THE NEW PORSCHE SPYDER 718 RS IS HERE - WE'LL HAVE TWO PLEASE.
It’s mad to think the Porsche Boxster has already been around since 1996, and that was three years after the concept was first revealed too. I still look at the model as “the new small one”. The evolution of the car has been amazing and in recent years it’s changed from being the smaller, more affordable sibling to the 911, it’s now a powerhouse model complete with stupidly fast and powerful special editions and RS models. The latest slice of awesomeness is the Porsche 718 Spyder RS - and those last two letters mean that for the first time ever the normally-aspirated powerplant from the iconic 911 GT3 can be found in an open-topped mid-engined sports car. It also means it will be quite expensive, but that just means I’m not the target market, as my wealthy friends say. It wasn’t too long ago that the 718 Cayman GT4 RS was launched, and the world’s motoring press couldn’t stop singing the car’s praises with many of the industry’s most respected names claiming it better than the 911 in the handling stakes. That tells you just how good these 718 cars have become. This new release 718 Spyder RS has an identical powerplant to the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, that magical 6-cylinder boxer.
The engine in the Porsche 718 Spyder RS is that now iconic normally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six that can rev up to 9 000 rpm and generates a massive 368 kW of power with 450 Nm of torque, and it’s mated to a short-ratio 7-speed PDK transmission. In this open-top 718, it gets the car up to 100 km/h in as little as 3.4 seconds. It can hit 200 km/h in a mere 10.9 seconds and has a top speed of 308 km/h. Compared to the regular 718 Spyder there’s an additional 59 kW and it accelerates to 100 km/h half a second faster. Like every modern RS model, the new 718 Spyder RS is available exclusively with the Porsche dual-clutch transmission with gearshift paddles to allow drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel even when shifting gears manually. Alternatively, the driver can use the ergonomically designed selector lever on the centre console. In addition to the more powerful engine, the new model’s lower weight also contributes to better performance: at 1,410 kilograms, the Spyder RS weighs 40 kg less than the 718 Spyder with PDK and is actually five kilograms lighter than the closed 718 Cayman GT4 RS. The Spyder RS represents the latest high-water mark of the model line started in 2016. There’s a grippy RS sports steering wheel covered with Race-Tex and features a yellow 12-o'clock marking. The full bucket seats are made of lightweight CFRP in a carbon-weave finish and they offer impressive lateral support - they’re in black leather, while the perforated Race-Tex seat centre features a contrasting colour with a black background. The contrasting colours are Arctic Grey or Carmine Red. A ‘Spyder RS’ logo is found on the headrests and the dashboard and trims are covered with leather. “The 718 Spyder RS raises driving pleasure to a new level for open-top cars,” says Andreas Preuninger, Head of GT 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.”
Take a look at the YouTube video that showcases the all-new Porsche 718 Spyder RS, which not only looks like a work of art, it has more than enough power on tap to make for an exhilarating drive every single time it hits the road. Not sure about your thoughts, but our thoughts are that this is a car that we'd like to see parked in our car collection - even if it is just a fantasy one: The new Porsche 718 Spyder RS | CWMedia
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