Porsche to produce Boxster S Black Edition

The new 2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition will be available this spring, the automaker said Wednesday.

The Black Edition is powered by the same 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine found in the Boxster S. But the Black Edition produces 320 hp, 10 more than the Boxster S. Power is transferred to the rear wheels through Porsche's PDK dual-clutch transmission.

Even with the increased horsepower, the Black Edition is only slightly faster than the Boxster S, accelerating from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and reaching a top speed of 170 mph. The Boxster S goes from 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 169 mph. But consumers can buy the Black Edition with a Sport Chrono package that reduces the 0-to-60-mph time to 4.6 seconds.

The exterior of the Black Edition is painted black and includes black trim pieces, side air-intake grilles and exhaust tips.

The interior is only available in black with aluminum and stainless-steel accents.

Porsche will make 987 units of the Black Edition; the second-generation Boxster is known inside Porsche as the 987. The Boxster S Black Edition will have a sticker price of $66,950.

By Brad Constant