Porsche 718 Spyder loses some of its horses underway to China

Porsche’s newest 718 Spyder model for China may share the name with a powerful mid-engined topless sports car known throughout the world, but the specs just aren’t that exciting.

The international Spyder model is a no-nonsense performance vehicle armed with a 4.0-liter flat-six engine, 420 PS (414 hp / 309 kW) and 420 Nm (310 lb-ft) of torque.     In contrast, the China spec occupies a middle ground between the entry Boxster spec and the topmost Boxster S. Its 2.0-liter turbo-four mill is only good for 300 PS (296 hp / 221 kW) and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque.

The car weighs in at 1,415 kilograms, which enables it to reach 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) in 4.7 seconds. It when proceeds to hit 160 km/h (100 mph) in 10.8 seconds and 200 km/h (124 mph) in 17.8. Top speed lies at 270 km/h (167 mph).

As far as transmissions go, six-speed manual is not available in China, leaving seven-speed PDK as the only option. The car also has Boxster GTS bumpers and exhaust tips, modest brakes, a generic-looking steering wheel and a standard chassis with adaptive shocks. The international spec rides 30 mm (1.2”) lower and benefits from special suspension settings.

The 718 Spyder is already available starting from 738,000 Chinese Yuan, which is a fair bit more expensive than the Boxster (565,000), but slightly more affordable than the Boxster S (797,000).