The 911 Carrera RS 3.8 (993) is the lightweight, naturally aspirated homologation special of the range, built in 1995–96. It enlarges the air-cooled flat-six to 3.8 liters for about 296 hp (300 PS), and pairs it with a stripped, focused chassis: a seam-welded shell, uprated suspension, the Turbo's bigger brakes and three-piece 18-inch alloys. It was never federalized for US sale.

The point of the RS is that it is both lighter AND more powerful than the Carrera it is based on. It comes in roughly 198–220 lb (90–100 kg) under a standard Carrera, and the diet is specific: an aluminum front lid (and doors, per some sources), thinner glass, deleted sound deadening, removed rear seats, lighter Recaro seats and deleted headlight washers, all over a seam-welded bodyshell. The bigger 3.8 engine on top of the weight saving is what makes it a step beyond a hot Carrera.