Limited edition Boxster S Black launched

Porsche is launching a special edition of its Boxster - the Boxster S Black Edition. On sale in March 2011 and priced from £47,426, just 987 will be available worldwide, each one finished in black and with a range of special features, following on from the launch of the 911 Black Edition.

Powered by the renowned flat-six ‘boxer' engine, mounted in front of the rear axle amd just behind the seats, the 3.4-litre six-cylinder engine is similar to that fitted to the Boxster S, with direct fuel injection for greater power and efficiency. In the Black Edition its output is 320bhp - 10bhp more than in the Boxster S. The revised engine reaches its rated power at 7200 rpm while peak torque is 370Nm - boosted by 10Nm - and is available at 4750 rpm.

With its standard six-speed manual transmission, it accelerates from 0-62 mph in 5.2 seconds, a tenth of a second faster than the Boxster S. This extra performance doesn't affect economy though with the same claimed average fuel consumption as the standard Boxster S - 28.8mpg

To contribute to the enhanced driving dynamics, the Boxster S Black Edition gets lightweight ten-spoke design alloy wheels, previously fitted to the Boxster Spyder, which save 5kg overall. These are fitted with 235/35 ZR19 tyres on the front axle and 265/35 ZR19 on the rear.

When fitted with the seven-speed Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch gearbox, acceleration times are even quicker with a 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds. In combination with the Sports Chrono Package Plus with launch control this can be lowered further still to 4.9 seconds. In comparison with the manual transmission, the intelligent gear shifting strategy of PDK lowers fuel consumption to 30mpg and, more significantly, reduces the CO2 emissions to 221g/km, putting the Boxster S Black Edition in VED Band K.

Unique details on the Boxster S Black Edition include the model lettering painted in black at the rear plus the roll-over bars are painted in black, together with the rear side air intake grilles and the twin tailpipe of the exhaust system.

The black theme of the exterior is continued inside. The stainless steel door entry guards feature the "Black Edition" model lettering in black. The standard, three-spoke Sport Design steering wheel has a black leather rim. The trim strips of the dashboard and of the gear shift lever or PDK selector are painted in black. The dials on the instrument cluster are black, as are the partial leather seats with the Porsche emblem embossed in the headrests.

Standard equipment includes anti-dazzle mirrors with integrated rain sensor, cruise control and a climate control system. It also gets the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) including satellite navigation as standar, the universal audio interface offering MP3 player compatibility and Bluetooth, the Sound Package Plus and xenon headlamps with dynamic cornering lights plusLED daytime running lights.

The Boxster S Black Edition can be individualised even further with other options. For example, the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) is available as well as the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and the adaptive sports seats with memory function.

The Boxster S ‘Black Edition' goes on sale in the UK from March 2011 and is priced from £47,426. Included in the purchase price is the invitation for customers to explore the dynamic attributes of their Boxster and develop their own skills behind the wheel, courtesy of a Driving Experience Programme at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone.