Also new for 2003: Side intake grilles are body-colored, not black. The front air dam is redesigned with larger grilles. The rear valance is lower, with a new grille of its own and larger exhaust tips. The retractable rear spoiler has been reshaped to help maintain Boxster's benchmark 0.31 drag coefficient despite all the larger grilles. Fashionable white/gray turn indicators have replaced yellow ones.

The Boxster looks clean, purposeful and pure Porsche. From the front, the Boxster looks similar to the 911. In fact, they share front-end sheet metal though there are differences in the headlamps, bumper fascia and other details. From the rear, the Boxster suggests a blend of Porsche cars from the 1950s, specifically the 356 Speedster and 550 Spyder.

While the front of the Boxster is very similar to the 911, their proportions differ from the base of the windshield rearward. Unlike the rear-engine 911, the Boxster engine is mounted ahead of the rear axle rather than over the rear axle or behind it. This mid-engine configuration yields excellent weight distribution. Just as important, it puts most of the car's mass between the front and rear axles, a big asset when making rapid maneuvers; and that's what cars like this are all about.

Boxster S is distinguished from the Boxster by its twin exhaust outlets, additional air dam intakes, and wheels.

Boxster measures 170 inches overall, significantly longer than the BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK, and Honda S2000. But the Boxster wheelbase is about the same as that of the SLK and S2000, and shorter than that of the Z4. The Porsche is relatively light (2811 pounds for the standard Boxster, 2911 for Boxster S). Boxster is about 100 pounds lighter than the BMW, about 280 pounds lighter than the Mercedes, and about the same weight as the lightweight Honda. Lighter is better for braking, handling, and acceleration performance.