Porsche Boxster / Cayman (981)
2012–2016 (GTS from 2014) · Porsche Boxster / Cayman (981) — Sports Car, Flat-6, designed by Michael Mauer.
The Story
The 981 is the high-water mark of the naturally-aspirated mid-engine Porsche — the last Boxster and Cayman before the four-cylinder turbo 718 era. Launched in 2012, it brought a longer wheelbase, a wider track, lighter construction and sharper electric steering to an already-brilliant chassis, producing what many regard as the finest-handling sports cars Porsche has ever made. Its sweet, free-revving flat-six engines (2.7, 3.4 S, and the glorious 3.8 in the GT4) are the heart of its appeal. The 2015 Cayman GT4 — with a 385-hp 911-sourced flat-six, GT3 suspension and a manual gearbox — is the hero, a genuine junior GT3 and an instant modern classic.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Sports Car class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Michael Mauer
Mauer led design at Mercedes and Saab before succeeding Lagaaij at Porsche in 2004, where he has overseen every modern Porsche line. Since 2022 he has also directed design across the entire Volkswagen Group.
Studio Motors POV
The last naturally-aspirated Boxster/Cayman — and, in GT4 form, a junior GT3 that’s already a modern classic. A manual Cayman GT4 is the one to own; a 3.4 S is the value-sweet-spot driver’s car.
The Engine
9A1 / 9A2 flat-six (DI)
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Boxster / Cayman (981)
Worth Knowing About the Boxster / Cayman (981)
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1) It's the LAST naturally-aspirated Boxster/Cayman — the 718 that followed switched to turbo four-cylinders, making the 981's flat-six a sought-after swansong. 2) The 2015 Cayman GT4 borrowed the 911 Carrera S's 3.8 flat-six and GT3 suspension — Porsche GT's first mid-engine road car. 3) Car and Driver has repeatedly named the Boxster/Cayman to its prestigious 10Best list — the 981 included.
5 Fast Facts
- • 2012–2016; the LAST NA flat-six Boxster/Cayman. • Flat-six 2.7 / 3.4 S / 3.8 (GT4); manual or PDK. • The 2015 Cayman GT4 (385 hp, GT3 suspension) is the hero. • Longer, wider, lighter, sharper than the 987. • A modern classic — GT4 values lead strongly.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
FLAG: no documented/citable celebrity owner verified here. (Excluded rather than guessed.)
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The 2015 Cayman GT4 (and Boxster Spyder) are the blue-chip picks — manual only, flat-six, GT-developed; the 3.4 S is the sweet-spot regular car. As the last NA mid-engine cars, clean, documented examples are appreciating — especially the GT4. Manual over PDK for collectibility. Buy the best example you can; the GT4 is a future grail.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Porsche Boxster / Cayman (981)
- Class
- Sports Car
- Production years
- 2012–2016 (GTS from 2014)
- Units built
- FLAG: 981 Boxster+Cayman total not officially published; est. ~90,000–100,000 all trims (Boxster Spyder 2,486 firm)
- Variants
- Boxster, Cayman, S, GTS
- Engine layout
- Mid
- Engine
- Flat-6
- Engine family
- 9A1 / 9A2 flat-six (DI)
- Displacement
- 3.4L / 3436 cc
- Power
- 340 hp
- Torque
- 280 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 4.6 s
- Top speed
- 177 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 247 hp/tonne · 8.9 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 7-speed PDK / 6-speed manual
- Drivetrain
- RWD · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 3031 lb
Questions
Boxster / Cayman (981) FAQ
What makes the 981 Boxster and Cayman significant?
The 981 generation (2012-2016) was the last Boxster and Cayman to use a naturally aspirated flat-six engine before Porsche switched to turbocharged flat-four units in the 982-generation 718. Enthusiasts prize it as the purest-driving mid-engine Porsche of the modern era.
What engine does the 981 Cayman GTS use?
The 981 Cayman GTS uses a naturally aspirated 3.4-litre flat-six producing 340 hp (SAE). It is mated to either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed PDK and spins to 7,400 rpm.
How much does a Porsche 981 Cayman GTS cost today?
The 981 Cayman GTS trades in the $45,000-$75,000 range in the 2025-2026 market, with low-mileage PDK Sport Chrono cars and manual examples attracting the highest prices. Hagerty lists the model in its valuation tool for current pricing by condition.
What is the difference between the Porsche 981 Boxster and Cayman?
Both share the same mid-engine 981 platform and engines, but the Boxster is an open roadster with a folding soft top while the Cayman is a fixed-roof coupe. The Cayman’s stiffer structure typically delivers marginally sharper handling, while the Boxster offers open-air driving.
Is the 981 Boxster or Cayman a reliable used buy?
The 981 generation has a strong reliability record overall. Unlike the 1997-2005 M96/M97-era Boxsters and Caymans, the 981 uses later engines and does not carry the same intermediate shaft bearing exposure. A pre-purchase inspection is still recommended for any used exotic, but the classic IMS concern does not apply.
The Porsche Lineup
Explore every Porsche
911 (Original) ’64904 Carrera GTS ’64914 ’69
911 Carrera RS 2.7 ’72911 (G-Series) ’74911 Carrera RS 3.0 ’74911 Turbo (930) ’75924 ’76928 ’77
911 Turbo (964) ’90911 Carrera RS (964) ’91968 ’92911 (993) ’94911 Carrera RS (993) ’95911 Turbo (993) ’95911 GT2 (993) ’95Boxster (986) ’96911 (996) ’97911 GT3 (996) ’99
911 Turbo (996) ’00911 GT2 (996) ’01Cayenne (955) ’02911 (997) ’04Boxster / Cayman (987) ’04Carrera GT ’04911 Turbo (997) ’06911 GT3 (997) ’06911 GT3 RS (997) ’06911 GT2 (997) ’07911 Sport Classic (997) ’09Panamera (970) ’09
911 GT2 RS (997) ’10911 Speedster (997) ’10Cayenne (958) ’10911 (991.1) ’11Boxster / Cayman (981) ’12911 Turbo (991) ’13911 GT3 (991) ’13918 Spyder ’13Macan (95B) ’14911 GT3 RS (991) ’15Cayman GT4 / Boxster Spyder (981) ’15911 (991.2) ’16911 R (991) ’16718 Cayman / Boxster (982) ’16911 GT2 RS (991) ’17Panamera (971) ’17Cayenne (9Y0) ’17911 Speedster (991) ’19911 (992.1) ’19718 Cayman GT4 / Spyder (982) ’19Taycan ’19
911 Turbo (992) ’20911 GT3 (992) ’21Cayenne Turbo GT (9Y0) ’21911 Dakar (992) ’22911 GT3 RS (992) ’22911 Sport Classic (992) ’22718 Cayman GT4 RS / Spyder RS (982) ’22911 S/T (992) ’23911 (992.2) ’24911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid (992.2) ’24Panamera (972) ’24Macan Electric ’24
Buy, sell, source or lease this Boxster / Cayman (981).
Studio Motors operates outside the dealership model — nationwide and off-market sourcing, custom lease structures, trade-in coordination. Tell us what you’re chasing.
