Porsche shows off Boxster, 911 dark side

PORSCHE Cars Australia has introduced special Black Edition versions of its 911 Carrera and its Boxster stablemate, as the German sportscar-maker ushers in model year 2016 spec updates and price changes to some of its range.

On sale now with deliveries commencing in September, the limited editions are, unsurprisingly, available exclusively with black exterior paint, and add to the standard specification of the 911 and Boxster base variants.

In Boxster guise, the Black Edition is available from $110,800, plus on-road costs, when matched with the six-speed manual, representing a $5700 premium over the regular base model, but Porsche says it includes $15,000 worth of extra gear.

The seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission adds $5390 to the Boxster price.

Additional standard features include bi-Xenon headlights with the company's Dynamic Light System, a black roll-over bar, 20-inch Carrera Classic alloy wheels, automatically dimming rear-view and side mirrors, a sport designed steering wheel, and an embossed Porsche crest on the door guards and headrests with a Black Edition logo.

Buyers of the 911 Black Edition will gain $25,000 worth of extras and is available in both Coupe and Cabriolet body styles in either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. A choice of either seven-speed manual gearbox or the PDK dual-clutch is on offer.

Black Edition 911s start at $209,500 for the rear-wheel drive Coupe and top out at $240,000 for the all-wheel drive Cabriolet.

Extra goodies over and above the standard spec in Carrera variants include LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Lights System Plus (PDLS+), 20-inch 911 Turbo wheels, front and rear Park Assist with a reversing camera, and the same embossed Porsche crest as the Boxster on the door guards and headrests with a Black Edition logo.

Along with the special additions, Porsche has tweaked the specification in a number of models and variants in the range, with the Boxster and Boxster S gaining front Park Assist, 14-way electric adjustable seats and a multi-function steering wheel. Accordingly, prices have risen by up to $2600, depending on the variant and transmission.

Its hardtop sibling, the Cayman and Cayman S, also get the multi-function steering wheel and front Park Assist, but they now also feature heated front seats. Prices for the Cayman remain the same as the model year 2015 versions.

The Panamera S, 4S, GTS and S E-Hybrid now feature LED headlights with the PDLS+ and digital radio, while the Turbo and Turbo S gain the digital radio and PDLS+ but don't get the LED headlights. Panamera pricing also remains unchanged.

Finally Porsche's latest model, the Macan SUV, adds a tyre pressure monitoring system to the Macan S and Macan S Diesel variants, with prices rising by $3100 and $3000 respectively to $88,000 and $89,700.

Some pricing alterations have also been made to other variants in the extensive Cayenne large SUV and 911 ranges.

Porsche Black Edition pricing*

Boxster	$110,800
Boxster (a)	$116,190
911 Carrera Coupe	$209,500
911 Carrera Coupe (a)	$215,890
911 Carrera Coupe 4	$223,300
911 Carrera Coupe 4 (a)	$229,690
911 Carrera Cabriolet	$226,100
911 Carrera Cabriolet (a)	$232,490
911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet	$240,000
911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet (a)	$246,390

*Excludes on-road costs.