Porsche has released its most powerful mid-engined roadster to date. Three decades after the debut of the first Boxster concept car, the German marque has lifted the lid off the Cayman GT4 RS. Utilising the same racing-derived engine as the Cayman GT4 RS, at the heart of the Porsche 718 Spyder RS is the same 4.0-litre six-cylinder that effortlessly produces a deafening 9000rpm, with an output of 493 bhp and 331 ft-lb of torque. According to Porsche, it’s able to sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 314km/h.
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The specs of the Cayman GT4 RS are maintained through subtle aerodynamic adjustments. Front-on, the 718 Spyder RS looks virtually unchanged from its closed-top sibling, with the carbon-fibre reinforced plastic bonnet and two NACA air inlet ducts remaining. The addition of side blades on the outer end of the bumper work to increase downforce, while a smaller front spoiler lip balances out the reduced downforce generated by the ducktail-shaped rear spoiler that replaces the large rear wing on the Cayman GT4 RS.
Rather than the folding soft top of a classic Boxster Spyder, Porsche changes the game altogether with a manually operated removable soft top roof that comprises two parts, a sun sail and a weather deflector. Weighing in at 18.3kg, it has a 7.6kg weight advantage over the non ‘RS’ 718 Spyder and a not-insubstantial 16.5kg less than the 718 Boxster top.
Utilising elements of the Cayman GT4 RS and 718 Spyder, the chassis of the 718 Spyder RS prioritises driving pleasure on winding roads. The chassis sits 30mm lower than its 718 siblings, with spring and damper rates reduced to account for an optimal convertible driving setup. The 718 Spyder RS comes standard with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) comes standard, while Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with mechanical rear differential lock promotes stability while taking corners.
The sporty aesthetic continues within the cabin, with the interiors reduced to the essentials only. The race car-inspired cabin sees the RS sports steering wheel decked in Race-Tex material which continues onto the mid-section of the seats, with the full-bucket seats constructed from lightweight carbon-fibre reinforced plastic in a carbon weave finish with leather seat covers. The contrasting Race-Tex material is available in Carmine Red or Arctic Grey.
Meanwhile, the exterior is available in four plain and three metallic shades, including Vanadium Grey Metallic (a particular favourite here at AR) as well as Arctic Grey, Shark Blue, and Ruby Star Neo.
The 718 Spyder RS is priced from $336,800AUD and is available for pre-order via the Porsche webstore.
Words by AR Staff
