IN 1948, the Porsche 356 Roadster was the car that defined the beginnings of the Porsche brand. It featured a mid-engine layout and in the 1950s the same engine layout was chosen for the 550 and 718 Porsche racing cars.
This recipe was to be carried across years later.
In 1996 the Porsche Boxster was born and it came with a design that evoked images of classic Porsche sports cars mentioned above.
Porsche engineers optimized its shape in the wind tunnel. This clean, sleek Porsche Boxster cheated the wind with a low 0.31 coefficient of drag (Cd). Plus, it had a mid-engine layout.
It came with a small retractable rear spoiler located between the taillights that would rise at speeds above 75 mph (120 km/h) per hour, reducing axle lift by 30%. The spoiler would then retract when its speed fell below 50 mph (80 km/h), at which point it would have no effect.
A smooth underbody design and various underbody panels guided airflow under the car for reduced drag and lift. In the front and rear, small, flexible spoiler lips at the front of the wheel arches also reduced drag and lift.
Ducts in each rear quarter panel served a separate function. The left side duct supplied air to the induction system. Warm air from the engine compartment escaped through the right-side duct, aided by a fan when engine and compartment temperatures dictated it.
The early 1990s were a very difficult period for Porsche AG economically.
Declining sales figures partly due to the fall in value of the US dollar (which was at the time their second biggest buyer market) and the very high production costs of the company’s four technically very independent product lines, the Porsche 911, 944, 968 and 928, meant that this sports car manufacturer was in serious trouble.
It even became a takeover target for large car manufacturers.
The introduction of the completely newly developed Porsche Boxster in 1996 marked a turning point in the company’s fortunes.
The agile, mid-engine roadster not only opened up a new market segment for Porsche, but also attracted a significantly younger customer base, thanks to its price positioning below the established 911.
This Boxster competed directly with the popular BMW Z3 and Mercedes SLK.
However, it was the success story of the Mazda Miata roadster that caught the attention of Porsche product planners and so the decision was to build and sell a simple roadster that returned a true ‘in your pants’ driving experience.
Also, it needed a smaller capacity engine. So a new water cooled 2.5-liter engine was introduced which produced 201bhp and delivered a reasonable 0-60mph acceleration time of 6.5 seconds and a 139mph top speed with the top down.
To keep cost down, the Boxster made more use of the common parts or carry-over parts (COP) principle.
As a result, the first Boxster shared the front end, doors and numerous other components with the 996 generation 911, which launched in 1997, a year after the Boxster was introduced.
This move resulted in significantly lower production and inventory costs for both product lines, and some rigorous cost management which made every Boxster sold a huge profit for Porsche.
This year, the Porsche Boxster celebrates its 25th birthday and it is no longer called the ‘hair dressers car’ (a car for the fairer sex only) which was its nickname in the year it was launched.
Today it is the ‘barber’s car’ and proud of its success over the years. – The Vibes, January 18, 2021
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