25 Years Of The Porsche Boxster The 1993 Concept That Made It To Production

25 Years Of The Porsche Boxster The 1993 Concept That Made It To Production

he Porsche Boxster will have been with us for 25 years in 2021 and was a concept that made it into production. It was pretty much as Porsche showed it back at the Detroit Motor Show in january 1993.

The Boxster concept was the coming together of a boxer engine and a roadster design. The name being a portmanteau of the first syllable of the word boxer and the second syllable of the word roadster.

The two elements of the concept go back to the early days of Porsche with the 356 since 1948. Going back to their roots as such and rather successfully too.

The Porsche Boxster will have been with us for 25 years in 2021 and was a concept that made it into production. It was pretty much as Porsche showed it back at the Detroit Motor Show in january 1993.

The Boxster concept was the coming together of a boxer engine and a roadster design. The name being a portmanteau of the first syllable of the word boxer and the second syllable of the word roadster.

The two elements of the concept go back to the early days of Porsche with the 356 since 1948. Going back to their roots as such and rather successfully too.

Grant Larson, Director Special Projects, was responsible for designing the concept car. The designer remembers:
 
“In October 1991 – I was responsible at the time for advance development in the Design department – I visited the Tokyo Motor Show. Audi presented the Avus Quattro concept car there. At the end of 1991, series development of the Boxster and the 996 was already taking place in other areas, and we decided to build a show car. I had full freedom as regards design. All drafts were produced as 2D drawings. So, not on a screen like today. My boss, Harm Lagaaij, really pushed me on the design, above all as regards the detailed forms. We were lucky that we could call on Peter Müller, a fantastic modeller. Instead of using coordinates in the usual way, he worked only with my drawings. Freehand, as it were. We had originally planned to present our concept car in Geneva in spring 1993. But we decided on Detroit in January because we did not want to waste any time. What is more, our focus with the roadster was on the US market, where Porsche was weak at the time, and where Mazda with its Miata and BMW with the Z1 were already present in the roadster segment.”

Grant Larson, Director Special Projects, was responsible for designing the concept car. The designer remembers:

“In October 1991 – I was responsible at the time for advance development in the Design department – I visited the Tokyo Motor Show. Audi presented the Avus Quattro concept car there. At the end of 1991, series development of the Boxster and the 996 was already taking place in other areas, and we decided to build a show car. I had full freedom as regards design. All drafts were produced as 2D drawings. So, not on a screen like today. My boss, Harm Lagaaij, really pushed me on the design, above all as regards the detailed forms. We were lucky that we could call on Peter Müller, a fantastic modeller. Instead of using coordinates in the usual way, he worked only with my drawings. Freehand, as it were. We had originally planned to present our concept car in Geneva in spring 1993. But we decided on Detroit in January because we did not want to waste any time. What is more, our focus with the roadster was on the US market, where Porsche was weak at the time, and where Mazda with its Miata and BMW with the Z1 were already present in the roadster segment.”

Porsche Boxster 986 Design Sketch 2 1992 Porsche AG
With the Boxster concept designed by Larson, Porsche continued the technical development of the Spyder, Speedster and Roadster projects. References made to earlier cars like the 550 Spyder and the 718 RS 50 from the 1950s. Mid-engine, short overhang at the rear but with a nose extending ahead of the front axle.
 
Other design elements were the air intakes and outlets, with a centrally positioned towbar. Interior colours match the body colour. The exterior colour extending to any metal surfaces inside on the door panels, instrument cluster and centre console.
 
Porsche Boxster 986 Design Sketch 2 1992 Porsche AG
Porsche Boxster 986 Design Sketch 3 1992 Porsche AG
Porsche Boxster 986 Design Sketch 4 1992 Porsche AG

Production Of The Boxster

The Boxster 986 was introduced in August 1996 as a 1997 model year. This first model lasted until 2005 and was the simplest of the line-up to date.

It was very close to the concept that was displayed only three and a half years earlier. A design that harked back to the 550 Spyder and a mid-engine layout with a six cylinder boxer engine. The 2.5 litre displacement was also a reflection of the earlier days. The engine wasn’t lacking, with 204 PS or 159 kW.

Porsche Boxster 986 Design Sketch 3 1992 Porsche AG
Porsche Boxster 986 Design Sketch 5 1992 Porsche AG
Porsche Boxster 986 Design Sketch 4 1992 Porsche AG
Porsche Boxster 986 Design Sketch 6 1992 Porsche AG
Porsche Boxster 986 Design Sketch 1992 Porsche AG

Some of the technical development were shared with the upcoming 996 variant of the 911. Some of the parts were identical and shared between the models. The bonnet, headlights, front wings and doors were also used on the 911.

There were many new technical innovations too. The new boxer engine was water cooled for the first time in a large volume production Porsche. Four valves per cylinder heads with two overhead camshafts per bank and variable intake timing with a patented VarioCam system.

This new engine formed the basis of a new family of boxer engines which would find its way into the 911. You could even get a Boxster with the Tiptronic S automatic transmission which now had five speeds.

Porsche Boxster 986 Design Sketch 8 1992 Porsche AG
Porsche Boxster 986 Design Sketch 9 1992 Porsche AG
Porsche Boxster 986 Design Sketch 7 1992 Porsche AG
986 Boxster Clay 1, Weissach, 1993, Porsche AG
986 Boxster Clay 2, Weissach, 1993, Porsche AG

June 2002 saw an enhancement to the 986 model. New 2.7 litre engines had already been introduced for the year 2000 model and a 3.2 litre for the Boxster S. More power and better fuel economy with both. Power was up to 228 PS or 168 kW and 260 PS or 191 kW for the S.

Updates to the chassis were done but the noticeable changes were to the body. The convertible top now had a glass rear window.

Porsche 986 Boxster Concept 1, 2021, Porsche AG

The way the Boxster remained close to the original concept is somewhat responsible for the success. Ok, the concept is that little bit prettier. But to get a car into series production with all of the elements is nigh on impossible, but the Boxster is oh so close. The contrasting interior colours of the early cars, with some very bright interiors look great.

It was such a big deal you could even buy a PlayStation game, Porsche Challenge, that centres around driving the Boxster.

Porsche 986 Boxster Concept 2, 2021, Porsche AG
Porsche 986 Boxster Concept 3, 2021, Porsche AG

Thanks to that first unveiling in Detroit, the public response to build it as it is meant that we got the 986. Who knows what would have come had development continued.

I thought the Boxster looked great when launched and those early cars still do. Has it really been 25 years?

Porsche Boxster Sports Car Concept, Auto Show, Detroit, USA, 1993, Porsche AG

Thanks to Porsche for all the great images.

Simon

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