger side with the "Boxster S" lettering.

To round off the exclusive character, the Boxster S has a range of different comfort details as standard. These include an alarm system with interior monitoring, radio remote control with electric front and rear lid release and driver's seat memory function, individually adjustable interval control for the wiper system and illuminated make-up mirrors.