One of those secrets is that it will be coming to the U.S, but how do we know that?
Porsche is about ready to reveal the new Cayman GT4 RS, and rumor has it that it’s going to happen on November 17 or 18. The date actually makes a lot of sense, considering those are the media days for the 2020 Los Angeles Auto Show. We’ve already seen some official photos released by Porsche when the GT4 RS was doing some testing on the Nürburgring, so these spy shots might not seem that interesting, but there’s actually more here than what meets the eye.
U.S. Availability for the Cayman GT4 RS Practically Confirmed
So, if it wasn’t for the recent rumors and the proximity for the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, the fact this prototype has almost no camo is essentially confirmation that a reveal is imminent. Of course, little things are hidden, like the GT4 badge, for example, and there is a sticker over the wheel caps. However, we can make out some fresh details that we just couldn’t see before. For starters we can now make out the full length of the front splitter, so we have a better view of its more aggressive design. Beyond this, the details on the fender vents are now clearly visible, and we can see the full rear spoiler in incredible detail. The rear air intakes are definitely production-spec, as are the center-lock wheels. Add in the fact that the license plate starts with an “S,” and we can pretty much guarantee this is a production-spec car, as those plates are generally reserved for press-fleet models.
More important than any of this, however, is that there was a U.S.-spec version of the Cayman GT4 RS out testing today with ceramic brakes, essentially confirming that Porsche will be offering this car in the United States – probably sometime next year as a 2023 model. For now, we don’t know a whole lot about the cabin or the powertrain. You can expect the cabin to be stripped down as much as possible to reduce weight – something that’s obvious based on the fact that it can complete the 12.-8 Nürburgring Nordschleife (the shorter track) in 7:04:511, some 23.6 seconds faster than the regular Cayman GT4.
As for the powertrain, various sources are indicating anywhere between 450 and 500 horsepower and probably somewhere around 350 pound-feet of torque. That would give it 26-76 more ponies than the Cayman GT4 and around 41 extra pound-feet of torque. It will feature the same 4.0-liter flat-six engine, however, the six-speed manual from the Cayman GT4 will be ditched and replaced by the seven-speed PDK from the 911 GT3 RS. We’re estimating that 0-60 mph will happen in around 3.9-4.0 seconds while top speed could approach the 200-mph mark. That would make it two or three-tenths faster than the Cayman GT4 to 60 mph, but there won’t be a lot of extra top end as that model tops out at 188 mph.
As a side note, the 2020 718 Cayman GT4 came with a larger engine than the 2018 GT4 – up from 3.8-liters to 4.0-liters. With 414 horsepower, it represented an increase of 29 horsepower while torque was actually down by one pound-foot. Tip speed was increased from 183 to 188 mph, but the 0-60 mph sprint remained that same at 4.2 seconds. As such, the first Cayman GT4 RS should be faster in both categories, but what’s really important is that it will be the nimblest Cayman ever built as proven by its already successful run on the Nürburgring.
| 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS | 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 | 2018 Porsche Cayman GT4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4.0-Liter Flat-Six Engine | 4.0-Liter Flat-Six Engine | 3.8-liter flat-six engine |
| Horsepower | 450-500 HP (est) | 414 HP @ 7,600 RPM | 385 HP @ 7,400 RPM |
| Torque | 350 LB-FT (est) | 309 LB-FT @ 5,000 – 6,800 RPM | 310 LB-FT |
| Top Speed | 200 mph (est) | 188 mph | 183 mph |
| 0 to 60 mph | 3.9-4.0 Seconds (est) | 4.2 Seconds | 4.2 Seconds |
