Guide: Porsche Boxster Studie
Background
By the early 1990s, Porsche’s sales had tumbled to a fraction of their mid 1980s peak. A perfect storm of unfavourable exchange rates, outdated models and a tarnished image was compounded by a recessionary mood in most major economies.
1991 saw Porsche sell just over 30,000 cars compared to over 50,000 in 1986.
Bold action was required to turn the company’s fortunes around. Without it, Porsche was headed for bankruptcy.
At the Frankfurt Motor Show in October 1991, Audi unveiled a handsome fully operational design concept dubbed the Quattro Spyder. The mid-V6-powered Quattro Spyder was universally well received and Audi, under the direction of Ferdinand Piech (the son of Ferry Porsche’s sister, Louise), were inundated with orders.
Less than three weeks later, Audi displayed the stunning Avus concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. Created as a homage to Auto Union’s 1937 Type C Stromlinie, the classically-styled Avus had an early mock-up of a proposed new W12 engine that was also mounted in the centre of the car.
Ultimately, Audi decided against progressing with the Quattro Spyder because the projected sales price of DM100,000 could not be met. Additionally, the expected 25,000 unit lifetime production was too small which meant a subcontractor would have to manage assembly. Furthermore, the idea of a contemporary rival from Audi (which was run by a member of the Porsche family) was unthinkable.
Motivated by the Quattro Spyder and Avus, Porsche decided to create an entry-level design concept that would could combine the best aspects of both Audi show cars.
Work on the new machine began in late 1991; it was to be a two-seat mid-engined Roadster that, like the Avus, was visually inspired by the firm’s racing cars of old (in this case the 550 RS and RS 60 from the late 1950s).
Having spent years in the doldrums thanks to ageing designs and a new breed of hot hatchbacks, the market for two-seat Roadsters had been reinvigorated by the arrival of Mazda’s MX5 / Miata in 1989. Mazda shifted huge quantities of their pretty little sports car which led to an influx of rival models over the next couple of years.
The machine developed in Stuttgart was dubbed Boxster - a combination of the word Boxer (in reference to the traditional Porsche engine layout) and Roadster.
It was Porsche’s first clean sheet design since the mid-late 1970s.
A prototype was originally scheduled to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1993. However, the resultant Boxster Studie was ready ahead of schedule and, as the US market was key, Porsche decided to reveal it at the Detroit Motor Show in January ‘93.
Chassis
The new car would be based around a steel monocoque bodyshell that was designed as a Roadster from the outset.
Independent MacPherson strut suspension was used at all four corners along with anti-roll bars at either end.
Ventilated brake discs were fitted along with specially developed monobloc calipers and the latest generation ABS.
Other driver aids such as an automatic brake differential would also be developed.
For the show car, Porsche fitted enormous three-piece Speedline alloy wheels similar to those found on the 3.6-litre 911 Turbo and 3.8-litre 911 Carrera RSR.
Engine / Gearbox
Although the Boxster Studie was an engine-less mock up, Porsche announced it as using the first iteration of a new water-cooled Flat 6.
At this stage, displacement was a quoted 2885cc.
The longitudinally mounted all-alloy power unit would come with dual overhead camshafts, chain-driven hydraulic lifters, pent-roof combustion chambers, four-valve heads and a state-of-the-art variable valve timing system.
The latest Bosch Motronic engine management would also be employed along with a dry-sump lubrication system.
Porsche quoted a peak output of 250bhp, but no other figures were initially published.
Transmission was supposedly through a five-speed manual gearbox.
Bodywork
The Boxster Studie was a curvaceous and perfectly proportioned Roadster that fully embraced the latest automotive design language.
At the front of the car were fixed single piece light units that became a Porsche trademark between the mid 90s and early 2000s. A wide oval intake carved from the front apron fed cool air to the radiators and brakes.
A heavily sculpted side profile ensured the car did not have a slab-sided appearance; ahead of each rear wheel was an unusually low cooling scoop.
Unlike Porsche’s most recent two-seat mid-engined model (the sharply creased targa-topped 914 of 1969 to 1976), the Boxster Studie was a proper Roadster with a roof that, when lowered, disappeared completely from view underneath a lift-up body coloured tonneau.
The rear deck was intricately contoured with the tonneau and fenders giving elegant definition. A racey single outlet exhaust exited from underneath the centre of the rear bumper. Another competition-inspired detail was a quick fuel filler cap (sourced from a motorcycle) located in a cut-out on the front lid.
In the absence of any conventional brightwork, Porsche gave the intake scoops and air vents a bronze finish to match the wheel centres. The rest of the bodywork was painted Arctic Silver.
Interior
The cockpit was a mix of light red upholstery and exposed metal painted Arctic Silver to match the exterior.
Single-piece bucket seats came with tasteful fluted sections and integrated safety belt catches. In between the seats was a wide transmission tunnel, the forward section of which had an exposed gear linkage and two air fans with the mechanical components on full display. Similar fans were housed in each of the doors.
Behind the three-spoke steering wheel was a five-gauge instrument binnacle with calibrations etched into the glass cover.
In the centre of the dash was an LCD screen complete with functionality for an onboard computer, TV, satellite navigation and telephone.
Aside from the body coloured instrument binnacle and forward sections of the transmission tunnel and doors, leather was used to cover every surface apart from the carpeted floor with its ribbed aluminium footwells.
Weight / Performance
Porsche claimed a projected top speed of 157mph but did not publish any other weight or performance figures.
Subsequent History
The Boxster Studie captivated practically all who saw it at Detroit. Public and media response was fantastic; customers around the world inundated dealers with requests for their own example.
After the presentation, Porsche management gave the green light to develop a production version that resembled the concept as closely as possible.
The subsequent 986 Boxster was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1996 and remained largely faithful to the original design. Just under 165,000 were built by the time production ended in the autumn of 2004 (to make way for the new 987 variant).
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Porsche - https://www.porsche.com
