ATLANTA – As Porsche enthusiasts already know, the “S” badge signifies a truly

special model, not just a trim upgrade or option package. For 2003, the Boxster S

carries on a Porsche tradition of transforming an already outstanding sports car into

something truly special. Changes for the new model year involve performance,

handling and content, and discreet exterior identification.

For example, other than its larger standard wheels and tires, the primary visual

clues that distinguish the Boxster S from the standard Boxster are its third front

air intake, its twin tailpipes and its red brake calipers. The Boxster S uses the larger

over the standard Boxster include a standard six-speed manual transmission, a third

and front-mounted radiator, specific suspension tuning and standard 17-inch wheels.

Like the 2003 Boxster, the 2003 Boxster S has a new top with a glass window

and electrical defroster, new lower front and rear fascia, a revised rear spoiler

and new convenience features in its interior.

The Boxster S builds on the foundation of the standard Boxster and is powered

by an exclusive, 3.2-liter, six-cylinder “boxer” engine that has been modified for

the 2003 model year to provide 258 horsepower (SAE) and 229 lb.-ft. or torque.

This enhanced powerplant works with a strengthened six-speed manual

transmission and improved vehicle aerodynamics to propel the Boxster S from a

standing start to 100 km/h (62 mph) in only 5.7 seconds, a figure two-tenths of

a second faster than the 2002 version.

Horsepower has increased over the 250 (SAE) figure from 2002 and torque is up

from 225 lb.-ft. Because of the engine’s greater power, the six-speed manual

transmission has been modified with a new single-plate drive clutch with revised

specifications and pressure ratings.

“With its more powerful and efficient engine and its lighter wheels, the Boxster S

sets an even higher standard among performance roadsters,” says Frederick J.

Schwab, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America Inc. “And for 2003

that performance comes in an even more appealing package.”

To produce this latest boost in the power output of the Boxster S engine, Porsche

management controls, a “returnless” fuel supply system and an improved oil pump.

But the engine isn’t just more powerful; it’s also cleaner and more fuel efficient,

with fuel economy improved by some two percent, and a reduction in emissions.

With the manual transmission, the Boxster S achieves an EPA city rating of 18 mpg

and a 26 mpg-figure on the highway, 12.8 liter/100km and 8.2 for Canada. The

13.6 and 8.2 for Canada, respectively.

Formerly, the camshaft could be adjusted up to a range of 25 degrees, but this

newest VarioCam technology allows infinite adjustment of the crankshaft angle by

up to 40 degrees. This reduces charge cycle losses, improving power and mileage,

and keeping exhaust emissions to a minimum. Porsche was the first manufacturer

to introduce this integrated design, which it launched in the 911 Carrera.

With VarioCam, intake camshaft timing is fully variable through a wing-cell adjuster

fit directly on the camshaft drive sprocket. Oil pressure is used to turn the position

of the inner wing-adjuster wheel versus the outer sprocket by up to 40 degrees

of crankshaft angle. Because the intake and exhaust camshafts are driven

directly via a roller chain, this new system makes redundant the conventional

three-stage chain drive between the crankshaft and the camshaft.

Porsche’s patented VarioCam can respond quickly to any sudden need for power

or, conversely, to a more reserved style of driving, say in city traffic. This is

possible because of the way it can make precise adjustments to valve opening

and closing times. When running under part load, the intake camshaft is set to

an earlier opening point. The residual gas remaining in the combustion chamber

helps to reduce fuel consumption. When running under full load, the engine

builds up maximum output through the small overlap in the opening and closing

times. Maximum torque is provided by extended valve overlap and the earlier

conclusion of the intake period.

program that was developed for the Porsche 911 Turbo. This system was

conceived specifically for such high-performance requirements. It measures such

parameters as engine speed, pedal position, engine oil and coolant temperatures

and gear selection. It calculates the requisite position of the intake camshafts

and synchronization of intake camshafts. This synchronization on both rows of

cylinders is ensured by its intelligent controls as the system intervenes in the

fuel/air mixture formation and ignition.

Even with its boost in output, the engine itself is so strong that it didn’t need to

be reworked. One secret of the strength of the Porsche “boxer” engine is its

separate bearing bridge for the crankshaft, which has seven main bearings. This

aluminum structure has cast steel support elements that provide a secure

foundation for the crankshaft, even in widely varying temperature ranges. The

integrated dry sump lubrication system carries over, although the output of the

compressed oil pump has been increased by about five percent.

The 3.2-liter engine also benefits from a “returnless” fuel supply system that

reduces hydrocarbon emissions caused when fuel was heated prematurely as it

flowed back and forth to the engine through the traditional delivery system.

Porsche engineers have developed a new and maintenance-free “returnless” fuel

system that incorporates a pump, filter and pressure regulator in the fuel tank.

The result is that only the fuel that actually is needed for optimum combustion is

pumped to the engine. Excess fuel no longer enters the circuit and thus is not

exposed to heat prematurely.

A bonus from this system is that there is no need to replace the fuel filter as part

of an owner’s routine maintenance.

For 2003, the Boxster S sounds even better while producing more power on less

fuel and with reduced emissions. Porsche engineers have carefully modified the

interior of the car’s muffler to improve the car’s “acoustic presence.” The length

and diameter of the various pipes and the perforation of the inner pipes were

changed to satisfy not only legal sound limits but also the well-trained ear of the

automotive enthusiast. The result is a muscular mix of sound that underscores

the increased power and performance.

The high-performance roadster gets new rear stabilizer bars that are longer (19

mm vs. 18.5 last year) and thicker (2.7 mm vs. 2.5). While the chassis, the rest

of the suspension and the brakes carry over from the 2002 Boxster S, the car’s

handling can be enhanced with new, optional light-alloy wheels. The Boxster S

rides on standard 17-inch wheels and each is more than half a pound lighter than

the wheel used last year.

Also available are optional 18-inch wheels that reduce unsprung weight by more

than six pounds per wheel, a weight saving of some 22 percent. This reduction

in unsprung weight results in even crisper handling for the Boxster S.

Compared to the standard Boxster, the Boxster S rides on a suspension that

includes higher-rate springs and shock damping, longer rear lower control arms

that increase toe-in stiffness and larger wheel bearings that increase camber

stiffness to provide high-speed cornering stability. Also available is an optional sport

suspension package that improves the car’s already amazing responsiveness

through shorter and firmer springs, firmer and more responsive shocks and larger

anti-roll bars.

Like the Boxster, the Boxster S has a new roof with a glass window with electric

defroster, new lower front and rear fascia and a new rear spoiler. These changes are

much more than mere cosmetics. Each of the changes improves aerodynamic

efficiency by enhancing airflow to the engine, around the exhaust system or to

the redesigned spoiler.

Other changes for 2003 include a new pop-out cupholder, a lighted and locking

glove compartment, new interior trim colors and remote unlocking front and rear

trunks. The air-conditioner and heat controls have been moved from the console

to the dash for easier accessibility and use.

The new top has a steeper angle along its rear section and provides a contour

that’s very close to that of the optional aluminum hardtop. The new shape is

provided by an additional, fourth roof bracket above the new glass window. The

glass window comes with electric heating to provide improved visibility in cold

and damp weather. Even with its fourth roof bracket and new glass window, the

Boxster’s top still features electric kinematic power and opens or closes in

12 seconds.

The new roof is lined and has optimized seals to minimize noise inside the car

when the top is up.

The roof is designed so that the rigid, magnesium frame that forms the front

edge of the roof provides protection for the glass window when the roof folds

away above the engine compartment.

The top’s new shape enhances airflow to the car’s redesigned rear spoiler. The

spoiler fits smoothly into the shape of the body when retracted, and then lifts

automatically into position at 75 mph (120 km/h) to keep the car stable by

reducing rear axle lift at Interstate and Autobahn speeds. The spoiler then retracts

at 50 mph (80 km/h).

Adjacent to the rear spoiler are smoked lenses for the rear directional signals.

Beneath the rear spoiler is a redesigned tailpipes flanked by a new and more

aerodynamically efficient lower rear facia. The rear fascia has two wide openings

that allow better cooling airflow around the exhaust system.

Airflow also improves at the front of the 2003 Boxster S and to the car’s

3.2-liter engine.

Beneath the car’s front bumper are two new cooling air intakes. The new intakes

have greater curvature than the former air intakes, providing a “ram” effect to

enhance the flow of air for cooling and for aerodynamic efficiency.

The redesigned front fascia also includes a more sharply contoured lower front

“lip.” A change that owners won’t see but will appreciate is a new composite

component between the body cross-support and the front body panels. This

“cushion” provides additional protection and reduces the cost of repairs should the

car bump into a curb while parking.

Airflow to the 3.2-liter engine is enhanced through revised and now body-colored

side vents located just in front of the rear wheel wells. The vent on the driver’s

side takes in air for the fuel/air combustion mixture while that on the passenger’s

side provides air to cool the engine compartment.

There are several changes to the Boxster S beneath its new electrohydraulic

roof. For 2003, the list of standard equipment includes a new, 911-style cupholder

that pops out of the instrument panel and a lighted and locking glove compartment.

The cupholder is located just below the center air conditioning outlet. The glove

compartment is located beneath the passenger-side airbag and has a capacity

of 305 cubic inches (five liters). The glove box lock is connected to the car’s

alarm system.

Air conditioner and heating controls are now positioned horizontally on the dashboard

for more uniform and easier use, and instead of black leather, the steering wheel,

gearshift lever, door handles and handbrake lever are covered in the same color

leather as the seats. Porsche crests in the standard three-spoke steering wheel

and the car keys add a classic design touch.

The Boxster S has unique aluminum-look interior trim and instrument panel

gauges with aluminum-color trim and gray faces.

Porsche’s new Communication Management system (PCM) comprises tuners, CD

player, navigation system, and trip computer, all linked through Media-Oriented

Systems Transport (MOST) digital databus. The MOST system incorporates

light-wave conductors the exchange data between the individual components

without loss of quality and at ultra-high speeds.

PCM includes a 5.8-inch color screen with its 16:9 aspect ratio and 12-position

keyboard for easily and efficiently entering radio frequencies. The system assures

excellent audio.

The navigation module provides such features as road junction zoom-in, dynamic

navigation to avoid congestion, map scrolling so you can see beyond your current

position, tour planning with the ability to memorize as many as eight destinations in

a row and a CD-ROM system that can be used for the navigation system or for music.

Also new for 2003 are remote locking and unlocking for the front and rear trunks.

Although it’s a true roadster, the mid-engine architecture of the Boxster S provides

space for storage areas at both ends of the vehicle. Together, these trunks offer

an impressive 9.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

While the Boxster S has been updated and upgraded for 2003, most of the basic

components that have made the car so popular with sports car buyers remain

unchanged.

In addition to the Porsche-patented VarioCam technology, the 3.2-liter engine uses

lightweight aluminum cylinder block and heads. Patented LOKASIL high-silicon

cylinder liners reduce friction and wear to such a level that Porsche can

recommend a 15,000-mile (24,000 km) oil change interval and a 30,000-mile

(48,000 km) oil filter change interval.

Boxster S buyers can choose between the precisely shifting standard six-speed

With the advanced Tiptronic S, the driver can place the shift lever into “D” and let

the transmission do the shifting, or shift into “M” and control gear shifts with

steering wheel-mounted thumb switches.

In automatic mode, Tiptronic S uses one of several programmed shift maps to

respond to the driving style. For example, during leisurely driving, Tiptronic S will

up shift early to provide a quiet ride. Quicker stabs at the gas pedal will call up

a sporty shift program, which holds each gear longer for response and power.

Even while in automatic mode, the computer-controlled Tiptronic S responds like

a driver working a manual transmission, downshifting or holding lower gears when

cornering and driving on hills. Tiptronic S also allows the driver to select manual

mode by pressing an up- or downshift button, even with the shift lever in the

“D” position.

The racecar-inspired mid-engine layout concentrates the car’s mass near its

center, providing quick response to steering inputs. Four-wheel independent

suspension features a Porsche-optimized MacPherson-strut design for rigidity

and aluminum components for low unsprung weight. Front and rear stabilizer

bars and dual-tube gas-charged shock absorbers provide flat cornering.

Standard power rack-and pinion steering yields a quick 2.98 turns lock-to-lock

and a tight 35.8-ft. (10.9-meter) turning circle.

A “staggered” wheel/tire array (wider wheels and wider, lower-profile tires on the rear)

contributes to neutral handling in the Boxster S. The standard aluminum alloy

wheels measure 17 x 7 inches in front and mount 205/55 ZR 17 tires; the 17 x

8.5-inch rear wheels mount 225/40 ZR 17 tires. The optional 18-inch wheels are

7.5 inches wide in front and 9 inches wide at the rear. Mounted with optional

front tires 225/40 ZR 18 and265/35 ZR 18 rubber in the rear.

The Boxster S stops with four-wheel vented disc brakes with ABS 5.3 anti-lock

control. Derived from the Porsche GT1 racecar, one-piece “monoblock” brake

calipers reduce heat and unsprung weight. The Boxster S uses the larger,

cross-drilled discs from the 911 Carrera. The front discs measure 12.53 inches in

diameter and 1.10-inches thick (318 mm x 28 mm). The rear discs measure nearly

as large – 11.78 inches in diameter and 0.95-inch thick (299 mm x 24 mm).

The Boxster S comes equipped with extensive standard comfort and

convenience equipment, including:

• Boron-steel reinforced windshield header and A-pillars

• Dual-front and door-mounted side airbags

• Three-point inertial reel seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load

   limiters

• Front fog lamps and rear fog lamp

• AM/FM cassette stereo

• Automatic climate control with a dust /pollen filter and a charcoal

  odor filter

• Heated power side view mirrors

• Heated windshield washer system

• Leather-faced seats with power recliners

• Leather-covered three-spoke steering wheel, gearshift knob,

  door armrests and handbrake handle

• Power front and rear trunk lid releases

• Power windows with one-touch lowering and raising

• Telescoping steering column

• Transponder key anti-theft system

• Porsche Stability Management (PSM) controls

• Fathered-leather upholstery

• Heated seats

• High-intensity gas-discharge headlights

• Park assist system

• Navigation system

• Removable aluminum hardtop

Bose audio equipment was introduced in Porsches for 2002 and features equipment

custom-engineered for each Porsche model. The new Bose automotive music

systems combine balanced stereo, a panoramic sound stage, deep bass and

smooth frequency response to produce lifelike music reproduction even in the

challenging environment of a car interior. The Bose sound systems employ digital

amplifiers to provide clean, uncolored sound at any listening level. In the Boxster,

an array of 10 advanced loudspeakers blends seamlessly into cabin trim, raising

and widening the sound stage and ensuring balanced stereo. Powerful bass

speakers are concealed in customized enclosures to furnish superb performance

within limited cabin space.

Safety in the Porsche Boxster S starts with the body structure, which features

front and rear crush zones that protect a reinforced passenger compartment.

Boron steel tubing reinforcements inside the windshield header and A-pillars along

with supplemental safety bars behind the seats provide additional safety in rollover

accidents. The supplemental safety bars feature soft-touch covering for a

high-quality appearance and tactile feel.

Supplementing the three-point inertia-reel seatbelts, the Boxster S features

seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters as well as dual front airbags and the

Porsche Side Impact Protection System that includes door-mounted side airbags,

boron-steel door reinforcement beams, and energy-absorbing door panels. The

30-liter capacity side airbags provide additional protection for the chest, head,

and pelvis.

At a customer’s request, a U.S. Porsche dealer can install a system that

deactivates the passenger airbags when a U.S. Porsche-approved child seat is

used. The system features a cross brace with belt lock in front of the passenger

seat. Buckling the special child seat into this brace deactivates the airbags. To

install the system, the dealer also must reprogram the airbag control module.

The optional Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system can help keep the car

going in the direction the driver steers – on slippery or dry road surfaces. PSM

uses data from several sensor inputs to detect a loss of grip at the front or rear.

The system can reduce instability by applying braking to individual wheels and, if

necessary, altering engine power. In addition, the PSM system also provides a

traction control function on slippery surfaces.

The PSM system operates so quickly that most drivers likely will not feel it make

corrections. The driver can disengage PSM with a dashboard switch. However,

for safety, PSM will engage under braking and then disengage when the driver

lifts off the brake. While the system provides dynamic handling aid, Porsche

cautions drivers that PSM cannot counteract the laws of physics.

All Porsche models feature light-emitting diode (LED) interior orientation lights.

One LED provides gentle illumination of the cockpit and center console. An LED

on the driver’s side door handle illuminates the ignition lock and light switch, and

an LED illuminates each door latch.

In addition to the standard power top, a three-piece wind deflector is available

to reduce wind buffeting and noise during top-down driving. Other options include

an aluminum hardtop with a full lining and a glass rear window with defroster, and

an innovative roof transportation system that attaches to the convertible roof

(open or closed) or the optional hardtop. Suitable for carrying skis, kayaks, or

bicycles, the system will hold up to 165 pounds.

The optional Porsche Communication Management system integrates controls and

displays for Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) navigation, an onboard computer and

climate control. A 5.8-inch (diagonal) LCD color screen displays all functions.

The Porsche Exclusive program offers a wide array of optional features installed

at the factory. Options include custom interior trim packages and individual trim

items.

The Porsche four-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty covers all

Exclusive options, and Porsche dealers can include the cost of the options in the

lease or finance contract.

only from authorized Porsche dealers. Tequipment options include such items

as special wheels, an aerobody kit, instrument panel trim kits, CD changers, and

custom floormats. Customers can order Tequipment options at the time of

purchase, or return to the dealership for installation later.

modifications do not affect the standard limited warranty. Tequipment items

come with a two-year warranty when installed by a certified technician at an

authorized Porsche dealership.

Optional high-intensity, Bi-Xenon gas-discharge headlights increase lighting range

and improve edge and side lighting.

Every new model-year 2003 Porsche car sold in the United States and Canada

is covered by a four-year/50,000-mile (80,000 kilometer), bumper-to-bumper

limited warranty, which includes Porsche’s roadside assistance program. The

galvanized body and 26-step paint and anti-corrosion process enable Porsche to

warranty each car against rust perforation for 10 years and unlimited mileage.

In addition, Porsche guarantees the paint finish for three years – also without a

mileage limitation.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc., (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its

subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche

vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of

Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs some 200 people who provide Porsche

vehicles, parts, marketing and training for its 203 dealers in the United States

and Canada. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.

2003 Porsche® Boxster® S

   • VarioCam® system varies valve overlap between 1,250 - 5,120 rpm

      • Rear-wheel drive

     • Optional five-speed Tiptronic® S automatic transmission

      • Stamped steel unit body

Suspension:   Sport-tuned

      • Power-assisted dual circuit four-wheel disc

Wheels:    Pressure-cast aluminum alloy