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Porsche has finally given the Cayman some serious performance upgrades and an engine out of a 911 GT3 Racing Cup Car
by Khris Bharath, on LISTEN 05:45Porsche has taken the wraps off of their all-new 718 Cayman GT4 RS at the LA Auto Show, and this new model is the flagship offering in the Cayman lineup.
Overview
At long last, Porsche fanboys can finally rejoice because the folks at Zuffenhausen seemed to have heard your cry. The RS line of Porsche’s have been reserved for the most extreme versions of the 911.
But now, Porsche’s mid-engined Cayman GT4 has finally got the full RS treatment and the Cayman gets some much-deserved upgrades in the form of this new GT4 RS avatar. Here’s a quick overview of what makes this new 718 GT4 RS so special.
Exterior
Considering that we’re looking at a Porsche RS model, what almost immediately catches your attention is the giant wing, which is straight from the 992 911 GT3. You’ll also find a good helping of carbon fiber throughout the bodywork, be it on the hood, the adjustable front splitter, which has obviously been added in a bid to save the weight of course, and improve downforce. Strangely, Porsche hasn’t gone with a carbon roof.
Apart from the carbon, you get tinted front and rear lights, which lends to the sporty character of the vehicle. Moving to the side, you’ll find 20” forged aluminum RS Spec center cap race wheels. In the back, you’ll find a new reworked diffuser that carries a pair of proper pipes which are unique to the GT4 RS.
These functional and aesthetic elements added to the exterior of the Cayman have transformed the GT4 RS which now carries an even more extreme and aggressive stance.
Interior
The same lightweight theme continues on the inside as well. But surprisingly, it isn’t too stripped out. You still get all the essentials in the form of a radio and a plethora of buttons on the center console. Where they’ve really gone to town with the weight savings is with newer lightweight carpets, lighter door panels with textile opening loops, nets on the storage compartments, and a reduction in the amount of insulation material used.
Apart from that, the cabin is your typical Porsche affair. You’re greeted with a sporty steering wheel with a 12’o clock yellow marker and there’s enough leather and Alcantara throughout which makes this cabin extra sporty. The Cayman in general is far more practical than a 911 and this one even in GT4 RS Spec is no exception. You’ll find a usable trunk behind the mid-mounted engine under the rear hatch.
Performance & Specification
This is where things get really interesting. The new Cayman 718 features an engine straight out of a Porsche racing car, the 911 GT3 Cup race car to be more specific. This engine revs’ to as high as 9000 rpm and sounds phenomenal, through that new twin exhaust system that we spoke of earlier. The 4.0 liter naturally aspirated flat-six engine produces 493 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, which is a whopping 80 more horses than the regular GT4. Power is sent to the rear wheels via Porsche’s revered PDK 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission.
There’s, unfortunately, no manual on offer here. Considering that the GT4 RS only weighs 3227 pounds, expect it to be pretty quick. Porsche claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 196 mph. The RS is close to half a second quicker to 60 mph than the regular GT4 and 10 mph quicker top speed as well. The Cayman GT4 RS is about 30 mm lower than the standard GT4. They get standard steel rotor brakes with the option to upgrade to carbon-ceramic or tungsten brakes as well. To further improve handling, the chassis too has been tuned with RS-specific shock absorbers and modified springs.
Optional Weissach Package
The Weissach Package takes things up a notch even more. You’ll find even more air and cooling intakes on the hood, an airbox cover, the mirror caps, and the rear wing finished in a carbon-weave finish. You’ll get an upgraded 20” magnesium wheel in place of the aluminum ones. You’ll get titanium tailpipes that look similar to the ones you’d find on the Porsche 935. Step inside and you’ll find a new fitted titanium roll cage, race tex material on the dash and a large Porsche logo integrated on the rear window.
Pricing & Availability
Expect the new Porsche Cayman GT4 RS to hit the road by summer next year with a base price of $141,700. Now that might seem like a lot, but it might actually be enough to tempt some hardcore Porsche enthusiasts to finally consider the Cayman 718 GT4 RS instead of a 911 GT3.
Conclusion
According to Porsche, these enhancements to the Cayman GT4 have made it the most uncompromising and sharpest member of the 718 family. In fact, Porsche brand ambassador, Jörg Bergmeister got round the famed Nürburgring in a Cayman GT4 in just 7:04.511 minutes, which is 23.6 seconds faster than the regular Cayman GT4.
With that, we’ll go as far as to say that the new 718 GT4 RS might be even better than a 911 GT3, considering how the Cayman is mid-engined, which should aid with better overall handling balance. Yes, Porsche has always hierarchically tried to protect the 911, but now with this latest GT4 RS, that gap is now smaller than ever.
