Porsche Boxster 987 (Second Generation)

Porsche Boxster 987

Porsche Boxster 987 at Arkhangelskoye Estate (Moscow Region, Russia)

The Porsche 987 is the internal name of the second-generation Porsche Boxster sports car. It was unveiled at the 2004 Paris Motor Show alongside the 911 (997) and went on sale in 2005.

In 2005, it was joined by the Cayman (project 987c), a new fastback coupe that shared the same mid-engine platform and many elements, including the front fenders, trunk lid, doors, headlights, taillights, and front fascia.

In 2012, it was replaced by the Porsche 981.

Boxster 987.1

The second-generation 987 Boxster retained its recognizable styling but underwent significant changes. The headlights now resembled those of the Carrera GT, Porsche’s flagship model at the time. The side air intakes were enlarged, made wider, and received a silver metallic finish, regardless of the car’s color. The wheel arches were enlarged to accommodate 19-inch wheels—a first for the Boxster.

The Boxster’s interior was updated more significantly than its exterior. The circular elements in the dashboard and air vents became more prominent. Porsche claimed the 987 Boxster shared only 20% of its components with the previous 986 model.

The base engine was a 2.7-liter flat-six producing 176 kW (236 HP), while the Boxster S had a 3.2-liter engine producing 206 kW (276 HP).

In 2007, the base Boxster received a new engine with VarioCam Plus, increasing output by 3.7 kW (5 HP). It now produced 183 kW (245 HP), the same as the Cayman. The Boxster S engine became more powerful: displacement increased to 3.4 liters and output to 220 kW (295 HP), matching the Cayman S. These updates made the Boxster and Cayman equally powerful.

Boxster 987.2

At the 2008 Los Angeles International Auto Show, Porsche unveiled updated versions of the Boxster and Boxster S. The new models used the MA1.20 and MA1.21 engines. Power increased thanks to increased displacement in the Boxster and the introduction of direct fuel injection in the Boxster S. A new 6-speed manual transmission became standard for both models, and a 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) was also available for a more dynamic driving experience.

The Boxster’s engine displacement increased from 2.7 to 2.9 liters, raising power from 245 to 255 HP. In the Boxster S, the 3.4-liter engine, using a DFI system, increased output from 295 to 310 HP.

In 2009, the updated Boxster and Boxster S received new headlights and taillights, larger air intakes with daytime running lights, and a redesigned lower body with two diffusers. Inside, the car received a modernized communication system with a touchscreen interface, simplifying interaction with the car and reducing the number of buttons.