The Driver - Winter 2016 Winter 2016 | Page 8

Yes, increased power levels are good, but if you ask Porsche, it’s the car’s agility that’s the hallmark of the ”Spyder” name. Indeed, more than just giving the Spyder a fantastic profile, the roof system is a weight saver in itself; a manual-folding fabric top is your only choice, helping contribute to the 30 kilograms saved over the next-best Boxster GTS. Also helping keep weights down is the transmission, of which there is only one option: a good ol’ fashioned, slick-shifting six-speed manual. No PDK option here, to which I say “hallelujah!”. Everywhere you look, you’ll see weight savings, right down to tiny details like the door pulls fashioned from lightweight fabric. You pull what is essentially a strap to close the door; that is all. The rest of the interior is pretty standard fare; Alcantara faux-suede buckets are standard, though they can be upgraded to leather items or even the fixed-back carbon fibre units that can be found in performance monsters such as the Cayman GT4 and 911 GT3. In addition to the weight savings, the top looks fantastic. The top on the regular Boxster isn’t half bad in profile, but the