What Was The Porsche 918 Spyder VIP Program?

by Daniel Fishburn

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

     

 The Porsche 918 Spyder VIP Program was created by Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) to assist in selling the last one hundred or so of the 300 918 Spyders allocated for the North American Market. Sales of the Porsche 918 Spyder stalled due to what some believe was poor marketing and/or Porsche not understanding the market and buyer. This was where the lucrative and exclusive 918 VIP Program came in. 

How was one able to get into the 918 Spyder VIP Program and what were the requirements?

The program applied to all 300 North American 918 buyers. Buyers that had already put their orders in before the program was announced were automatically entered into the program. There were some requirements that had to be met in order to be eligible and take full advantage of the program. These were: The buyer had to be a legal resident of the United States. The buyer had to keep the 918 in their ownership for between six months and three years to receive three years worth of benefits which ended three years from the day the 918 Spyder was delivered. To get the full benefits of the program the buyer had to keep the 918 for longer than three years and in turn they would receive ten years worth of benefits from the day the 918 Spyder was delivered. The buyer also had to buy all future cars from the same dealership that the 918 Spyder was ordered from for the benefits to be valid. If the buyer canceled their order of the 918 and never took delivery the 918 VIP program ended as soon as the transaction was canceled. If the buyer kept the car less than six months after delivery, the program benefits ended the day the buyer got rid of the 918. In addition to the many benefits afforded to North American 918 customers, the program gave buyers an incentive not to “flip” their 918 right after delivery to try to make a profit.

What Were the Benefits of the 918 Spyder VIP Program?

Firstly, each buyer was assigned their own “918 Client Relationship Manager”. The person was highly qualified and was well versed on the full Porsche lineup and could answer any questions that the buyer had about anything regarding the 918 Spyder or any other vehicle in the Porsche lineup. They could also answer questions about the program and were tasked with making sure everything was how it should be for the clients of the VIP Program. There was also a 918 Spyder concierge service that specialized in just the 918. 

Secondly, the buyer/prospective buyer was sent an in-depth, sixty-five page booklet that covered all the details about their future 918 Spyder. Some of what this booklet detailed included: the car’s weight distribution, power figures with graphs showing peak horsepower and torque, different standard exterior and interior colors, different liveries available such as Martini and Salzburg that harked back to the Porsche 917s of the 70s, and the various functions of the car. These booklets were sent out to all 918 customers and included an invitation to experience the car in person on the eighteenth of July, 2012, in Dallas Texas at the Nasher Sculpture Center. 

Thirdly, members got invited to all sorts of special events in the U.S. These special events that VIP Program members got invited to were not announced outright but we can assume that they included the following: Multiple 918 specific track days and drives put on by Porsche at Laguna Seca race track durning Monterey Car Week and private auctions such as the ones held at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta Georgia. At one event, in particular, in 2019 there were close to 40 918 Spyders on track at Laguna Seca and some of the 918 Spyder development team was there, including Frank Walliser “Father of the 918 Spyder” (918 Spyder Project Manger and now CEO of Bentley) was there signing 918 owners’ cars and owners were able to talk with him one on one.

Fourthly, and most importantly, the individuals that were part of the VIP Program got their orders for all Porsche cars, limited edition or not, prioritized over regular non-VIP Program members. They were able to exercise their benefits to such an extent that if they wanted one of the first of every model (not every trim) in the Porsche line up in the U.S. for that model year, they would contact their dealership, put orders in and, in turn, would get their cars months ahead of non-VIP Program members. They were able to do this in some cases every year for up to ten years. They would also get to order Paint to Sample (PTS) colors or Custom-Code Execution (CXX) options when others couldn’t. For special edition cars, if the VIP Program members’ interest exceeded that of the cars allocated for the US, cars were offered to each member in the order they were entered in the program. So, the closer to the top of the list, the better their chance to get the special edition cars. If a member passed on a special edition car, then the allocation would be offered to the next member until someone ordered the special edition car or it was offered to a regular customer. Allocations were also passed on if the member was too slow to order the car or missed the allotted window of time set aside for 918 Spyder VIP Program members to order their car.

What were all the Limited Edition Road Cars offered with the 918 Spyder Program?

Porsche 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder (997.2)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

In 2013, to help with the wait for the 918 Spyder that clients just ordered, Porsche offered a special edition 2013 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder. These cars were available as a coupe or convertible and some clients bought both. It is important to note that the Edition 918 Spyder 911 was available to all 918 clients around the world that bought the 918 Spyder. The regular colors available were: black, silver and white, but a very few were ordered in Paint to Sample colors. The cars had a decal on the side of the door that read “Edition 918 Spyder” finished in Acid Green and also had Acid Green accents inside and out just like their 918 Spyder Counterparts. The official production numbers were not clear for the Edition 918 Spyder as Porsche says the official production number is 918. The actual number appears to be somewhere around 146 which includes coupes and convertibles. The 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder’s chassis number also corresponded with that of the customer’s 918. 

Porsche Panamera Turbo S Exclusive Series (970.2)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

Next was the 2016 Porsche Panamera Turbo S Exclusive Series. This car was often overlooked and was a very special car that was quite different from a “regular” Panamera Turbo S. The Exclusive was based on the Panamera Turbo S executive which was the top trim of the Panamera long wheel base for 2016. All of the Exclusive series’ exterior was finished in a subtle but striking Jet Black Metallic and Chestnut Brown fade on the doors with the interior being finished in Chestnut Brown leather from Poltrona Frau (a high end furniture house) on the seats, lower parts of the doors, center console and lower part of the dashboard with black Nappa leather on the top of the dashboard, upper part of the doors, rear seat surrounds and steering wheel. The Panamera headliner was finished in black Alcantara and carpets were also finished in black. Only 100 Panamera Exclusive Series were built at an average MSRP of over $270,000.

Porsche 911 R (991.1)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

When the 2016 Porsche 911 R was released, it took the Porsche world by storm. It was on the surface a 991.1 generation 911 GT3RS with a manual transmission and without a large wing. Porsche had announced that the 997.2 GT3 RS 4.0 from 2011 to 2012 was the last GT3RS to feature a manual transmission so when the 911 R came out featuring the motorsport engine from the GT3RS and a manual transmission, it was an instant success. Porsche launched the 911 R in a very distinctive white with two red stripes going over the top of the car and Porsche lettering down the sides of the doors as a nod to the original 911 R. Other color combinations with stripes were available but any number of color combinations were available through Porsche’s Paint to Sample program. The 911 R differed from the GT3 in more than just lack of large wing and manual transmission. The R weighed less, most of the insulation was removed to save weight and for better sounds from the exhaust, the interior was very bare bones, even more so than the GT3RS.  The 911 R’s suspension was also less stiff, it lacked front fender louvers and intakes on the rear fenders. and had smaller tires and wheels. The original 1967 911 R was one of many cars masterminded by legendary engineer Ferdinand Piëch (Former CEO of Volkswagen Group and grandson of Ferdinand Porsche) and the 2016 911 R was a nod back to that car. The 1967 911 R was based on the 911 S but was completely stripped to save weight and used the motorsports engine from another Piëch car, the Porsche 906. In 2016 when 911 Rs began getting delivered, customers did the inevitable and flipped their cars resulting in prices on the second hand market climbing all the way to two million dollars. Prices slowly came down until they crashed once the Porsche 911 GT3 Touring was announced in 2017.  This happened because the 911 GT3 Touring looked very similar to the 911 R, was not going to be a limited production vehicle, and most importantly, had the motorsport engine and could be specced with a manual transmission. Prices went so low that one 911 R sold at auction below its auction estimate of $300,000-$375,000 for a measly $280,000, but prices have gone back up to around $500,000 and even more for 911Rs with special options. The touring was still quite a bit different from the R, just not cosmetically. The Touring had the insulation put back in the interior, had less stiff suspension, different flywheel and made two more horsepower. Only 991 Porsche 911 Rs were made and if a 918 Spyder VIP Program member ordered one, the car’s chassis number corresponded to their 918. MSRP for the 911R was $185,950. 

Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series (991.2)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

When the Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series was announced in the summer of 2017 it got everyone’s attention. The launch color for Exclusive Series was Golden Yellow Metallic, a special color designed exclusively for the exclusive. The coupe variant had exposed carbon fiber stripes that ran down the center of the top of the car and the convertible which followed later was also launched in the same color scheme with stripes that ran down the convertible top. The Exclusive was a fully loaded 911 Turbo S which had very few options that could be specced without going through Porsche’s special order program “Exclusive Manufacture”. The few options the Exclusive Series had included: a choice of three colors: golden yellow metallic, Agate Gray and Carrera White; two choices of wheel were available: the standard, bespoke at the time, Exclusive Series 10 spoke wheels and the optional seven spoke carbon fiber wheels, a five piece luggage set and a watch that could also be custom ordered. The interior also featured Golden Yellow accents and stripes that ran up the centers on all four seats. The Exclusive Series also was equipped with the Exclusive Power Kit that bumped the power up to 607 hp from 580 hp. The reason the Exclusive Series was created was to get Porsche’s Exclusive Manufaktur program back in people’s minds as Exclusive orders had slowed. The Exclusive Series could, of course, be ordered with any special options a client might want such as, paint color, interior finishes and colors, etc. The Exclusive Series was limited to 500 Coupes worldwide and 200 Convertibles. The coupe’s MSRP was $257,500 and the Convertible’s was $278,450. Depending on how early a client’s 918 chassis number was, the Exclusive Series chassis number would correspond, if applicable. 

Porsche 911 Speedster (991.2)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

In 2018 Porsche previewed the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept. This concept previewed what was soon to be the fifth iteration of Porsche Speedster. The car had the defining characteristics of a Porsche Speedster, large rear clamshell, low windshield and a manual roof.  Unlike any Speedster before, it was developed by Porsche’s GT department, was based on a 991.2 generation 911 GT3, and was offered exclusively with a manual transmission. This was a big deal because the previous generation Speedster was heavily criticized for not feeling hardcore or sporty enough and its lack of a manual transmission. The concept car was launched in GT Silver with a livery named the “Heritage Design Livery” which was inspired by Porsche 356 Speedster race cars of the 50s and 60s. When the production version of the car launched in 2019, the only differences from the concept were the lack of hood pins to hold the trunk in place (a weight saving measure that in the United States is commonly associated with classic muscle cars), the gas tank filler was located on the passenger side front fender instead of the middle of the of the hood, and the production version used 991.2 GT3 wheels instead of the special Heritage Design wheels that the concept used. The production car could be optioned with the Heritage Design Livery at a cost of $24,510 and could also be ordered from Porsche’s Exclusive Manufaktur department. Porsche only made 1948 2019 Porsche 911 Speedsters at an MSRP of $274,500. If a 918 Spyder VIP Program member ordered a Speedster, the car’s chassis number corresponded to their 918’s. 

Porsche 911 Targa 4s Heritage Design Edition (992.1)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche launched the Porsche 911 Targa 4s Heritage Design Edition in October of 2020. The Heritage was launched in Cherry Metallic paint with a “Historical Design” livery finished in white that ran over the front fenders with Porsche lettering down the sides and a circle with a number on the side of the doors. The livery was reminiscent of classic Porsche race cars from the 50s and 60s and similar to the livery offered on the 991.2 911 Speedster. Special wheels similar in design to the 991.2 generation 911 Speedster Concept were the only wheel option offered. The interior colors of the launch car were Bordeaux Red over Atacama Beige that was a mix of leather and corduroy. The interior gauges were also styled after classic Porsches  with the numbers finished in green. The Heritage also featured the option of gold lettering and accents on the rear of the car, Targa script on the sides of the Targa Bar and the small plaque denoting the serial number was in the interior of the car as part of the Heritage Design Edition. The Heritage did not have any performance differences from the normal Targa 4s. The Targa Heritage was offered in the following exterior colors: Cherry Metallic, GT Silver Metallic, Black, Guards Red, Chalk and could be ordered in any Paint to Sample colors. Special interior colors and finishes could also be ordered through Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur. A very unique option that could be ordered for the Targa Heritage Edition was corduroy interior elements on the doors and centers of the seats. Only 992 Porsche 911 Targa Heritage Design Editions were built at an MSRP of $180,600. If a 918 Spyder VIP Program member ordered a 911 Targa Heritage Design Edition, the car’s chassis number corresponded to their 918’s. 

Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS 50 Years Porsche Design Edition (992.1) 

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

Early in 2022 Porsche announced the Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS 50 Years Porsche Design Edition. This special edition was created to celebrate Porsche Design’s 50th anniversary. Porsche Design is Porsche lifestyle brand that produces watches, eyewear, bags and luggage, writing instruments, clothing, home items, and there is even a Porsche Design Tower in Miami, Florida, which is made up of luxury apartments and a car elevator that took cars up to a residence apartment. Porsche Design Porsche 911 Targa 50 years were finished in Jet Black Metallic with stripes and graphics reading “Porsche Design” on the doors. A full black leather or black with checkered accents interior were available. The Targa 50 could be ordered with a matching watch that the car’s color scheme was inspired by. The car had no mechanical differences to that of a standard Targa 4 GTS. Only 750 911 Targa 4 GTS 50 Years Porsche Design were built at an MSRP of $197,200. If a 918 Spyder VIP Program member ordered a Targa 4 GTS 50 Years Porsche Design, the car’s chassis number corresponded to their 918’s. 

Porsche 911 Sport Classic Design Edition (992.1)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

In the spring of 2022, Porsche announced the Porsche 911 Sport Classic Design Edition. The Sport Classic succeeded the Sport Classic from 2010 and shared visual design cues such as a ducktail rear wing, unique front bumper and paint color. The 911 Sport Classic was designed to commemorate the classic Porsches of the 60s and 70s but specifically the 911 Carrera 2.7 RS from the 70s. The Sport Classic was based on the 911 Turbo, but the engine was detuned to make 543 horsepower down from 572. The car featured the widebody from the 911 Turbo S but lacked the intakes on the rear fenders. The biggest differences between the Sport Classic and a 911 Turbo were that the Sport Classic was only offered with a manual transmission (which Porsche had not offered on a 911 Turbo model since the 997.2 Generation in 2012) and the Sport Classic was rear wheel drive only (which the 911 Turbo had not been offered with since 2008). The combination of a turbo engine, manual transmission, and rear wheel drive was last seen on the 997.2 generation 911 GT2RS in 2011. The 911 Sport Classic was launched in Sport Grey Metallic inspired by the Porsche color Fashion Grey that was first seen on the 356. Ghost stripes, similar to the ones seen on the 911 Exclusive Series, were also present and finished in Light Sports Grey with stripes reading Porsche down the sides of the doors.  Each door also had a circle with a number inside which was inspired by classic Porsche race cars. The interior was finished in Classic Cognac and the inserts of the seats were finished in a houndstooth design.  The car’s exterior badges were finished in actual gold similar to the 911 Targa Heritage Edition. A small gold plaque inside denoted what number the car was out of 1,250 made. The optional colors included Sport Grey Metallic, Gentian Blue Metallic, Agate Grey Metallic and Black. The 911 Sport Classic could, of course, be ordered through Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur and could be ordered in any color with any interior colors and finishes. Porsche made 1,250 Sport Classics at a cost of $274,750. If a 918 Spyder VIP Program member ordered a 911 Sport Classic Design Edition, the car’s chassis number corresponded to their 918’s. 

Porsche 911 GT3RS Carrera RS 2.7 Tribute (992.1)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

In 2022 Porsche launched the Porsche 911 GT3RS Carrera RS 2.7 Tribute. The GT3RS Tribute was mechanically identical to a “normal” GT3RS so the only differences were cosmetic. All GT3RS Tributes were finished in White with Python Green accents, such as, stripes on the doors reading GT3RS, wheels, RS graphics on rear wing, model designation on rear bumper and Porsche script on the bottom side of the rear wing. On the inside the interior was finished in a combination of black leather, black Alcantara, and Python Green stitching. Also on the inside, a large “RS” logo was engraved into the center console. Porsche only made 150 911 GT3RS Tributes at an MSRP of $312,550. Depending on how early a client’s 918 chassis number was, the GT3RS Carrera RS 2.7 RS Tribute chassis number would correspond, if applicable. 

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet America Edition (992.1)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG                          

Porsche launched the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet America Edition in 2022 to mark 70 years of the Porsche 356 America Roadster. The Porsche 356 America Roadster was produced exclusively for the American Market. Only sixteen Porsche 356 America Roadsters were made and only eleven are thought to exist today. The 356 America Roadster preceded the legendary Porsche 356 Speedster that in its day was the cheapest and most lightweight model but became one of the most desirable 356 models. The 911 America Roadster was produced exclusively for the American market just like its 356 predecessor. All 911 America Roadsters were finished in Azure Blue with white and red stripes down the side of the car and also had white wheels with a red strip around the lip of the wheel to tie in with the stripes. The 911 America Roadster was based on the 992 generation Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet making 473 horsepower. There were no mechanical differences between the America Roadster and a regular Carrera GTS Cabriolet. All America Roadsters featured a black leather interior with red accents throughout. Only 115 America Roadsters were produced at an MSRP of $184,920. Depending on how early a client’s 918 chassis number was the America Roadster chassis number would correspond if applicable.

Porsche 911 S/T (992.1)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche introduced its 911 S/T model in 2023. The 911 S/T was built to honor sixty years of the Porsche 911. The 911 S/T was essentially the successor of the Porsche 911 R from 2016 as it uses the motorsport engine from the 911 GT3. Where the car differed from the 911 R was that it was based on the GT3 Touring instead of the most hardcore GT3RS, so it already lacked a large fixed rear wing and offered a manual transmission. The difference between the 911 S/T and GT3 Touring was it weighed less as it featured a different clutch, different flywheel, less sound insulation, side fenders and doors from the GT3RS with no rear wheel steering. The 911 S/T was offered exclusively with a manual transmission. The S/T made 518 horsepower vs the GT3 Touring’s 502. The 911 S/T was named after and styled after the 911 S/T from the late 60s and early 70s which was a lightweight, high performance race car 911. The launch configuration for the 911 S/T wore the optional Heritage Design Package which consisted of Shore Blue Metallic paint in a racing style livery similar to the Targa Heritage Edition with the interior being finished in black leather over Classic Cognac. The exterior colors offered for 911 S/T were black, white or Shore Blue Metallic if the car was optioned with the Heritage Design Package. The 911 S/T could be ordered through Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur and could be finished in any exterior or interior color a customer might want. Porsche produced 1,963 Porsche 911 S/T at an MSRP of $290,000. If a 918 Spyder VIP Program member ordered a 911 S/T, the car’s chassis number corresponded to their 918’s. 

Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years (992.1)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

In 2023 Porsche unveiled the 911 Turbo 50 Years that was created to celebrate 50 years of the Porsche 911 Turbo. The Turbo 50 was mechanically identical to the “normal” 911 Turbo S. The Turbo 50 was launched in GT Silver Metallic ( with the optional Heritage Design Package that was made up of stripes that ran from the top of the front fenders to the rear fenders. The stripes were inspired by the stripes that were available on the classic 1974 Porsche 911 Turbo Carrera and were finished in a color called Turbonite (a dark gray). The interior was finished in black leather with tartan inserts on the seats and doors. The car was also available in Aventurine Green Metallic as standard. The car could also be ordered with the Heritage Design Livery seen on the Targa Heritage Edition with the addition of the stripe that runs from fender to fender on each side. Any exterior or interior color could be optioned through Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur. Porsche Produced 1,974 911 Turbo 50 Years at an MSRP of 261,100. If a 918 Spyder VIP Program member ordered a 911 Turbo 50 Years, the car’s chassis number corresponded to their 918’s. 

As you can see, the list of limited edition Porsches offered first to Porsche 918 owners, was extensive and provided plenty of variety and nostalgia for the Porsche enthusiast.  An added perk for 918 owners was having the chassis number for each of these special editions match their 918 chassis number!  The only necessities for an individual who wanted to own a collection complete with a 918 Spyder and each special edition car with matching chassis number, were an early VIN, a massive garage, and an even larger bank account!

What Other Special Edition Porsches Were Offered?

Porsche 911 GT3RS (991.1)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

In 2016 Porsche launched the Porsche 911 GT3RS of the 991.1 generation, which boasted a 4.0 liter flat 6 that produced 500 horsepower and 338 ft-lb of torque. The new 2016 GT3RS brought a large change to the GT3RS line for the foreseeable future… an automatic transmission. This was a huge deal since every GT3RS before was featured only with a six speed manual transmission. The only transmission option for the 2016 GT3RS was Porsche’s own seven speed PDK dual clutch transmission. As a result all previous Porsche 911 GT3RS models have skyrocketed in value, but there was so much more to the car than just the transmission. A large, adjustable rear wing, characteristic of the GT3RS, graced the rear of the 2016 GT3RS.  It also featured the wide body from the 911 Turbo including, for the first time on a GT3RS, the rear air intakes on the rear fender. The front fenders featured, for the first time on a GT3RS, louvers that helped with downforce and heat dissipation. Another first for the GT3RS was rear wheel steering. A special attribute of the 2016 GT3RS was the ‘pit speed’ limiter. The purpose of the pit speed feature was to make following the speed limit in the “pits” at a race track easier. The pit speed feature was activated by a button in the center console but had to be set up using a screen in the gauge cluster before the button would work.

Porsche Boxster Spyder (981)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche launched the second generation Porsche Boxster Spyder in 2016. The 2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder was powered by a modified 911 Carrera S 3.8 liter flat six engine producing 375 horsepower and 309 ft-lb of torque. The 2016 Boxster Spyder was an exclusive car in Porsche’s line up due to the fact that it was the only Boxster Spyder to be featured exclusively with a six speed manual transmission. A few of the most notable characteristics of the Boxster Spyder were its manual top which was chosen to save weight and its rear clamshell featuring the double bubble design behind the rear seats, more aggressive styling on the front and rear facia, side skirts, intakes and lower ride height. The 2016 Boxster Spyder also could be optioned with a radio and air conditioning (these luxuries were omitted to save weight). From my point of view the 2016 Boxster Spyder was the Porsche most closely related to the original Porsche 356 Speedster for the fact that the Boxster Spyder was lightweight, designed to drive hard around a racetrack or curvy roads, featured only a manual transmission, was very bare bones, had to be optioned with A/C and radio, had a very pretty and curvy design, and didn’t feature over the top aero.  The final reason this Boxster Spyder was like the 356 Speedster was that 911 Speedsters (which carry the namesake of and succeed the 356 Speedster) have gotten too large, some variants were not bare-bones, and 911 Speedsters were some of the most expensive 911s new, unlike the 356 Speedster which, when new, was the cheapest of the Porsche lineup. 

Porsche Cayman GT4 (981), Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 (982) and 718 Boxster Spyder (982)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

The 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 was a lightweight, track day ready, hotrod Cayman that was equipped with a manual transmission only and was powered by the 911 Carrera S 3.8 liter flat 6 from the period, producing 385 horsepower and 310 ft-lb of torque. This GT4 had stiffer suspension over the standard Cayman GTS, featured new aero such as a fixed rear wing, new more aggressive front bumper, rear bumper and rear diffuser. Another option offered on the GT4 was the the deletion of A/C and radio with the 918 Spyder bucket seats being added on. A lot of the inspiration for the GT4 came from its sibling the Boxster Spyder. The original Boxster Spyder that came out in 2010 was equipped with the Cayman S engine producing 320 hp, took extreme weight saving measures like having a non power, manual convertible top, and was standard without A/C and radio. The Cayman GT4 was so good, many said it was better than the 911 GT3. The GT4 cost less than the GT3 and the GT4 came with the option of a manual transmission unlike the GT3 and GT3RS at the time. The GT4 was such a hit that Porsche brought it back for the 982 generation in 2020. The 2020 version was named the 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Boxster Spyder (718 being a nod back to the mid engine Porsche race car from 1957) This time the Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder got their own special 4.0 liter flat six based on the 992 Carrera 3.0 liter flat six but with out the turbos. The  GT4 could now be optioned with either a seven speed PDK automatic transmission that could be shifted with paddles on the steering wheel or by using the shifter on the center console, or with a conventional six speed manual transmission.  

Porsche 911 GT2RS (991.2)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

The 2018 Porsche 911 GT2RS came out in 2018 and was powered by a 3.8 liter flat six producing 691 horsepower and 553 ft-lb of torque. The GT2RS was based on the 911 Turbo and used the same but heavily modified engine, and also used the Turbo’s seven speed, dual clutch automatic PDK transmission. The styling of the GT2RS was very similar to the GT3RS but with wider intake grilles on the front bumper, larger intakes on the rear fenders, more aggressive front fender louvers, larger rear wing with different uprights and a different deck lid with larger air intakes.  The placement of the exhausts is different and the exhaust are larger. The GT2RS set the Nurburgring lap record for a production car in 2017 completing the lap in 6.47.3 seconds.  Many other lap records at other racetracks were set by the GT2RS and the car is still setting records today proving just how good the GT2RS is. Like the 918 Spyder, the GT2RS was offered with something called the Weissach Package, which in the case of the GT2RS included carbon fiber front trunk, roof, sway bars, and tie rod link end, as the most notable parts. The wheels were also made out of magnesium and all of those weight saving measures combined saved about 40 pounds. 

Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 Touring (991.2)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche launched the 991.2 generation 911 GT3 and GT3 Touring in 2017. The GT3 and GT3 Touring shared most exterior styling other than, most notably, the larger fixed rear wing on the GT3.  The GT3 Touring was created to cater to those that couldn’t get a 911 R and it included an active rear wing that would raise at speed or via a button inside that was similar to the wing on the 911 Carrera. The GT3 and GT3 Touring were both equipped with a 4.0 liter flat six producing 502 horsepower and 339 ft-lb of torque. The difference in top speed was not very significant with the GT3’s top speed being 193 mph and the Touring’s 194 mph. The 991.2 generation was a big deal for the Porsche community because this marked the start of Porsche offering a manual transmission on GT cars again. The GT3 was available with either a seven speed, dual clutch, PDK transmission or a six speed manual, while the Touring was only available with the six speed manual. The other differences between the GT3 and the GT3 Touring were that the Touring’s suspension was not as stiff and there were different finishes inside and out, etc. 

Porsche 911 GT3RS (991.2)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

In March of 2018 Porsche launched the 991.2 generation GT3RS. This car was the facelift version of the 991.1 GT3RS. The GT3RS was powered by a 4.0 liter flat six producing 513 horsepower and 346 ft-lb of torque paired to Porsche’s seven speed, dual clutch PDK transmission. The 991.2 GT3RS was the first GT3RS offered with the Weissach Package which consisted of a change of the roof and hood from magnesium to carbon fiber, carbon fiber suspension components, magnesium wheels and lightweight interior materials. The biggest differences between the 991.1 and 991.2 GT3RS were the slight increase in power, different front and rear facia, different hood similar to the hood on the 991.2 GT2RS with small intakes on each side of the hood, front fenders with more aggressive louvers, side skirts, rear wing with different end plates, uprights and the addition of the Weissach Package. A very strange thing about the 991.2 GT3RS was that in North America the car could not be ordered in special, Paint to Sample colors. The 991.2 GT3RS in North America could be ordered with special options for the interior so unique colors and finishes for the interior were ordered on a very few cars. 

Porsche Cayman 718 GT4RS (982)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

The Cayman 718 GT4RS came out in 2021 and shook up the Porsche world considering that this was the first time the Cayman/Boxster platform had gotten the RS treatment. The GT4RS used the 4.0 liter flat six engine from the 911 GT3 that produced 493 horsepower and 331 ft-lb of torque, and redlined at 9,000 rpm. The 718 GT4RS was only available with Porsche’s seven speed, dual clutch PDK transmission. The exterior was quite different from the “regular” Cayman GT4. The exterior differences included: the hood, which was very similarly styled to the hood of the 991.2 GT2RS and GT3RS, different front bumper, front fenders, side skirts, side intakes in front of the rear wheels, much larger, “swan neck” style rear wing, and rear bumper. One of the largest differences was that the rear windows were replaced with large air intakes which made the GT4RS famous because of the sound from the inside. It was incredibly loud because the air intakes were right behind the driver’s and passenger’s ears.  Some people said it was so loud at redline it literally hurt their ears. The stiffer suspension on the GT4RS, which used components from the 911 Carerra 4S, was another difference. The 718 Cayman GT4RS was available with the option of the Weissach Package which added even more carbon fiber pieces, lightweight magnesium wheels, and lighter weight interior pieces. Porsche said that they would never let the Cayman be a better car than the 911 but many have argued that the GT4RS is better than the 911 GT3RS because of its size, in addition to how high strung and track focused it is. 

Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 Touring (992.1)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche launched the 992.1 Generation 911 GT3 and GT3 Touring in 2021. The GT3 and GT3 Touring followed the typical recipe for Porsche GT Cars which included a motorsport engine, lots of weight saving measures, GT exclusive exterior styling and lots of aerodynamic features. The GT3 and GT3 Touring were powered by a 502 horsepower, 4.0 liter flat six engine with 346 ft-lb of torque. The 992 Generation GT3 Touring brought with it a new, very notable option which was the option of Porsche’s seven speed, dual clutch, PDK transmission. I believe that this was a smart move because a lot of people would like to have the GT3s motorsport engine but with more subtle stying, not as hardcore in respect to the suspension and with nicer interior finishes. Overall the cars are very similar to the previous 991.2 GT3 and GT3 Touring. 

Porsche 911 GT3RS (992.1)

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In 2022 Porsche launched the 992.1 Generation 911 GT3RS. The 992.1 Generation GT3RS was one of the biggest leaps in terms of technology for the GT3RS ever. The GT3RS was equipped with so many aerodynamic features all over the car that you’d be forgiven in thinking it would be the Nurburgring Lap Record holder for a production car, but alas, it was not. The styling was similar to past GT3RSs, but on steroids. The typical large wing, large louvers on the front fenders, aggressive front and rear facias, large intakes on the rear fenders, rear bumper with styling from the 918 Spyder including large rear canards, and hood featuring large vents that helped with aerodynamics and heat dissipation. The GT3RS’s wing was one of the biggest on a production car and also used active aero with hydraulics to move around at speed. The GT3RS was powered by a 4.0 liter flat six producing 518 horsepower and 343 ft-lb of torque that redlined at 9,000 rpm. Also present in the 992.1 GT3RS was DRS, or Drag Reduction System, which has been featured a lot in race cars.  This system could be activated by the driver on the steering wheel or the car automatically activated DRS under certain conditions. The 992.1 GT3RS could be ordered with the Weissach Package that added carbon fiber roof, hood, suspension components, wing components and magnesium wheels.

Porsche 911 Dakar (992.1)

Photo Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche launched the 911 Dakar in late 2022. The Dakar was designed to commemorate the Porsche 959 Paris to Dakar that won first, second and sixth in the 1986 Paris to Dakar rally. The 911 Dakar was based on the 911 Carrera 4 GTS and was powered by a 3.0 liter, twin turbo flat six producing 473 horsepower and 420 ft-lb of torque, paired to Porsche’s eight speed PDK transmission. The styling was mostly similar to the 992.1 911 turbo, with the wide body that had extended fender trim, a fixed wing styled after the wing from the 911 Turbo and rear diffuser styled after the Turbo’s diffuser, but raised for ground clearance. The hood was from the Porsche 911 992.1 GT3. The Dakar was also equipped with a hydraulic suspension lift system for the front and rear of the car for extra clearance. There were protective skid plates underneath the car to help protect the bottom of the car while off roading. The ground clearance of the Dakar was increased by 80 millimeters over the normal 911. The Dakar had permanent all wheel drive and a locking differential. 

Porsche Boxster Spyder RS (982)

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Porsche launched the Porsche Boxster Spyder RS in 2023, which was created to be the ultimate Boxster Spyder. The Boxster Spyder RS was powered by a 4.0 liter flat six producing 493 horsepower and 331 ft-lb of torque, revving all the way to 9,000 rpm, paired to Porsche’s seven speed, dual clutch, PDK transmission. All the characteristics that made the Boxster Spyder special were present in the Spyder RS. These included: The manual roof, large rear clam shell with “Speedster Humps”, lightweight materials, stiff suspension and a large, high horsepower engine. The Spyder RS shared the engine, transmission, torque vectoring system and differential with the Cayman GT4RS. The Spyder RS also shared styling elements with the GT4RS such as the front and rear facias, front fenders, side skirts, rear air intakes, hood, rear diffuser and ducktail spoiler. Like the Cayman GT4RS the Boxster Spyder RS was famous for its extremely loud engine noise from inside the cabin. The Spyder RS was even louder because it was a convertible and lacked rear side windows.