Porsche has announced it will introduce a new, lightweight version of the mid-engined Porsche Boxster at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Dec this year.

Visual changes include a low-slung, lightweight soft top that extends far to the rear. Looking taut and haughty when closed, the soft top - combined with the bespoke extra-low side windowns and the two tubular bulges on the single-piece rear lid - has hints of the Carrera GT's silhouette.

The Boxster Spyder will tip the scales at 1,275kg, making it the lightest model in Porsche's line-up. This makes is 80kg lesser tha the Boxster S, which, combined with a lower centre of gravity and revised suspension, should give the Spyder more superior driving dynamics.

The Boxster Spyder will get a tuned version of the 3.4-litre flat-six boxer, direct-injected, that is found in the Cayman S.

Number-wise, the Boxster Spyder will put down 320bhp, 10 more bhp than in the Boxster S. It'll hit 100kph from standstill in 4.8 seconds, equipped with the optional Porsche twin-clutch transmission, PDK and using launch control. Fuel consumption stands at 9.3 litre/100km and top speed is 267kph, with the roof down.

We'll be seeing these Boxster Spyders around from Feb 2010 onwards.

Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: Porsche)