A fully-unveiled version of the upcoming Porsche 718 RS Spyder has been spied during a photoshoot - likely for the press materials in preparation for an official unveiling - revealing several details of the upcoming model's design. The new sports car, which will be an RS version of the current Porsche 718 Spyder, has been rumored and spied in development, with Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger hinting at its development previously.
In the image, which comes via avc_supercarscanarias on Instagram, we can see that the model will share the aggressive ductwork previously seen on the Cayman GT4 RS and some other tidbits.
The blurry pics showcase a car with what appears to be the Weissach Pack equipped, adding lightweight elements like center-locking magnesium wheels to the mix. The side air intakes also appear to be larger than before, and over the front wheel arches, fender vents should aid in removing pressure from within the wheel wells. Like the regular 718 Spyder, a manually-removable soft-top will feature. Naturally, it will not inherit a massive swan-neck wing.
As for what might power the 718 RS Spyder - an unconfirmed name for the time being - there can be only one engine: a 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated flat-six originally derived from the 911 GT3. This is the same engine that propels the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, and the RS Spyder is expected to inherit its outputs of 493 horsepower and 331 lb-ft and its 9,000 rpm redline. Power will be sent to the rear axle exclusively through a seven-speed Porsche PDK dual-clutch gearbox.
While convertibles and Spyders are hardly anyone's first thought when it comes to track weapons, any RS-badged Porsche must be highly track capable. While the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is capable of lapping the Nurburgring in 7:04.511, the Spyder will likely take a little while longer. We know its development is being completed on the Nurburgring, where our spy photographers have captured prototypes in action over the last year.
With an official photoshoot taking place, we know it's going to debut very soon.
While we're excited to see a nearly 500-hp version of Porsche's roofless mid-engine wonder, we're also sad to think of what it represents; the last of the combustion Boxsters/Caymans. Porsche has confirmed that after this generation 718, the future of this platform will be electric. This was previewed by the Porsche Mission R concept, and our spy photographers recently captured prototypes undergoing development.
We know the hallmarks of its mid-engined nature will be replicated by mid-mounted batteries that emulate the current sports car's weight balance, but the singing six-cylinder will be no more.
The silver lining is that with the 718 going electric, the 911 is free to keep being the combustion car we all know and love. Porsche's synthetic fuel will keep this dream alive, and at least owners of current combustion-powered 718s, including the new RS Spyder, will be able to fuel their sports cars with the guilt-free go-juice for decades to come.