Porsche needed a fun car for the Nineties and beyond, one that would slot beneath the 911 in their range. Cue up 1996 and they released the Boxster two-seat roadster. For its second generation, a fixed-head coupe called the Cayman would be offered as well, and the formula continues to this day with the fourth-generation, also called the 718. While the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman are well-known, you might be wondering what this 718 Spyder business is about. Until 2022, the 718 Cayman GT4 and its open-topped sibling known as the 718 Spyder were the most potent of the range, until the Cayman GT4 RS took over in 2022.

Exterior and Interior
The 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder are differentiated from lesser 718 Cayman/718 Boxsters by a lowered stance, more aggressive styling including new front bumpers and diffusers, and larger exhaust pipes spaced further apart. The silhouette, as witnessed by this 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder in white with Satin Black painted wheels is one of litheness and purpose. Yellow painted brake calipers are not just for show, but house Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) for optimal stopping performance. The Light Design Package, and LED lights with Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS+) ensure improved nighttime visibility for more confident driving. Step aboard the predominantly black leather and Alcantara interior with yellow stitching, yellow Spider logos on the seat backs, and Racing Yellow seat belts and you’re quickly cocooned in a two-seat cabin. Tech toys are not skimped on; you still get dual-zone climate control, electrically adjustable seats, the usual powered conveniences, and a touch-screen infotainment system, Bose Surround sound system and Apple CarPlay. The smoking package box is ticked as well. You even get the Sport Chrono package with stopwatch dial in Racing Yellow at the center of the dash. Aluminum pedals and footrest However, the steering wheel hosts no buttons apart from the horn press, and that’s because you don’t want to be distracted by a gazillion functions once you get this 718 Spyder into its stride.

Engine
And what an experience it will be when you do so. Flattening the throttle pedal of this 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder unleashes its naturally aspirated 4.0L flat-six that proceeds to wail out a glorious song while delivering 414hp at 7,600rpm, and 310lb-ft of torque between 5,000 and 6,800rpm. The redline is at 8,000rpm. The engine also has cylinder deactivation for fuel saving when you’re not wringing it out, and power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission which is lovely, to put it lightly. Zero to sixty flashes up in just 4.2 seconds if launched right, and top speed is 187mph.