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The all-new 2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS is everything that we love about the Cayman GT4 RS but now topless for $162,150.
The drop-top 718 gets the heart of the GT4 RS
Porsche never stops advancing its lineup and the new 718 Spyder RS is just one more example of that. In fact, this is the most powerful version of the 718 Roadster that it’s ever crafted. Under the hood is a racing-derived flat-six from the 911 GT3.
That’s not the only factor that this little car can boast about though. Let’s take a detailed look at the 2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS and see what makes it an instant classic.
An Engine We Love
Lift the rear decklid of this new 718 and you’ll find a naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine. As we’ve already mentioned, it’s shared by the bonkers 911 GT3, and in the 718 Spyder RS, it makes up to 493 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. That’s quite the figure but keep in mind that the experience of the 718 Spyder RS is the real key.
To that end, it revs to 9,000 RPM and uses deck-lid-mounted intakes to suck in the oxygen it needs to make that power. It can rocket from 0-60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. After combustion, it sends a melodious tone out of a lightweight stainless steel sports exhaust. Speaking of lightweight components, it turns out that shaving weight from the Spyder RS was another big piece of the puzzle.
Lightweight Construction Is Key
Hardcore car enthusiasts often malign roadsters as they tend to be heavier than their hardtop counterparts. In the process of losing a structural piece like a roof, automakers typically add strengthening aids, which tend to weigh a lot, to the body of the car.
Porsche aimed at cutting weight from the Spyder RS wherever it could. Instead of incorporating a heavy power-operated top which itself adds more weight, the automaker includes a two-piece manually-operated top that weighs a total of just 40 pounds. That’s 16 pounds lighter than the one in the normal 718 Spyder and 36 pounds lighter than the one in the 718 Boxster.
Functional Aero Surfaces
Unlike the vast majority of cars on sale today, the aerodynamic surfaces on the 718 Spyder RS are designed not just to be fully functional but also to work in harmony. Two NACA ducts on the hood channel air to improve brake cooling while side blades on the edges of the bumper improve downforce.
Porsche also added a larger ducktail spoiler and a bigger front spoiler lip to keep the car balanced as it gains speed. This might not be a hardcore supercar but it’s got the same sort of aerodynamic focus as most of the best supercars in the world.
Add-Ons
Porsche aficionados will love the additional extra features that they can add to the new 718 Spyder RS. The Weissach Package continues the lightweight performance-focused trend by swapping out the stock exhaust for one with titanium tailpipes.
It also gets more carbon fiber surfaces both in the interior and on the exterior. That includes the combustion air scoops and a Gurney flap on the rear spoiler. Those that want to lose even more weight can opt for magnesium wheels too.
Perhaps nothing in the catalog is as unique as the optionally available Porsche Design Chronograph watch. 718 Spyder RS buyers can buy it along with their car if they’d like and it’ll be customized to match whatever specifications they’ve selected for the car itself. It includes a carbon fiber dial, a titanium case, and a strap made from vehicle leather.
Pricing for the car itself starts at $162,150 but Porsche doesn’t say how much the timepiece is. We guess if you have to ask then you probably can’t afford it.
Making History Again
There’s little doubt that the 2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS will go down in history as one of the most desirable that the brand has ever made. Amazingly, we still don’t think it’s one of the top ten Porsches ever made but it’s certainly in that conversation. Is it one of the best daily driver sports cars Porsche has ever crafted? That’s almost certain.
