Porsche has a habit of reserving its best performance bits for coupes, but the 2024 718 Spyder RS finally sees the German brand give its all to the Boxster. What we have here is an open-top two-seater packed with as much tech as it can handle and liberated of the Boxster moniker (presumably to free up space on the deck lid for badging).
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Performance and Handling
The 2024 718 Spyder RS comes with the 4.0-liter flat-six engine found in the Cayman GT4 RS; it makes 493 horsepower and 331 pounds-feet of torque. Porsche claims a top speed of 191 mph and that the Spyder RS will hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, a half-second quicker than the regular 718 Spyder. The only available transmission is Porsche’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
The chassis is a mix of Spyder and Cayman GT4 RS bits. Porsche Active Suspension Management is standard, and the car sits 1.2 inches lower than the non-RS Spyder. Spring and damper rates are reduced compared to the Cayman GT4 for what Porsche describes as a “more relaxed, characteristically convertible-style setup,” and ride, toe, camber and anti-roll bars are all adjustable. An optional front-axle lift system raises the nose of the car 1.1 inches at speeds up to 37 mph; if the valet returns the car with the nose sniffing pavement, suspect Ferris Buellerian shenanigans.
Styling
The Spyder RS wears a slightly smaller splitter than its Cayman counterpart — and a comparatively subtle ducktail spoiler — but the body modifications are otherwise similar. Like the Cayman GT4 RS, the Spyder RS has a carbon-fiber hood with ducts to feed cooling air to the brakes, an outlet at the top of the bumper to channel air and vents carved into the fenders over the front wheels.
Opt for the $12,570 Weissach Package and that hood goes unpainted, as do the side air intakes and the Gurney flap atop the ducktail spoiler. The lightweight bundle also replaces the standard 20-inch forged-aluminum wheels with magnesium 20s and ditches the stainless-steel exhaust in favor of titanium.
Inside is what Porsche calls “nothing but functional and ergonomic essentials.” That includes seats with carbon-fiber shells, black leather with contrasting color inserts, and a yellow tab on the steering wheel to help the driver keep track of 12 o’clock. Cars equipped with the Weissach Package see Porsche’s Race-Tex synthetic suede spread from just seat trim to the upper dash, as well.
Like the non-RS car, the 718 Spyder ditches the power soft top for a manual sheet. The RS takes that idea to the extreme, breaking the top down into two pieces. The sunshield is little more than what it says: shade. With just that in place, the interior remains open to the elements behind and to the sides of the occupants. To keep dry in the rain, you’ll also need to install a separate weather protector. Combined, Porsche says the two pieces weigh about 40 pounds, saving 16 pounds compared to the Spyder and more than 36 pounds relative to a Boxster’s power top.
Pricing and Availability
The 718 Spyder RS starts at $162,350 (including $1,650 destination charge). Orders are open, and deliveries will begin in the spring of 2024.
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