In homage to the 1973 911 Carrera RS, Porsche used the same formula to produce a lightweight version of the Carrera 2 from the race-ready Cup car known simply as the Carrera RS. The Porsche Carrera RS, or 964 RS as it is more widely known started shipping in November 1991 as a 1992 model year car.
The Carrera RS used an upgraded version (M64/03) of the M64 engine used in the 964 Carrera 2 and 4 (M64/01). Power was boosted by 10 horsepower from the new 3.6 liter boxer engine thanks to some magic by Porsche engineers. The pistons and cylinders were carefully selected and matched and the engine used rubber mounts in place of hydraulic mounts. It also had a lightweight single-mass flywheel that weighed 12 pounds. A lighter and simpler wiring harness was fitted and the ECU was reconfigured for higher octane fuel. Power went from 250 hp to 260 hp and torque increased from 229 ft/lbs to 240 ft/lbs.
The lightweight variant’s front bonnet was crafted from aluminum, and the chassis underwent seam welding. Thinner and lighter glass was used for the side windows, and the Carrera RS rode on 17″ Cup magnesium wheels, contributing to an overall weight reduction of approximately 150kg compared to the Carrera 2. This transformation rendered the RS a swifter, more agile, and responsive car.
The 964 Carrera RS was available in three road-legal versions. The first was a basic option devoid of luxury, the second, a touring model, included limited extras, and the third was the N-GT (near-production GT). The Touring version, designed for street driving, featured soundproofing, undercoating, a standard Carrera wiring loom, and optional power accessories.
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