2019 Porsche 718 Spyder Convertible. 1st generation
The Porsche 718 Spyder is a two-seater luxury sports car by the German brand Porsche, a member of the VAG Group. It has been produced since 2019. It belongs to the 718 model range, along with the Boxster roadster, the Cayman 2-door 2-seater coupe and the Cayman GT4. The first generation 718 Spyder convertible is available on the Israeli market (as of 2021).
Distinctive features
The new 2019/2020 Porsche 718 Spyder is based on principles similar to the powerful 718 Cayman GT4. The ground clearance is 30 mm lower than the standard version of the 718 model range. Plus, there are high-performance brakes, a rear limited slip differential, two-stage adaptive suspension. The new Porsche 718 Spyder is a 2-door 2-seater convertible equipped with a classic naturally aspirated high-revving engine and a hand-folding soft cloth roof. It has a lowered windshield frame, without a full-fledged anti-wing at the rear. But there is a small active spoiler that travels at speeds over 120 km/h. The exhaust system is more compact, which made it possible to install a full-fledged diffuser. The 2019/2020 Porsche 718 Spyder has the longitudinally mounted rear-engine layout. That is why the suspension has a slightly unusual structure. Independent McPherson struts are installed in a circle. Overall, the convertible is 4,430 mm long, 1,801 mm wide and 1,258 mm high, with the wheelbase of 2,484 mm.
Exterior and interior
The car was designed to overcome mountain serpentines, down hills and sharp turns. The silhouette has a typical mid-engine line. The front face is elegantly rounded, low and close to the ground. The major idea is to direct the flow of oncoming air so as to provide optimal downforce, primarily when cornering. A highly pronounced front spoiler lip with additional aerodynamic elements in front of the wheel arches reduces lift at the front axle. The central air intake at the front optimizes aerodynamics, and the air that passes through it is discharged upward through the opening in front of the front cover.
A harmonious interior with luxury finishing, an easy-to-use touch panel, and a manual roof make the convertible quite practical despite its sporty look. The soft top is unlocked electrically. Then it can be easily removed under the rear cover, which will clearly decrease the volume of the trunk. In combination with the Classic package, the soft top is also available in the two-tone Bordeaux Red-Black. As an option, the roll bars can be painted in body color.
Engines
The engine is a classic 4-liter naturally aspirated boxer 6-cylinder petrol power unit. It has two camshafts per head, an advanced variable valve timing system and piezoelectric injectors. Their distinguishing feature is the response speed. They are capable of injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber up to five times per cycle. As a result, the engineers managed to squeeze out 420 horsepower at 7,600 rpm and 420 Nm of torque in a small range from 5,000 to 6,800 crankshaft revolutions per minute. There is a choice between a 6-speed manual transmission and a 7-speed semi-automatic transmission. The car is rear wheel drive only. The differential is self-locking. As a result, the car is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds and reach a maximum of 301 kilometers per hour. This is the only version in the family capable of breaking the three hundred mark.
Equipment
The standard equipment of the 2020/2021 Porsche 718 Spyder includes: rear camera, rear parking sensors, cruise control, ABS, stabilization system, traction control, brake assist, active power steering, multimedia system with Carplay, navigation, Hi-sound system Fi Bose or Hi-End Burmester, sports front seats, kicking plates, heated side mirrors and more.
Passive safety is ensured by a stiffness-optimized body shell, two roll bars and two full-size airbags, which have two stages of deployment depending on the type and severity of the accident. Additional safety is provided by the Porsche Side Impact Protection System (POSIP), which includes side protection rails in the doors, integrated thorax airbags in the seat side bolsters and head airbags integrated in the door panels to protect the driver and front passenger. In short, high safety is guaranteed even when the soft top is open.
