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Porsche will be pulling the wraps off its new Boxster Spyder at the 2015 New York International Auto Show. The new addition will top the 981 Boxster range and offer a "traditional sports-car driving experience but with contemporary performance," says Porsche.

Like the previous-gen Boxster Spyder, the classic fabric roof is opened and closed by hand, and it's only available with a good ol' manual transmission. It's for purists, and they will also like the 20 mm lower sports suspension, brakes taken from the 911 Carrera and more direct steering.

The lightest yet most powerful Boxster is moved by a 3.8 litre flat-six with 375 hp, enough for a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 4.5 seconds. Top speed is 290 km/h. Radio and air con are not standard to save weight, but one can tick those boxes at no extra cost. Porsche Communication Management (PCM) is a cost option.

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Looks good, doesn't it? The Boxster Spyder's front and rear ends are from the new and hardcore Cayman GT4, and the roadster has two prominent streamlined bulges that extend down along the long rear lid behind the headrests, a tribute to the 718 Spyder from the 60s.

The interior of the new car creates an atmosphere that "elicits a feeling of pure driving pleasure" more so than in any other Boxster, Zuffenhausen claims. The driver and passenger sit in light sports bucket seats with large side supports, while the new steering wheel with a diameter of just 360 mm adds to the mid-engine roadster's impression of agility.

The Boxster Spyder is very desirable, but here a more realistic alternative, in price if not local availability.