Meet the most powerful production open-top Porsche 718 ever to wear number plates – and the last new version with petrol power, before the 718 line-up goes electric from 2025.
The 2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS convertible has been unveiled, ahead of first Australian showroom arrivals between April and June 2023 – priced from $336,800 plus on-road costs.
The 718 Spyder RS is the convertible version of Porsche’s track-focused Cayman GT4 RS coupe, with a 4.0-litre flat-six engine from the 911 GT3 that delivers more power than any previous Porsche Boxster open-top.
More significantly it has been confirmed as the last new Porsche 718 variant to be introduced with a petrol engine – before the 718 model range switches to electric power in 2025 or 2026.
Australian arrivals are due to commence in the second quarter of 2024, priced from $336,800 plus on-road costs – matching the fixed-roof Cayman GT4 RS, after a $24,900 price rise for Model Year 2024 (MY24) examples.
Powering the Spyder RS is the company’s flagship 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated ‘flat’ (horizontally-opposed) six-cylinder engine, borrowed from the 911 GT3 road car and GT3 Cup race car, and tuned to match the Cayman GT4 RS coupe with outputs of 368kW and 450Nm.
Revving to 9000rpm, it sends power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, good for zero to 100km/h in a claimed 3.4 seconds, matching the GT4 RS, and 0-200km/h in 10.9 seconds.
The engine breathes through a pair of distinctive air intakes to the side of the occupants’ heads – as well as a lightweight stainless steel sports exhaust with twin tips.
The front end of the 718 Spyder RS is derived from the Cayman GT4 RS, but opts for a smaller lower splitter to balance out the reduced downforce produced by the ‘ducktail’ rear spoiler lip, which takes the place of the coupe’s fixed rear wing.
Porsche says the 718 Spyder RS weighs 1410kg (kerb) – 40kg less than the standard 718 Spyder (which has been axed for MY24) with an automatic gearbox, and 5kg less than a 718 Cayman GT4 RS coupe.
Accounting for much of the weight saving over the 718 Spyder is the lightweight soft-top roof, which is a two-piece design – a “sun sail” and a “weather deflector” – that “is completely removable and can be stowed in the vehicle,” according to Porsche.
The new roof assembly is said to weigh 18.3kg, representing a 7.6kg saving over the regular 718 Spyder’s roof, and 16.5kg less than the a standard 718 Boxster’s power-operated soft-top.
“Drivers who wish to shave an additional eight kilograms from the weight of the vehicle can leave the [main section of the] top at home instead,” Porsche says.
The German sports-car specialist says owners can use the ‘sun sail’ component like the ‘bimini top’ – the fabric-topped folding shade – on a boat, to protect from “intense sunlight”, while still letting outside air in with the windows down.
Performance highlights shared with the GT4 RS include a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic bonnet, torque vectoring, a mechanical locking rear differential, and adaptive suspension (30mm lower than a regular Spyder) with ride height, camber, track and anti-roll bar adjustment.
The spring and damper rates have been retuned compared to the GT4 RS for “a more relaxed, characteristically convertible-style set-up”.
Optional is a Weissach Package that shaves even more weight, with titanium tailpipes, a ‘Race-Tex’ synthetic suede dashboard, and the option of swapping the standard 20-inch forged aluminium wheels for unique forged magnesium units.
Inside there are full bucket seats made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic in a weave finish, trimmed in black leather with Arctic Grey or Carmine Red ‘Race-Tex’ centres, and ‘Spyder RS’ headrest embroidery.
The RS sports steering wheel with paddle shifters is trimmed in Race-Tex with a yellow 12 o’clock marker, while the dashboard and door inserts in the standard car are trimmed in leather.
Buyers can choose from four solid and three metallic colours – including a new Vanadium Grey Metallic finish – plus three ‘special’ colours: Arctic Grey, Shark Blue and Ruby Star Neo (pink).
Exclusively offered to 718 Spyder RS customers is a “handcrafted chronograph” by Porsche’s in-house watchmakers in Switzerland, with a titanium case, carbon-fibre dial, a strap made from “vehicle leather”, a rotor on the back inspired by the Spyder RS convertible’s wheels, and detailing specific to the customer’s car.
The 2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS is open for orders now, ahead of its public debut at events celebrating 75 years of Porsche sports cars at its Stuttgart headquarters, followed by an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed motoring event in the UK in July.
In addition to overseas models, Australian examples due next year will offer as standard a tyre fit set, a grey windscreen top tint, adaptive LED headlights, auto-dimming side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, (standard) cruise control, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, the light design package, and digital radio.
Heated seats and a Bose surround sound system will be no-cost options.
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