With 2023 being Porsche Sports Cars’ 75th birthday, Porsche introduces the new 718 Spyder RS. The new sportscar is the carmaker’s most powerful version yet of the mid-engined roadster and sits on top of the 718 model line.
At the front, the Porsche 718 Spyder RS features a front end that is identical to the one on the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. Its front bonnet is made of CFRP and features an air outlet above the bumper.
There are also sideblades at the outer ends of the bumper of the 718 Spyder RS to assist in increasing the sports car’s downforce. Besides, two NACA ducts are also included to enhance the mid-engined sports car’s brake cooling without affecting its aerodynamic performance.
Porsche has also made the front spoiler lip of the new sports car slightly shorter than the one on the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. In conjunction with the larger rear wing, it helps with producing a higher overall downforce for the car and therefore requires a larger spoiler lip to achieve aerodynamic balance.
At the back, the 718 Spyder RS features a tear-off edge that is shaped like a ducktail. Fitted onto the mid-engined sports car are 20-inch forged aluminium wheels. Customers are also able to pick their new sports car’s exterior to be covered in colours such as the new Vanadium Grey Metallic, as well as the Arctic Grey, Shark Blue and Ruby Star Neo.
Being a roadster, the Porsche 718 Spyder RS features a manually operated single-layer soft top. Claimed by the carmaker to be lightweight and compact, the soft top consists of two parts, a sun sail and a weather deflector, which are both removable and can be stored in the car itself.
The entire roof weighs 18.3 kg, which is 7.6 kg and 16.5 kg lighter than the regular 718 Spyder and 718 Boxster respectively. When the weather is clear, owners can also choose to leave the soft top at home entirely and shave off another eight kilograms from the weight of the car.
Keeping the 718 Spyder RS lightweight was also one of Porsche’s main focuses. Weighing 1,410 kg, the 718 Spyder RS is 40 kg lighter than the 718 Spyder, and also weighs five kilograms lesser than the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. This effort from the sports car company contributes to the 718 Spyder RS’ better performance and creates a new benchmark for the 718 model line.
The chassis of the mid-engine roadster features components found in the 718 Cayman GT4 RS and the 718 Spyder. Designed for maximum driving pleasure on winding roads, as the carmaker claims, the 718 Spyder RS comes standard with Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM). This suspension setup also comes with sports tuning and is lowered by 30 mm.
The Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) is also included together with a mechanical limited-slip differential (LSD). The car’s ride height, camber, track and anti-roll bar can all be adjusted individually too.
Under the hood is Porsche’s 4.0-litre naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine, which is also found in the 911 GT3 sports car & 911 GT3 Cup racing car. Capable of producing 492 hp and 450 Nm of torque, the mid-mounted engine is able to rev up to 9,000 rpm.
Mated to the engine is a seven-speed PDK dual-l-clutch transmission, which allows the car to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. Hitting the 200 km/h mark takes 10.9 seconds with this mid-engine roadster.
Compared to the non-RS 718 Spyder, the 718 Spyder RS gains an extra 79 hp, and sprints to 100 km/h half a second faster. Its top speed is also 8 km/h more, at 308 km/h.
Porsche GT Cars Head, Andreas Preuninger said, “The 718 Spyder RS raises driving pleasure to a new level for open-top cars.”
“The combination of our unmistakable GT3 engine, the close-ratio transmission, compact dimensions, low weight, road-optimised racing suspension and maximum openness offers an extremely compelling and unfiltered driving experience,” added Preuninger.
The interior of the Porsche 718 Spyder RS is according to Porsche, reduced to the functional and ergonomic essentials. Featuring a leather dashboard trim, the sports car’s interior also comes with an RS sports steering wheel that is wrapped in Race-Tex and features a yellow 12-o’clock marking.
There are also the standard full bucket seats, made of lightweight CFRP in a carbon-weave finish. The seats are covered in black leather, with a perforated Race-Tex seat centre that features the Carmine Red colour. This then contrasts with the background finished in Arctic Grey.
Porsche is also offering the Weissach package as an option. Featuring designs inspired by the limited-edition 935 from 2018, this package includes lightweight forged magnesium wheels, and sports exhaust system tailpipes made out of titanium. Inside, the upper part of the dashboard is also covered with anti-glare Race-Tex.
If the car itself isn’t enough to satisfy your needs, there is also an optional Porsche Design Timepieces handcrafted chronograph. This chronograph is solely available exclusively to buyers of the Porsche 718 Spyder RS only.
The sports car will be making its public premiere in June at Porche Sports Cars’ 75th-year festivities in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Shortly afterwards, it will also be making an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England as well.
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