New Porsche 718 Spyder RS: the most powerful Boxster ever

Gareth J. Hargreaves • August 12, 2026 17:47

Thirty years after unveiling the first Boxster concept, Porsche has introduced the most powerful version yet of its mid-engined roadster: the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS.

For the first time, the Stuttgart brand has taken the naturally aspirated engine from the 911 GT3 and fitted it to a mid-engined open-top sports car. And it is, in all likelihood, the final combustion-engined Boxster - the next generation will be 100% electric.

The outcome is the 718 Spyder RS, which you can think of as the roofless counterpart to the 718 Cayman GT4 RS - the car Guilherme Costa already pushed to the limit at the Estoril Circuit. You can watch (or rewatch) that video:

The 911 GT3 heart

It makes sense to start with the engine, because this 718 Spyder RS is powered by the same naturally aspirated 500 hp, six-cylinder boxer engine found in the 911 GT3.

With 4.0 litres of displacement, this unit “screams” all the way to 9000 rpm and produces 450 Nm of peak torque. Paired with the familiar seven-speed PDK transmission, the flat-six launches the 718 Spyder RS to 100 km/h in just 3.4s and on to 200 km/h in 10.9s. Acceleration only tails off once it reaches 308 km/h.

However, the 718 Spyder RS story is not just about output. Kerb weight is only 1410 kg: 40 kg lighter than the 718 Spyder (with PDK) and 5 kg lighter than the 718 Cayman GT4 RS.

Hood pared back to the essentials

Most of the weight saving versus the 718 Spyder comes from the hood, which uses a distinctive, very compact design. It weighs only 18.3 kg - 7.6 kg less than the 718 Spyder’s hood and 16.5 kg less than the Boxster’s.

Operating via a manual set-up, the hood is split into two pieces: a sun sail and a deflector. Both components can be removed, and they can be stowed together or separately in the car.

The sun sail is designed to shield the driver and passenger from sunlight, while the deflector completes the roof and helps protect occupants from rain when the windows are raised.

Germanic precision

The chassis has also received extensive revisions, with Porsche drawing on hardware used in both the 718 Spyder and the 718 Cayman GT4 RS.

As standard, the 718 Spyder RS features Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with a sportier calibration, and it sits 30 mm lower than the 718 Spyder. It also includes Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with a mechanical limited-slip differential, plus suspension bearings with spherical joints.

Against the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, the springs and dampers are tuned more softly to deliver a more relaxed set-up suited to a convertible. Even so, elements such as ride height, camber and the anti-roll bars can each be adjusted individually.

A 718 Cayman GT4 roadster

Visually, the 718 Spyder RS immediately recalls the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, particularly at the front. Here you get (as standard) a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) bonnet with two air intakes, matched with a large central air inlet and two deflectors at the outer edges of the bumper to help increase downforce.

The biggest change is the lower front lip, which is shorter than the one fitted to the 718 Cayman GT4 RS.

The reason is simple: the 718 Spyder RS does not use the coupé’s huge fixed rear wing, so it generates less downforce. Instead, it features a ducktail-style spoiler, meaning a smaller lower lip is enough to “balance the aerodynamic equation”.

The Porsche 718 Spyder RS comes standard with 20-inch forged aluminium wheels, though these can be upgraded to forged magnesium wheels. That option arrives with the Weissach package, which also adds titanium exhaust tips inspired by those on the 935 revealed in 2018.

Performance-focused cabin

Inside, the more track-oriented nature of the 718 Spyder RS is equally clear, with the cabin stripped back to the essentials.

Standard equipment includes CFRP bucket seats with perforated Race-Tex centres (just like the RS sports steering wheel) and “Spyder RS” lettering engraved into the headrests.

The instrument panel and the surrounding trim are finished in leather. Opt for the Weissach package and the entire upper dashboard is upholstered in Race-Tex.

How much does it cost?

In Portugal, the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS is priced from €213,586.

Its first public appearance is scheduled for June, during Porsche’s 75th anniversary celebrations in Stuttgart. Shortly afterwards, it will also be shown in England at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.