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Porsche's new third-generation Boxster has been spied completely undisguised in testing

The all-new third-generation Porsche Boxster has been spied completely undisguised on a marketing shoot in the US a full five months ahead of its planned public debut.

The pictures reveal a much greater styling leap than had been expected for Porsche’s mid-engined roadster, which will be revealed at the Geneva motor show next March and hit UK showrooms in June.

See all the spy pics of the new Porsche Boxster

The new Boxster, spied here in its sportier Boxster S guise, gets all-new, predominately aluminium bodywork and a new lightweight fabric roof. The doors feature deep, heavily sculpted air intakes, while the front-end gets sharper headlights and a treatment for the grille similar to that seen on the new 911. More pronounced arches feature at the rear alongside new LED lights and a muscular rear bumper.

Sitting on a new architecture that mixes steel and aluminium and includes a front-end shared with the new 911, the latest Boxster will grow in size over its predecessor to make space in the Porsche range for a smaller, entry-level mid-engined roadster called 550 Spyder. But despite its increased dimensions, the new Boxster will be lighter than the car it replaces.

Porsche insiders have also indicated it will have a 50:50 weight distribution and the rigidity of the structure has been majorly increased. The results, our insiders claim, is a much more mature car to drive than before.

Insiders have also confirmed that the Boxster will mirror the new 911 in adopting electric steering for the first time.

The engine line-up will mirror today’s car in offering a 2.9-litre and 3.4-litre flat-six units, with improved power and performance, as well as better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. Gearbox options will include a six-speed manual and seven-speed PDK.

A modular 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engine under development for the 550 Spyder could also find its way into the new Boxster and its Cayman sibling, which is due in 2013.

Mark Tisshaw

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