By Mark Kleis
Wednesday, Feb 2nd, 2011 @ 8:06 am

Porsche only very recently announced that it would be selling a limited run of 1,911 911′s, known as the Black Edition. Today, the clever automaker has announced that it will sell 987 copies of the Boxster S 987 – you guessed it – Black Edition.

With the addition of the Black Edition to the Porsche Boxster model lineup, there is now a new range-topper for the 2011 model year. The Black Edition adds to the Boxster S model, both literally and figuratively. For starters, the Boxster S Black Edition enjoys a 10 horsepower bump up to 320 – a treatment the 911 Black Edition did not see.

Like the 911 Black Edition, however, this edition also offers a substantially larger range of standard equipment and exclusive special options, without a price premium. Cosmetic changes to the exterior of this drop-top include: black body, black hood, and black 19-inch Boxster Spyder wheels for a truly unique look in the model range.

Other exterior additions include a black paint treatment for the rear side air intake grilles, and out back Porsche added black tips for the twin tailpipes of the exhaust system. In terms of the all-important badging, the model lettering painted in black on the rear luggage compartment lid identifies the Black Edition as much as the embossed Black Edition model designation on the side of the fabric hood. The roll-over bars are painted in black, too.

Of course, the black theme of the exterior is carried into the interior as well. Upon entering the Boxster Spyder S Black Edition one will immediately notice that the stainless steel door entry guards feature the “Black Edition” model lettering in black. Also changed, the standard Sport Design steering wheel with its double-spoke appeal now has a non-slip rim of smooth-finish leather and sporty grips. The trim strips of the dashboard and of shift lever or gear selector are also painted in black.

The dials on the instrument cluster are black, as are the standard partial leather seats with the Porsche emblem embossed in the headrests. For those looking for a bit more class and collectability for their Boxster Black Edition, a full black leather interior is also available. There is also a limited edition badge on the glove compartment that identifies the sports car as a model of the Black Edition – complete with a series numbering somewhere between 001 and 987.

Standard equipment for the Boxster S Black Edition includes the otherwise optional “Comfort”, “Infotainment”, and “Design” equipment packages, and therefore comes at a much more favorable price than a series model with comparable equipment options.

Additions include the wind deflector and anti-dazzle interior and exterior mirrors with integrated rain sensor, cruise control and a climate control system – all standard. The Porsche Communication Management (PCM) including navigation module are also standard. In addition, the universal audio interface and mobile phone preparation are available as standard.

For the audiophiles out there, the Sound Package Plus is available for enhanced audio. The standard Bi-Xenon lights with dynamic cornering lights and LED daytime running lights ensure driving pleasure and safety on dark roads. Upon request, the Boxster S Black Edition can be individualized even further with other options of the Boxster lineup, such as Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB), Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and the adaptive sports seats with memory function.

Interestingly, Porsche says it has also changed the wheel/tire size for the Boxster S Black Edition with the hopes of improving driving dynamics thanks to the 235/35ZR19 front wheel/tire combo, and the 265/35ZR19 combo out back. The wheels themselves are particularly lightweight wheel and come in the special ten-spoke design of the Boxster Spyder.

A 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection, mounted in front of the rear axle of the Boxster S Black Edition, supplies power to the car. Its output is, as mentioned before, increased to 320 horsepower at 7,200 rpm, or with the Boxster S power pack at 6,400 rpm. Peak torque of 273 lb-ft is available at 4,750 rpm.

With its standard six-speed manual transmission, this drop-top accelerates from zero-to-62 mph in 5.2 seconds, a tenth of a second faster than the standard Boxster S. This new top model also reaches its maximum speed at 171.5 mph, which is 1.2 mph higher than a standard Boxster S.

The Boxster S Black Edition may also be fitted with the seven-speed PDK transmission. This will shorten acceleration times from zero-to-62 mph to 5.1 seconds, the raise the top speed with PDK to 170.3 mph. Porsche says fuel economy will also improve with the PDK, but U.S. figures are not yet available.

  

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