Porsche Boxster (986)

The Porsche 986 is the internal designation of the first generation Boxster, a mid-engine two-seater roadster built by Porsche. It was introduced in late 1996 and was based on the 1993 Boxster Concept, making it Porsche's first road car designed as a roadster since the 914. The name joins boxer, for the flat engine, with speedster. Power came from a water-cooled 2.5 litre flat six, raised to 2.7 litres in 2000 when the Boxster S arrived with a 3.2 litre engine, and the styling and output were revised in 2003. Grant Larson's design, inspired by the 356 Cabriolet, Speedster and 550 Spyder, shared parts with the 996 911, and production started in Stuttgart and also in Finland at Valmet. It is credited with saving Porsche, and was its best seller until the Cayenne.