SPY PICS: Out of the Boxster

Not an awful lot can be gleaned from these photos snapped by the Carparazzi team somewhere off the beaten tracks in Bavaria, but the car does appear to be the next-generation of Porsche's mid-engined Boxster.

Whether or not any significant disguise has been applied can't really be known, but it's interesting to note the Boxster's bulging headlights appear to ape those of the next generation 911 also spotted testing recently.

There's also the door mounting for the side mirrors so obviously revealed in the 911 spy pics.

The Carparazzi guys reckon the canvas top is different too, while there are definite indications that -- as you'd expect -- front and rear bumpers are new as well.

And the engine vents aft of the doors, though they appear to be a little smaller than those of the current car, are actually likely to be dummied up so as not to reveal their true configuration.

In fact, does the disguise cladding extending forward onto the doors indicate there's something radical going on? For example some scalloping out of the sheet metal to direct airflow in more volume to the intakes?

Taking it further, could it be connected to the hopefully inaccurate rumours that Porsche is considering a different -- four-cylinder -- engine configuration as an option for the Boxster?

Some chatter is suggesting a conventional powerplant sourced from outside could help in meeting ever-tougher emissions laws. We trust not, for the boxer engine is an indispensible element central to the Porsche's identity.

In line with the 911, the next Boxster can be expected to get direct-injection versions of the current six-cylinder boxer powerplants producing more power and torque, as well as the new dual-clutch PDK transmission as an option.

Like the next 911, it's likely Porsche will be working on making the Boxster more environmentally friendly via such measures as careful weight trimming and, maybe, stop-start technology.

The next Boxster is due to appear at the 2011 Geneva motor show. Obviously, a new Cayman is down the track too, probably after allowing respectful recognition of the convertible two-seater that started it all

-- with Carparazzi