Agree, not a fan of a convertible (otherwise I'd be in a Miata or S2k) and I thought the price was too much until I read the specs:
1,190 kg = 2,624 lbs
2.0L Tarbo = 286 hp
2.5L = 360 hp
Then again they thought the GT86 would produce those numbers at that price anyway and that didn't pan out. If you can walk out the door with a Porsche for <$40k that's under 2,900 lbs and producing >250 hp it'll be a serious contender.
Maybe they're reading these boards and think they can scoop up all the paranoid owners with minimal engineering effort.
Edit: No mention of engine config, when's the last time they made a flat four?