Why The Porsche 718 Spyder RS Is The Ultimate Swan Song

As Porsche's mid-engined roadster nears the end of production, the Spyder RS bows out as an instant classic.

The Porsche 718 Spyder RS Review

• "It is among the most thrilling, best-sounding, and finest-driving sports cars of the last decades."
• "The experience of driving a Porsche 718 Spyder RS can only be described with superlatives and melodramatic praise. It is among the most thrilling, best-sounding, and finest-driving sports cars of the last decades. It’s the kind of car you can’t live without after you’ve experienced it."
• "The buzzing shriek that comes on as the redline approaches is deafening. It’s unlike any other modern production car in that it isn’t coming from its twin pipes but from its rear-mounted intakes. It’s a noise that’s as authentic as it is loud and will be sorely missed in an electric future."
• "It is the ultimate swan song for Porsche’s mid-engined featherweight and a fitting sendoff for one of the most beloved sports cars in recent decades."

Read Fill Drive Review

Porsche 718 Spyder RS Gallery

The Porsche 718 Spyder RS Overview

The Porsche 718 Spyder RS represents the final chapter for Porsche’s gas-powered mid-engine sports cars, arriving at a pivotal moment as the brand transitions toward electrification. Borrowing the 911 GT3’s high-revving, naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six, this open-top roadster delivers an exhilarating 9,000-rpm symphony, amplified by its roofless design. While sharing much of its DNA with the track-focused 718 GT4 RS, the Spyder RS prioritizes road driving, featuring a softer suspension setup, a more compliant ride, and a modest ducktail spoiler in place of the GT4 RS’s towering wing.

Despite these concessions to comfort, the Spyder RS remains an unfiltered driver’s machine. Its precise steering, carbon fiber weight savings, and a quick-shifting seven-speed PDK allow it to sprint to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds, with a top speed of 191 mph. The lightweight chassis and aerodynamics ensure that it remains razor-sharp through corners, delivering an unparalleled level of engagement.

More than just a performance masterpiece, the 718 Spyder RS serves as a bittersweet farewell to an era of naturally aspirated, high-revving Porsches. With the next Cayman and Boxster models expected to go electric, this is likely one of the last opportunities to experience the raw, visceral thrill of a mid-engine Porsche with an atmospheric engine. It’s a celebration of Porsche’s legacy, an ode to pure driving joy, and an unforgettable sendoff for one of the most revered sports cars of recent decades.

Read Fill Drive Review

Interested in advertising with duPont REGISTRY? 

Advertise your luxury cars, lifestyle goods, yachts and more in the duPont REGISTRY magazine for unmatched reach to a highly qualified audience of wealthy, luxury-loving enthusiasts of high-end automotive vehicles. As a brand name synonymous with exotic and luxury cars, the duPont REGISTRY platform reaches a dedicated niche audience of true aficionados who will go to any length to purchase and cherish the ultimate driving machines.