Porsche released news that it is the first car maker in the world to offer a starter battery with lithium-ion technology. Weighing less than 13 lb or 6 kg, the new battery is more than 22 lb or 10 kg lighter than a conventional 60 Ah lead battery.

The new lithium-ion battery will be available as a $1,700 option as of January 2010 for the 911 GT3, 911 GT3 RS, and Boxster Spyder and is delivered with the car.

The new battery was developed specifically for lower weight. It is the same length and width as the old battery but is 2.8 or 70 millimeters lower, Porsche notes. The fastening points are completely compatible with the old battery.

Additional enhancements include a faster charge due to reduced internal resistance, a greater number of charging and re-charging cycles and a lower self-discharging effect and a longer service life.

In a press release, Porsche notes its lithium-ion battery comprised  wound film of carbon and iron phosphate with a ceramic film moisturized by the electrolyte that serves as a separating layer. This compares to other lithium-ion batteries that use a combination of manganese oxide, cobalt oxide or nickel, this lithium-iron-phosphate battery, as it is called, offers advantages when used as a starter battery.

It is robust and consistently guarantees the usual voltage of 12 V for the car’s on-board network. The lightweight battery is made up of four cells and integrated electronic controls.

This battery management system protects the battery from major discharges and guarantees a consistent charge level within the individual cells. Once battery voltage drops below a certain threshold, a warning signal reminds the driver to re-charge the battery either simply by driving the car or by means of a conventional battery charger.

The new lithium-ion battery will also be available for retrofitting from February 2010 on the three models mentioned from Porsche Tequipment.

Source: Porsche North America

Photo: Porsche North America

If there can be too much of a good thing, this may be it: a third member of the Porsche Boxster line.

Porsche Cars North America has announced that the third member of the vaunted Boxster line, the 2011 Spyder, will bow at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Dec. 2, 2009.

To differentiate it from its stablemate, the car’s windows are lower and sleeker – if possible – and two striking bulges on the rear deck lid give the Spyder a pronounced athletic stance.

The soft-top now extends far to the rear for an added stylistic swirl, adding functionality to the fun to protect the driver and passenger from heat or inclement elements.

Output: Power for this scatback is derived from a 3.4-liter, 320 hp, 6-cylinder motor with Direct Fuel Injection in front of the rear axle. An all-new sport suspension has lowered the car 20mm, providing an ever lower center of gravity, that combined with standard limited slip differential and special wheels that give the steak the sizzle to live up to its nameplate.

Utilizing aluminum doors and lightweight interior door panels from the 911 GT3 RS helped the Boxster Spyder shed 176 pounds less than the Boxster S. The Spyder also gets 10 more horsepower as well than the S.

Historical hook: The Boxster line has lineage extending back to the 550 Spyder and RS 60 of the 1950s and 1960s, all being mid-engined roadster with low weight, great agility and superb handling characteristics.

Limited edition Boxster Spyders appeared in 2004 and 2008, but the new Spyder will be a regular production model.

On Sale: Porsche says the official on sale date of the 2011 Boxster Spyder is in early February 2010.

The MSRP is listed at $61,200.