Wiedeking called in a cadre of Japanese consultants, including former executives from Toyota, the world's most efficient automaker. A company can't survive just by cost-savings. Yet it lives up to the company's high-performance image. Stomp on the gas and the roadster will race from 0 to 60 in a neck-snapping 6.7 seconds. Top speed is 149 mph.
Customers apparently agree, even before they've have a chance to drive the car.
The Boxster's first year of production is already sold out, according to Wiedeking. And he insists the company will have no problem maintaining volume of 15,000 units a year. The U.S. is expected to be Boxster's biggest export market, accounting for a third of sales, roughly equal to the volume projected for Germany. While the 911 is typically used as a weekend plaything by its affluent owners, the Boxster is expected to serve as the only car for many owners. Porsche's forecasts might seem a bit optimistic in light of current market realities.