2009-2012 (987.2)
Porsche gave the Boxster the same thorough mid-cycle overhaul it applied to the Cayman for 2009, and the changes ran considerably deeper than styling. New direct-injection engines replaced the outgoing port-injected units, bringing meaningful gains in both power and efficiency, and the PDK dual-clutch transmission arrived as an option across the lineup for the first time, finally giving Boxster buyers an alternative to the aging Tiptronic automatic.
The base Boxster's 2.7-liter grew to 255 hp, while the Boxster S moved to a direct-injection 3.4-liter producing 310 hp, both clear steps up from their 987.1 predecessors. Porsche introduced the Boxster Spyder for 2011 as the generation's most focused variant, a lighter, more stripped-down roadster with a manually operated soft top, a fixed rear deck lid in place of the standard folding top mechanism, and the S engine tuned up to 320 hp, positioning it as the closest thing to a track-day Boxster the 987 generation offered. Styling across the refreshed lineup picked up revised bumpers and LED taillights shared with the contemporary Cayman, and the cabin gained an updated infotainment system alongside the new transmission options.
- Model years: 2009 to 2012
- Trims: Boxster, Boxster S, Boxster Spyder (2011 to 2012)
- Power range: 255 hp (base) to 320 hp (Spyder)
- Transmission: 5-speed manual standard (base), 6-speed manual standard (S and Spyder), PDK dual-clutch automatic optional across the lineup
- Notable firsts: first Boxster with direct fuel injection; first Boxster with PDK dual-clutch transmission; first Boxster Spyder