Boxster RS 60 Spyder: Tribute to a Racing Legend

Following the introduction of the day-glo orange Boxster and Boxster S Limited Edition, Porsche has announced yet another special edition of its sleek, balanced roadster. The Boxster RS 60 Spyder is all about success in motorsports, particularly the wins earned by the lithe Porsche speedsters of the day.

At the first peak of its motorsports career (1960), Porsche won many races with its Spyder, one of the most important of which was the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race. The Type 718 RS 60 Spyder, despite its small displacement engine and diminutive overall size, outperformed its rivals on the track, earning the brand an important win. Porsche also attained victories at various other circuits in North America and Europe.

This modern day car features a sportier look than the regular Boxster, created by a new lower front valance, sill extensions and 19-inch wheels designed by Porsche SportDesign. The biggest cue to paying homage to heritage is its color scheme. Like the race car that it was inspired by, the RS 60 Spyder is painted in pure silver, with an interior finished in natural leather that’s Carrera red in color. Not everyone will appreciate this attention-grabbing combination, so Porsche is offering the interior in gray as well. When the car features the brighter interior scheme, the folding convertible roof is made from red woven fabric of the same hue, and when it’s gray the roof is black.

Inside, it’s all about the little details. If you don’t look too carefully, you’ll miss alterations such as the lack of a hood over the instrument binnacle, or unique gear shift lever. Even finer is the texture of leather that’s used to trim the steering wheel, shifter and handbrake knob; it’s very exclusive. The front two seats also feature silver-painted trim on their backs, which matches the car’s seatbelts and the rollover hoops.

The RS 60 Spyder is slightly more powerful than the standard Boxster S thanks to a sport exhaust system with dual tailpipes. The improved airflow nets the special Spyder 303 horsepower, an increase of 12 horsepower over stock, not to mention a different look. The difference that the extra power makes may not be noticeable to all drivers, but the sound that it delivers will.

The differences that the RS 60 Spyder features over the standard Boxster S might be fairly mild, but they’re important nevertheless and the look of the vehicle captures the essence and spirit of the racers, not to mention the spirit of the original Boxster concept that featured a very similar color scheme. Porsche won’t be building many of these cars. In fact, it’s only building 1,960, a number after the year it had so many race successes. A plaque with the production number is affixed to the glove box, adding to the exclusivity. Deliveries of the new car will begin next spring, but you’ll need to act quickly to get one.