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FOR OLD TIME`S SAKE

Need an excuse to celebrate? Rake up an old relic and give it a makeover. That’s what Porsche has done with their 2008 Boxster RS 60 Spyder and what do you know - we’re all over it like a rash

It’s clear that there’s more than a few similarities between the 1960’s Type 718 race car (pictured right) and Porsche’s new Spyder. The sixties of course was an era when sports cars really started to look like the sports cars we know today with a flatter profile; pebble-like contours and streamline noses with their headlights set right back. No doubt the design team got a lot of patting on the back when it rolled the first 718’s drawings out in the late fifties. There were many variations of this model but the one that brought the manufacturer the best results it had ever seen up until that time was the 718 RS60 Spyder. It also broadened the manufacturers racing repertoire by proving it was just as dominant in long distance races such as the Sebring 12 hours and 24 hour Le Mans. As well as this it upheld Porsche’s reigning position in the European Hill Climb Championship of 1959 and 1960 and proved to Ferrari that even with an engine half it’s size, it could slice 6 seconds off the Dino’s time in the 44th Targa Florio race. The modern road-going model will be released in March 2008 in recognition of the car that helped to shape Porsche’s worldwide stronghold and make it the most profitable car manufacturer. Obviously to take on the name of one of its finest historic pieces, Porsche couldn’t just offer us a tarted up Boxster S, even if its Careera red interior is rather swish. Nope, there had to be power gains and exceptional handling. Of the chosen few (1,960) there’s a jump of 12bhp bringing the total to 303. The RS60 also benefits from Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM) system which gives it a concertina effect through corners; essentially disguising its size and shape. A dose of winter sunshine shows off its special edition GT metallic paintwork and red roof to match the interior. The GT metallic silver colour is also used for the rear sections of the seat backrests, the seatbelts themselves and the roll bars. This shade also compliments a black roof and dark grey leather for the interior. Along the door trim the ‘RS60 Spyder’ badging glares up at you while there is also special groves cut in to the door linings, rim of the steering wheel, centre-piece of the seats and sport gear shift lever.

A new front end and 19” wheels styled by Porsche SportDesign also set it apart from the Boxster S but whether this limited edition model will be able to outshine the Boxster S and Cayman S on the track is an experiment we’re all aching to try. Come the Spring and you’ll be able to put the three models head to head too and decide for yourself whether it’s worth nearly £5 grand extra over the Boxster S and close to £1,000 over the Cayman S.

Verdict

FOR: Very posy but all for good reason and none of it detracts from its dynamite power gains.
AGAINST: So long as it earns its extra pounds on track, we are not complaining.
CONCLUSION: We will have to wait and see whether it lives up to its name!

Spec

ENGINE: Flat 6 24v 3.4 litre
0-60mph (sec): 5.4sec (claimed)
TOP SPEED: 169mph (claimed)
TRANSMISSION: Six speed manual
PRICE: £45,000