Test drive the “best ever” Porsche 718 Spyder RS ​​with a lightweight car engine! – Autocar Japan

The RS continues the experiment on public roads rather than on circuits

For most car enthusiasts around the world, the new 718 Spyder RS ​​is one of those premium Porsche cars they can't afford. It is impossible to experience the wonderful magical experience directly.

On the other hand, for a very small number of people on the other end of the spectrum, it may just be one of the instruments that make up their proudest collection. Even if it's a private Porsche to your liking, it should be stored in a large, air-conditioned garage and rarely exposed to sunlight.

Given the brilliance of the 4.0-liter horizontally opposed V6, which can rev up to 9,000 rpm, this seems inexcusable. But this is the reality.

The 718 Spyder, bearing the initials RS from Rennsport (Racing Sports), sounds like a novelty if you know Porsche yet. This is because, unlike previous generations that were track-oriented, this is a model that pursues the experience on public roads.

It's not about Nürburgring Nordschleife lap times, it's about being a road car. It can be said that it is the opposite of the company's previous RS.

There is no roof integrated with the body, and it carries a fabric soft top that weighs just 18kg. This reduces body structure rigidity, even if you enjoy open-air driving. Suspension and steering accuracy are affected.

The engine of the 911 GT3 Cup car was changed to a lighter one

Porsche's GT division, led by engineer Andreas Breuninger, has offered open bodies in the past. However, RS was never given a name for the model. Maybe because they're two characters that don't quite hit the mark.

The suspension of the 718 Spider RS ​​is tuned softer than that of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. This approach can be said to be inconsistent with Rennsport. So why did we decide to introduce an RS car that deviates from the traditional framework?

“Our goal was to fit the engine from the 911 GT3 Cup car on an exposed mid-engined platform that was as light as possible, and that is what we achieved.” Breuninger made a powerful statement at a ceremony in Germany in 2023.

What he was aiming for was not the fastest RS. He added that it was the most fun in the RS.

The team of engineers involved in developing the 718 Spider RS ​​was said to be working on the 911 GT3 RS at the same time. It's a model that takes the 911 sports car and takes it seriously, like German metal.

As a result, the 718 Spyder RS ​​may have become something of a pop song, relieving this tension. This is a Porsche you can enjoy to your heart's content, rather than chasing corner speed.

In addition, changing times will make mass production of high-speed naturally aspirated engines difficult in the future. Maybe now is the time to release the bold RS.

PHOTOS: The “Best Ever” Porsche 718 Spyder RS ​​on the road and the stunning 911 GT3 RS open-air medium car, 133 photos in total