Grant Larson’s design, inspired by the 356 Cabriolet, Speedster, and 550 Spyder, stimulated a commercial turnaround for Porsche. Through consultation with Toyota, Porsche began widely sharing parts among models and slashed costs. Many believe the introduction of the Boxster helped save Porsche from acquisition.
The Boxster was released ahead of its big brother, the 996 generation of the 911. The 986 Boxster had the same bonnet, front wings, headlights, interior and engine architecture as the 996.
