LA Auto Show: 2009 Porsche Boxster and Cayman

Porsche is in the middle of a product overhaul.

It just introduced a new 911, it's bringing a new 4-door sedan to market next year, not to mention the hybrid version of its Cayenne SUV, if we’re lucky. It the middle of working on all that, it also found the time to redesign its wee little Boxster convertible and Cayman coupe.

They’re not much different on the outside, just a few subtle changes to the sheet metal and lights, but underneath there’s a lot to be excited about.

First, the engines are new, and feature direct injection which gives them more power and better fuel economy. The standard 2.9-liter flat-6 is rated at 255 horsepower, while the 3.4 liter in the Boxster S and Cayman S models makes 310 horsepower, the most either of the cars have ever had.

The real treat, though, is a new twin-clutch transmission that works like an automatic, but performs as efficiently as a manual. It offers the best of both worlds. Now if they could just build a retractable hardtop model, Porsche buyers would never have to make another decision again in their lives.

Click here to read about the 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder.