DESIGN: In 1993, the Porsche Boxster faced its first and greatest acid test
Designskizzen des Boxster
In 1993, the Porsche Boxster faced its first and greatest test: the public presentation of the sports car study at the Detroit Motor Show.
The name is an artificial word derived from the first syllable of the word Boxer and the second syllable of the word Roadster. This not only provides a concise reference to the vehicle type, but also to the boxer engine – the technically outstanding feature that has distinguished the 356 since 1948 and the Porsche 911 since 1963.
Grant Larson, now Director of Special Projects, was responsible for the design of the study. The designer remembers: „In October 1991 – I was responsible for pre-development in design at the time – I visited the Tokyo Motor Show. There Audi presented the Avus Quattro study. At the end of 1991, series development of the Boxster and 996 was already underway in other areas and we decided to build a show car. I had complete freedom of design. All the designs were created as 2D drawings. Not yet on the screen like today.
Design sketches of the Boxster
Picture gallery of the Porsche Boxster designs: Just click on the picture!
My boss Harm Lagaaij pushed me tremendously with the design, especially when it came to the details. Finally, we were lucky to have a fantastic modeller in Peter Müller. Instead of using coordinates as usual, he only worked with my sketches. Free hand, so to speak. Originally we had planned to present our study in Geneva in spring 1993. But we decided on Detroit in January, because we didn’t want to waste any time. Besides, our focus with the roadster was on the US market, where Porsche was weak at the time and Mazda was already present in the roadster segment with the Miata and BMW with the Z1.“
„Originally we had planned to present our study in Geneva in the spring of 1993. But we decided on Detroit in January because we didn’t want to give away any time.“
Grant Larson
With the „Boxster“ sports car study designed by Grant Larson, Porsche continues the technical development of its earlier Spyder, Speedster and Roadster sports cars and borrows very specifically from the 550 Spyder and the 718 RS 60 from the 1950s. The mid-engine concept, the short body overhang at the rear, the front end that clearly extends beyond the front axle and the centrally positioned exhaust tailpipe are central elements that distinguish not only the ancestors but also the study. Strikingly designed air inlets and air outlets are just as important design elements as the front headlights with innovative lighting technology and the rear lights and indicators. The interior features matching body-coloured metal finishes on the door panels, instrument panel and centre console.
986 Boxster
The response of the public and experts to the „Boxster“ is enormous and does not remain without consequences for the development. Grant Larson: „Shortly after the presentation in Detroit, we were instructed to stop the series design development for the Boxster immediately. ‚Please build the study the same way‘, we were told instead.“
Copyright and courtesy of Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
virtual design magazine Michael Hiller
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