Porsche 718 Spyder RS, goodbye to the top

Swabian Alps, Germany. It is expensive, very powerful, agile and technological. The Porsche 718 Spyder RS ​​is a jewel for pure and romantic porschisti. Because it is a spyder with an engine in the rear-mid position, essential like James Dean’s 550 or the 718 of the same name which won three editions of the Targa Florio from 1959 to 1963. But it is above all a barchetta, intended as an open-air car with a makeshift motorboat type awning. Which can also be left in the garage, saving another 8 kg in weight and which requires a little practice to assemble (3-4 minutes in two people, double that alone), as well as giving up on reaching a speed of 308 km/h maximum (obviously, where possible): when it is closed, in fact, it cannot exceed 200.

Featherweight with the “monster”. The hood is the only deliberately (and snobbishly…) “old style” feature of a hyper-technological project, which transfers the 4.0-litre naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer of the 911 GT3 Cup to the slimmest and lightest body (1410 kg, 100 less than the 911) of the 718, bringing with it the complete dowry of 500 HP. In short, a transplant that looks good on the compact RS even if, to confirm 100% that aura of hard & pure, perhaps only the manual gearbox would be missing, replaced here by the now classic PDK dual clutch and seven (short) ratios. 

To be used by letting him decide the gears or, instead, choosing them personally with the paddles on the steering wheel; or again, with the lever on the central tunnel. The engine, for its part, it makes itself felt very well (due to the shape of the exhaust and the fact that the intake system is right behind the neck), immediately reaching 9000 rpm, just before the limiter enters. With a torque of 450Nm, the 718 RS pushes hard right away (0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and 10.3 to reach 200 km/h) with the gears rattling off at a motorcycle pace. 

The chassis responds quickly and neutrally even in the most extreme situations, without ever breaking down in directionality and stability: traction is guaranteed by Porsche Torque Vectoring, which distributes torque to the rear wheels, and by the self-locking differential. With the PASM active suspension, the set-up is stiff but not too harsh, in favor of constant driving pleasure that makes the 718 Spyder RS ​​also suitable for more touring paces. Arriving immediately at 9000 rpm, just before the limiter enters. With a torque of 450Nm, the 718 RS pushes hard right away (0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and 10.3 to reach 200 km/h) with the gears rattling off at a motorcycle pace. The chassis responds quickly and neutrally even in the most extreme situations, without ever breaking down in directionality and stability: traction is guaranteed by Porsche Torque Vectoring, which distributes torque to the rear wheels, and by the self-locking differential. With the PASM active suspension, the set-up is stiff but not too harsh, in favor of constant driving pleasure that makes the 718 Spyder RS ​​also suitable for more touring paces. Arriving immediately at 9000 rpm, just before the limiter enters. With a torque of 450Nm, the 718 RS pushes hard right away (0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and 10.3 to reach 200 km/h) with the gears rattling off at a motorcycle pace. 

The chassis responds quickly and neutrally even in the most extreme situations, without ever breaking down in directionality and stability: traction is guaranteed by Porsche Torque Vectoring, which distributes torque to the rear wheels, and by the self-locking differential. With the PASM active suspension, the set-up is stiff but not too harsh, in favor of constant driving pleasure that makes the 718 Spyder RS ​​also suitable for more touring paces. 3 to reach 200 km/h) with the gears rattling off at motorcycle rhythms. The chassis responds quickly and neutrally even in the most extreme situations, without ever breaking down in directionality and stability: traction is guaranteed by Porsche Torque Vectoring, which distributes torque to the rear wheels, and by the self-locking differential. With the PASM active suspension, the set-up is stiff but not too harsh, in favor of constant driving pleasure that makes the 718 Spyder RS ​​also suitable for more touring paces. 3 to reach 200 km/h) with the gears rattling off at motorcycle rhythms. The chassis responds quickly and neutrally even in the most extreme situations, without ever breaking down in directionality and stability: traction is guaranteed by Porsche Torque Vectoring, which distributes torque to the rear wheels, and by the self-locking differential. With the PASM active suspension, the set-up is stiff but not too harsh, in favor of constant driving pleasure that makes the 718 Spyder RS ​​also suitable for more touring paces.

The last of the lineage. The 718 Spyder RS ​​has a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) hood and sophisticated aerodynamics that are completed by the subtle ducktail rear spoiler. Basically it costs 162,338 euros but, with another 29,000 you can have the complete Weissach package: carbon everywhere, special interiors, forged magnesium rims, titanium exhausts and 27 kg less. An important chapter closes with this RS, because it is the last 718 with an internal combustion engine before the model’s “all-electric” future: a chapter, however, that is truly exciting.