Porsche just informed dealers that the 718 lineup is losing the Cayman T, the Cayman GT4, and the Spyder for the 2023 model year units. Besides this saddening yet understandable decision, the German automaker is also cutting a couple of exterior and interior options. Here’s what’s going on.

Porsche has been on an electrifying spree for quite some time. The cool-looking Taycan proved that customers can adapt and may even start loving a zero-tailpipe emission powertrain. So it’s going ahead full throttle with the plans to replace the internal combustion engine with permanently excited synchronous electric motors. That’s one of the reasons why the Boxster EV and the Macan EV have been spotted on the road quite often lately.

But until the next-gen units come, some models will have to meet their end of life. That’s what’s happening with the 2023 Porsche 718 Cayman T, the 2023 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, and the 2023 Porsche 718 Spyder. According to official communication sent to dealers on Wednesday, these three vehicles will no longer be put into production. Consequently, no new orders will be accepted for them.

The automaker also said that the changes are reflected in the online configurator, but, at the time of writing, only the 2023 718 Cayman T build page is disabled. However, the part of Porsche’s website dedicated to the 718 lineup already does not show the T, the GT4, and the Spyder.

Customers can now order only the 718 Cayman, the 718 Boxster, the 718 Cayman S, the 718 Boxster S, the 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, the 718 Boxster GTS 4.0, and the 718 Cayman GT4 RS (if an allocation without a massive markup can even be found). The 718 Cayman Style Edition and the 718 Boxster Style Edition are coming in a couple of months.

Besides axing these three beloved models, the automaker also told dealers that the LED headlights with the auto high beam function (PDLS+) will continue to remain unavailable for the entire 718 lineup due to the camera module being impossible to source. Moreover, the 20-inch Carrera Classic and the 19-inch Cayman S wheels have been discontinued for the 2024 model year units.

Dealers have also been encouraged to recommend customers equip their new 718 models with manual transmissions because Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) is not available for the existing lineup. AEB does not work on vehicles with a manual gearbox because the computer is unable to disengage the clutch. Since Porsche cannot offer it on the PDK-equipped units, it would like buyers to pick the variant that cannot have AEB right from the get-go.

One good thing that has been confirmed is that those looking to buy a GT4 RS and track it will be happy to know that the manufacturer changed the brake pads for the ceramic composite brake system and optimized their performance.

But that was enough good news. It’s to resume the disheartening because Porsche told dealers that it is unable to include the Bose sound system in any package because the supplier “remains on constraint.” However, customers will be able to buy it separately if they truly want it.

But you may want to hurry up because, from September onwards, no 718 will come with a CD/DVD player. If you have a music collection that’s not digital yet, this is an option that can’t be overlooked.

Moreover, the Stuttgart-based brand discontinued the following colors for the 2024 model year 718 Cayman lineup:

• Carrara white metallic;
• Python green;
• Aventurine green metallic.

If you wanted one of these three colors, get your dealer on the phone and ask them when the paint jobs are officially becoming unavailable. Porsche did not tell dealers exactly when it stops to load the canisters with the right blends, so there's a chance you might still sneak one custom order in.

Continuing this saddening trend, the remaining 718s entering production in November 2023 can’t have their interior finished in Espresso or Espresso/Cognac leather.

Finally, Porsche also changed the fire extinguisher – it’s now made from aluminum instead of steel.

2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS becomes the pinnacle of open-top, mid-engine driving
05/09/2023
Highly emotional engine and lightweight construction


Atlanta – Thirty years after the presentation of the Boxster concept car, Porsche is launching the most powerful version yet of the popular mid-engine roadster: the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS. For the first time, the high-revving naturally aspirated engine from the 911 GT3 powers an open-top, mid-engine sports car.

“With an engine taken directly from racing, the 718 Spyder RS offers a driving experience like no other,” says Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “Slicing around a tight corner with the top off and the engine soaring to 9,000 rpm is an experience you will never forget.”

The new 718 Spyder RS is a counterpart to the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. The same lightweight powertrain with its high-revving engine characteristics also powers the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racing car. The exceptionally light and pure soft top of the 718 Spyder RS makes the highly evocative sound of the engine an even more compelling experience. The effect is further heightened by a standard lightweight stainless steel sport exhaust system and the distinctive combustion air inlets on the sides behind the headrests.

High-revving naturally aspirated engine and lightweight construction

The powertrain of the new 718 Spyder RS is identical to that of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS coupe. The four-liter six-cylinder boxer engine revs to 9,000 rpm and generates up to 493 hp and 331 lb.-ft. of torque. Combined with a short-ratio seven-speed PDK transmission, the six-cylinder engine catapults the two-seater roadster from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Compared to the previous 414 hp 718 Spyder without the ‘RS’ designation, the 718 Spyder RS boasts an additional 79 hp, and accelerates to 60 mph 0.5 seconds quicker toward a top track speed of 191 mph.
1/ 4Like every modern RS model, the new 718 Spyder RS is available exclusively with the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung transmission (PDK). Gearshift paddles mounted on the steering wheel allow drivers to keep their hands on the wheel even when shifting gears manually. Alternatively, the driver can shift using the ergonomically designed selector lever on the center console. In addition to the more powerful engine, the Spyder RS weighs 59 pounds less than the 2023 Porsche 718 Spyder with optional PDK.

Balanced aerodynamics

The front end of the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS is almost identical to the front end of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. The standard front lid is made of CFRP and features a wide air outlet above the bumper to channel the airflow. The two NACA ducts enhance brake cooling without adversely affecting the drag coefficient. Sideblades on the outer ends of the bumper contribute to downforce, while the front spoiler lip is slightly shorter than on the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, which is equipped with a large rear wing and therefore requires a larger front spoiler lip to achieve aerodynamic balance. Instead of a wing, the 718 Spyder RS features a striking ducktail spoiler that is both larger and reshaped compared to the 718 Spyder. All aerodynamic components are intricately coordinated. They maintain the car’s aerodynamic balance and contribute to a high degree of driving stability.

Lightweight soft-top design

The new 718 Spyder RS comes with a unique manually-operated, lightweight soft top. It consists of two parts: a sunshield and a weather protector. Both are completely removable and can be stowed in the vehicle. The single-layer lightweight Spyder soft-top can be used with the sunshield alone, shading the driver and passenger. The passenger compartment remains largely open to the side and behind the passengers.
1/ 4Together with the weather protector, this creates a complete top that provides effective protection against rain when the side windows are raised. The entire top weighs slightly more than 40 lbs. This special design is a savings of more than 16 lbs. compared to the 718 Spyder and more than 36 lbs. versus the 718 Boxster.

Sports suspension offers high precision and agility

The chassis of the 718 Spyder RS uses a combination of components from the 718 Cayman GT4 RS and the 718 Spyder. It comes standard with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with sport calibration and has been lowered by 30 millimeters. It also features Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with a mechanical rear limited slip differential, ball joint type suspension bearings and 20-inch forged alloy wheels. The behavior of the chassis is characterized by sharp steering precision, as well as agile and neutral handling. The ride height, toe, camber, and anti-roll bars are all adjustable. Compared to the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, spring and damper rates have been reduced to achieve a more relaxed, characteristically convertible-style set-up. Like on the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, customers can optionally specify a front axle lift system. As with the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, it raises the front end by 1.1 inches while driving up to 37 mph.

Performance-focused interior

Sporty characteristics define the inside of the car, too, with nothing but functional and ergonomic essentials. The Race-Tex covered GT Sport steering wheel features a yellow 12-o'clock marking. The standard Full Bucket seats are made of lightweight CFRP in a carbon-weave finish and offer a high degree of lateral support. The seat covers are made of black leather, while the perforated Race-Tex seat centers features a contrasting color with a black background. The contrasting colors are Arctic Grey and Carmine Red.
1/ 4A ‘Spyder RS’ logo in the respective contrasting color is embroidered on the headrests. The dashboard and trims are covered with leather. Available exterior colors include four standard and three metallic paints, including the new Vanadium Grey Metallic as well as the special colors Arctic Grey, Shark Blue and Ruby Star Neo.

Optional with Weissach Package

An optional Weissach Package is also available for the Spyder RS. Particularly lightweight, optional forged magnesium wheels can be ordered in combination with this very sporty equipment package. When equipped with this package, the tailpipes of the sport exhaust system are made of titanium. Their design was inspired by the limited-edition 935 from 2018. Further exterior highlights include an exposed carbon fiber hood, carbon fiber combustion air scoops on the sides, and a carbon fiber Gurney flap on the rear spoiler. A visual highlight inside the car is the upper part of the dashboard covered with Race-Tex. The seat headrests gain embroidered “Weissach” logos, and the cloth top gains an embossed Weissach logo.

A Matching Porsche Design Chronograph

Exclusively available to buyers of the Porsche 718 Spyder RS is a handcrafted chronograph by Porsche Design, made by the Porsche watchmaking operation in Solothurn, Switzerland. Designed to match the configuration of the car, the case is made of titanium, the dial is made of carbon fiber and the strap is made of vehicle leather. The rotor on the back reflects the respective wheel design on the 718 Spyder RS.
Porsche Design Timepieces chronographThe new 2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS carries an MSRP of $160,700 excluding $1,650 for delivery, processing and handling. Arrival at U.S. dealers is expectedin Spring, 2024. The Porsche 718 Spyder RS will celebrate its public premiere in June at the festivities marking 75 years of Porsche sports cars in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Shortly afterwards, it will make an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.

Porsche has announced a Manthey Kit for the sublime 718 Cayman GT4 RS able to cut the sportscar’s Nürburgring lap time down to just 7m 03.121s… in the right hands, of course.

Those hands being Porsche driver Jörg Bergmeister, who recently shaved 6.179s off the not-at-all-regular GT4 RS’s time. Just so we’re all clear, seven minutes around this ‘Ring = really very fast indeed.

The track-focused upgrades are of course all road-legal, developed in tandem with Porsche motorsport partner Manthey, already a dab hand at extracting yet more punch from its sportscars.

The kit comprises an entirely new carbon underbody with diffusers, new air curtains and flaps on the front, while there’s an 85mm wider rear wing featuring a new wing blade and larger endplates.

Both increase the GT4 RS’s downforce, and in order to deal with the bigger aero loads, the bodywork on the rear engine cover is reinforced with a carbon weave finish. Ditto the aerodiscs on the rear wheels, which in turn reduce turbulence. You want a number? At 124mph, with that four-way adjustable rear wing set to ‘Performance’, downforce rises from 89kg to 169kg.

Which of course means the suspension needs an upgrade. The Manthey Kit also adds four-stage adjustable coilovers with an ‘inverted’ set-up, and beefs up the spring rates on the front by 20 per cent. Beefed up brake lines, too – for a ‘guaranteed exact pressure point’ – along with special racing pads said to offer more constant friction over a wide temp range.

There’s an option to further increase downforce via an extended CFRP rear spoiler attachment, along with optional wheel arch vents.

No word on price just yet, but it’ll be available worldwide, and one suspects GT4 RS drivers will be mighty enthused about this pack…

Thirty years after the presentation of the Boxster concept car, Porsche launched the most powerful version yet of the popular mid-engined roadster: the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS. For the first time, the high-revving naturally aspirated engine from the 911 GT3 is being deployed in an open-topped mid-engined sports car.

Porsche crowns the 718 mid-engine model line with a sports car designed for maximum driving pleasure: the new 718 Spyder RS is the open-top counterpart to the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. For the first time, the 368 kW (500 PS) naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer from the 911 GT3 features in an open-topped mid-engined sports car. The same lightweight power unit with its high-revving design also powers the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racing car. The exceptionally lightweight and purist-pleasing manual soft-top roof of the 718 Spyder RS makes the highly evocative sound of the engine an even more compelling experience. The effect is further heightened by the standard lightweight stainless steel sports exhaust system and the distinctive process air inlets on the sides behind the headrests.

High-revving naturally aspirated engine and resolutely lightweight construction

The powertrain of the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS is identical to that of the closed 718 Cayman GT4 RS. The six-cylinder boxer engine, with its cylinder displacement of 4.0 litres, revs up to 9,000 rpm and generates an output of 368 kW (500 PS) and maximum torque of 450 Newton metres. Combined with a short-ratio seven-speed PDK transmission, the six-cylinder engine catapults the two-seater roadster from 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. The car hits the 200-km/h mark in just 10.9 seconds. Compared to the 718 Spyder with PDK without the 'RS' designation, the new range-topper not only benefits from an additional 59 kW (80 PS), but also accelerates to 100 km/h half a second faster. The top speed is now 308 km/h instead of 300 km/h.

Like every modern RS model, the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS is available exclusively with the Porsche dual clutch transmission (PDK). This gearbox shifts through its seven gears at lightning speed and guarantees maximum performance. The gearshift paddles allow drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel even when shifting gears manually. Alternatively, the driver can use the ergonomically designed selector lever on the centre console. In addition to the more powerful engine, the new model's lower weight also contributes to better performance: At 1,410 kilograms, the Spyder RS weighs 40kg less than the 718 Spyder with PDK and is actually five kilograms lighter than the closed 718 Cayman GT4 RS. The Spyder RS represents the latest high-water mark of the model line started in 2016.

Balanced aerodynamics

The front end of the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS is almost identical to the front end of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. The front bonnet is made of CFRP as standard. The two NACA air intakes enhance brake cooling without adversely affecting the drag coefficient. The front spoiler lip is slightly shorter than on the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, which in conjunction with its large rear wing produces higher overall downforce on the Cayman and therefore requires a larger spoiler lip to achieve aerodynamic balance. Instead of a wing, the 718 Spyder RS features a striking tear-off edge shaped like a ducktail. All aerodynamic components are intricately coordinated. They maintain the car's aerodynamic balance and ensure maximum driving stability at high speeds.

Purist soft-top design

The new Porsche 718 Spyder RS comes with a manually operated single-layer lightweight soft-top. The design is amazingly compact, consisting of two parts: a sun sail and a weather deflector. Both are completely removable and can be stowed together or singly in the vehicle. The sun sail alone can also be used as a 'Bimini top', thereby protecting the driver and front passenger from intense sunlight. In this case, the passenger compartment remains largely open to the side and behind the passengers.

Together with the weather deflector, this creates a complete top that provides effective protection against rain when the side windows are raised. The entire roof, including mechanical parts, weighs just 18.3 kg. That's 7.6 kg less than the 718 Spyder and 16.5 kg less than in the 718 Boxster. Drivers who wish to shave an additional eight kilograms from the weight of the vehicle can leave the top at home entirely, weather allowing.

Sports suspension of the highest precision and agility

The chassis of the Porsche 718 Spyder RS uses components from the 718 Cayman GT4 RS and is designed for maximum driving pleasure on winding roads. It comes standard with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with sports tuning and has been lowered by 30 millimetres. It also features Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with mechanical limited-slip differential, ball-jointed suspension bearings and 20-inch forged aluminium wheels. The behaviour of the chassis is characterised by razor-sharp steering precision, as well as agile and extremely neutral handling. The ride height, camber, track and anti-roll bar can all be adjusted individually. Compared to the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, the damper rates have been reduced to achieve a more relaxed, characteristically convertible-style set-up.

Performance-focused interior

A sporty character defines the inside of the car too: the interior is reduced to the functional and ergonomic essentials. The grippy RS sports steering wheel is covered with Race-Tex and features a yellow 12-o'clock marking. The standard full bucket seats are made of lightweight CFRP in a carbon-weave finish and offer particularly impressive lateral support. The seat covers are made of black leather, while the perforated Race-Tex seat centre features a contrasting colour with a black background. The contrasting colours are Arctic Grey or Carmine Red.

A 'Spyder RS' logo in the corresponding colour is embroidered on the headrests. Available exterior colours include four plain and three metallic paints, including the new Vanadium Grey Metallic as well as the special colours Arctic Grey, Shark Blue and Ruby Star Neo.

Optional Weissach Package and matching chronograph

A Weissach Package is also available for the Spyder RS as an option. In combination with this emphatically sporty equipment package, the particularly light, optional magnesium forged wheel can be ordered, which reduces the unsprung and rotating masses by 10 kilograms. The sports exhaust system tailpipes here are made of titanium. The look is inspired by the limited-edition 935 from 2018. A visual highlight inside the car is the upper part of the dashboard covered with anti-glare Race-Tex. Exclusively available to buyers of the Porsche 718 Spyder RS is a Porsche Design Timepieces handcrafted chronograph - a premium-quality watch from Porsche's in-house watchmaking operation in Solothurn, Switzerland. Designed to match the configuration of the car, the particularly lightweight case is made of titanium, the dial is made of carbon and the strap is made out of vehicle leather. The rotor on the back echoes the respective wheel rim design on the 718 Spyder RS.

"The 718 Spyder RS raises driving pleasure to a new level for open-top cars," says Andreas Preuninger, Head of GT Cars. "The combination of our unmistakable GT3 engine, the close-ratio transmission, compact dimensions, low weight, road-optimised racing suspension and maximum openness offers an extremely compelling and unfiltered driving experience."

The new Porsche 718 Spyder RS starts at €155,575. The new Porsche 718 Spyder RS celebrates its public premiere in June 2023 at the festivities marking 75 years of Porsche Sports Cars in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Shortly afterwards, it will make an appearance at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.

Stopped by the local Porsche dealer. They had two GT4RS cars sitting in the showroom. Optioned out to over $200G with a note that to buy the car you also had to buy a watch, an e-bike, and some other BS for about $50G. That’s crazy money for a Cayman… Also whoever ordered these cars at the dealer royally fucked up by checking “heated seats” box for $500. It removed the free carbon buckets and put in regular seats.