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PORSCHE 964 CARRERA  RS LIGHT

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Pure PERFORMANCE

The Porsche 964 Carrera RS Light is a lighter, more radical version of the 964 Carrera RS, a legendary model produced by the German marque in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Introduced in 1991, this version was designed with a specific aim in mind: to offer a purer, sportier driving experience, while compromising on comfort and equipment to reduce the car's weight.

 

The Porsche 964 Carrera RS Light was launched at a time when Porsche wanted to offer customers a more extreme car, while honouring its racing heritage. The 964 Carrera RS (Touring) model was the ‘comfort’ version of the RS model, while the Light version was the option for purists looking for a car closer to competition. It was produced in limited quantities, mainly for the European market, and allowed Porsche to test the limits of performance on the road. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Timeless Classics - Porsche 964 Carrera RS Light
Timeless Classics - Porsche 964 Carrera RS Light
Timeless Classics - Porsche 964 Carrera RS Light

Light version FEATURES

The Porsche 964 Carrera RS Light (M001) is distinguished from the Carrera RS Touring (M002) version by a number of technical adjustments, focused primarily on reducing weight and optimising performance for a purer driving experience.

  • Weight : The Light version (M001) benefits from a significant reduction in weight compared to the Touring version (M002). Porsche has used lightweight materials, such as polycarbonate windows, lightened door panels and carbon-fibre seats, to make the car around 100kg lighter than the Touring version. This improves the car's responsiveness and agility, while offering a rawer, more dynamic driving experience.

  • Suspension and chassis : While the Touring version (M002) features a suspension geared more towards comfort and everyday use, the Light version (M001) has a firmer suspension, with specific dampers and increased chassis rigidity. These modifications have been made to maximise performance on the track, offering a more direct ride and fewer compromises in terms of comfort.

  • Interior features : Another area where the Light version stands out is the interior. While the Touring version offers a more refined interior, with leather seats and comfort-oriented equipment, the Light version dispenses with many comfort features, such as air conditioning and electric seats. The aim is to further reduce weight, creating a more spartan, performance-oriented cabin.

  • Brakes and transmission : Although both versions share an identical 3.6-litre engine, the Light version (M001) benefits from more powerful brakes, inspired by those of the 911 Turbo, and a 5-speed manual gearbox, which offers a more direct connection with the powertrain. This approach prioritises driving feel and responsiveness, unlike the Touring version, which was more focused on versatility.

In short, the Light version (M001) of the Porsche 911 964 Carrera RS is an even more radical and high-performance version than the Touring version (M002), with reduced weight, firmer suspension, a spartan interior and a more track-oriented design, offering a purely sporting driving experience.

Timeless Classics - Porsche 964 Carrera RS Light
Timeless Classics - Porsche 964 Carrera RS Light
Timeless Classics - Porsche 964 Carrera RS Light

A real object OF DESIRE

Developing the Light version of the 964 Carrera RS was a real challenge for Porsche. While the base model, the 964 Carrera RS (M002), already had a reputation as an exceptional performance car, the challenge for the engineers was to create an even lighter, more radical version without sacrificing performance. Part of this weight reduction was achieved by replacing many metal parts with polycarbonate (notably for the side and rear windows), and by using carbon fibre seats. These choices of materials were typical of Porsche's approach at the time, aimed at maximising performance while retaining a certain authenticity of design. This process was overseen by engineers such as Helmut Bott, who played a central role in the development of the 964's technical specifications.

 

Figures such as Jacky Ickx, the famous Belgian racing driver, were fascinated by the car, which he said ‘offered the perfect balance between a racing car and a road car.’ His interest in the Light version was directly linked to his search for a raw, uncompromising performance car.

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