Excellence Magazine, February 1997
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A Look Inside the Boxster
We asked Jim Pasha to comment on the details revealed in Shin Yoshikawa's cutaway drawing of Porsche's revolutionary new model.

by Jim Pasha

Excerpts:

With so much attention focused on its styling, Porsche has made it easy to overlook the most important features of the Boxster Critiques have discussed the design's faithfulness to the popular show car and explored its derivation from Spyder forebears. But study this cutaway of the Type 986 and you will see many interesting details that may have escaped notice...

...The boxster, it's name derived from the boxer engine layout and roadster body style. has many new features that make it more than just another Porsche. The fact that it draws on the appearance of the four-can RSK/RS-670 is no coincidence...

...Struts at the rear? Oh yes, and no ordinary struts. These are actually Carrera 4 fronts. A rather ingenious way to get some nice features...

...The engine features hydraulic cam followers, the latest version of DME, automatic tensioning of the cam drive, Vario-cam, direct ignition and other features that promote long intervals between tuning cycles. In fact, the only maintenance procedures required during the first 100,000 miles are regular oil changed along with filter replacements...

...The windshield frame has a secondary purpose, functioning as a forward roll bar. The passenger compartment also has a roll-bar assembly behind the seats It has a four-point mounting system, actually two bars shaped and welded together...

...The inspiration was a rare, race-bred four-cam roadster that few could afford and even fewer maintain. The great-grandchild is also a four-cam roadster but it shows all of the pursang breeding the Porsche design family could muster.

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