PORSCHE Boxster (981) 2012-2016 Photos, engines & full specs

Sometimes bigger is better, especially if it is lighter as well, at least in the sports-car segment. The third generation of the Boxster was longer, wider, lighter, and quicker than its predecessor.

The Boxster showed the world that the mid-engine cars might not be as expensive as a Diablo or a Ferrari. It might be even cheaper than the rear-engine 911 and still be fast and fun to drive. That's why Porsche developed the Boxster, a car that shared some of its parts with its bigger, and more notorious, brother.

From the outside, the 2012 Boxster took a different design path than the 911. The round headlights were gone and sleeker, swept, lamps were installed. A typical design element for the Boxster was the front apron, with bigger side-scoops than the central one, which was placed on the lower side. The fenders were still higher than the hood, but not as much as before. In the back, the rounded exhausts were replaced by a large, oval-shaped one. For the opening or close procedure, the Boxster was a true Porsche in terms of speed: it took it only 9 seconds to complete the procedure, at speeds of up to 50 kph (31 mph).

The two-seat roadster featured a clean design interior, with influences from the Carrera GT super sports-car. A new CDR infotainment unit with a 7” touch-screen was fitted as standard on the center stack. There was also a new, 4.6”, multi-function display on the right side of the instrument cluster. As usual, the center position was secured for the analog tachometer.

The 2012 Boxster went through a downsize program and received a 2.7-liter boxer engine, which was 0.2-liter smaller than its predecessor. But the 265 hp were convincing enough for any driver and any naturally aspirated engine lover.