Porsche RS Spyder - Road going version planned?

Porsche are rumoured to be preparing a road-legal version of the Porsche RS Spyder

Porsche’s last ‘Halo’ car was the Porsche Carrera GT, probably best considered a successor to the Porsche GT1. But it was a very different car. It was not a road-legal track car, rather a Supercar in the mould of the Ferrari Enzo. Featuring a V10, 5.7 litre engine, it was capable of 0-60mph in around 3.5 seconds and over 200mph. Plans were to build 1,500 Carrera GTs, but this was curtailed to 1270 after airbag regulations changed in the US for 2006.

But three years after the demise of the Carrera GT, there has been no real sign of a successor. True, most of Porsche’s high-end cars could be considered ‘Halo’ cars in their own right, but enthusiasts look for the ultimate iteration. And Autoblog in Italy are claiming that it’s wet dream time soon for Porsche nutters around the world, as Porsche are working on a road-legal version of the Porsche RS Spyder.

The Porsche RS Spyder is an American Le Mans Series car with a 3.4 litre V8, weighing in at a very light 1700lbs, and has been a big track success. It is claimed that a slightly de-tuned version of the engine would be used for the road going car, but with weight kept under 2200lbs performance would still be exceptional.

Frankly, interesting though the report is, it makes no real sense. I’m sure Porsche are interested in producing a new Halo car, and I’m equally sure if they do it will be lighter and more efficient than the Carrera GT to fit in with the ethos of our times. But this really isn’t the right time, and quite honestly the right basis, for such a Supercar.

Still, we’ve been wrong before!