Porsche released further details of the lightweight Boxster Spyder along with the official MSRP and pricing for all of the options, as the car prepares to hit the UK market. Built to revive the concept of the legendary 550 Spyder of 1950s, the Boxster Spyder is semi stripped-out version of the sporty roadster which, as the company says, represents the true, purist form of the Porsche sports car.

The car does not come with an electric folding top like the rest of Boxsters, instead you get separate roof which you have to install manually every time you need it! And that’s OK because this car is all about open-top driving fun. The lack of roof and many other things, have helped the Spyder to become incredibly light at only 1,275 kg (80 kg lighter than Boxster S), which makes it the lightest car in Porsche’s lineup.

The low-slung, lightweight soft top extends far to the rear at a distinctive angle and serves to protect the driver and passenger from bright sunshine, wind and rain. When closed, the soft top, together with the bespoke, shallower side windows and the two unique striking bulges on the single-piece rear engine cover, boasts a stretched and sleek silhouette reminiscent of the Carrera GT super sports car.

Here’s a list of all of the weight saving solutions Porsche has applied on the Spyder:

• manual fabric roof with carbon fibre front frame reduces the Spyder’s weight by 21 kg
• aluminium doors similar to those on the 911 Turbo and GT3 saves 15 kg
• the use of an aluminium rear engine cover saves 3 kg
• since the Spyder was designed for sporty open-top driving, the air conditioning has been removed and saves 12 kg
• using lightweight carbon fibre sports bucket seats saves 12 kg
• the fuel tank has a capacity of 54 litres, 10 litres fewer than standard Boxster, saving 7 kg
• the lightweight design of the 19” Spyder alloy wheels saves 5 kg
• there is no radio and a smaller battery, saving approximately 3 kg
• dispensing with cup holders and using lightweight interior door trims with door opening loops saves 2 kg

The engineers have also done a lot of work to make the car more dynamic. So it features wider tracks by 4mm at front and an 8mm at the back, and a sporty-tuned suspension system which is 20mm lower than standard. A mechanically locking differential is fitted as standard, and delivers significantly improved traction on changing road surfaces and when cornering at the extreme limits of performance. Locking values are 22 per cent under power and 27 per cent in overrun.

The car is powered by the same 3.4-litre flat six ‘boxer’ engine with Direct Fuel Injection, which is mounted amidships ahead of the rear axle, which is tuned to develop 320 bhp. It can be had with either a six-speed manual or Porsche’s Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch transmission.

When equipped with PDK and the optional Sports Chrono Package, the new Spyder, using Launch Control, can accelerate from a standstill to 62mph in 4.8 seconds. Again with optional PDK, fuel consumption is a mere 30.4mpg (9.3 litres/100km) in the NEDC New European Driving Cycle and top speed, in turn, is 166 mph (267 km/h) – with the roof removed.

Pricing for the Porsche Boxster Spyder starts form £46,387 in the UK and it comes standard with 6-speed manual transmission, 19” Boxster Spyder alloy wheels, manual two-piece hood comprising sunshield and weather protector, wind deflector, sports chassis lowered by 20 mm, lightweight carbon fibre sports bucket seats trimmed in Alcantara/leather, Porsche Stability Management (PSM), 3-spoke sports steering wheel, fixed rear spoiler, and heat insulating glass.

You can also spec it up thanks to the numerous options Porsche offers, including:

Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) £5,349.00
Sports seats with black leather interior £2,049.00
Porsche Communication Management with satellite navigation £1,945.00
Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch gearbox £1,962.00
Bi-Xenon headlights £1,173.00
Steering wheel-mounted paddle-shift for PDK £277.00
Sports exhaust system £1,276.00
PDK Sport Chrono Package Plus with launch control £531.00
Sport Chrono Package Plus for manual transmission £531.00
Fully automatic climate control £998.00
Metallic paint £602.00
Sports short throw gear shift £380.00
Heated seats £289.00
Radio no charge