Porsche Reveal 718 Cayman GT4 And Boxster Spyder
Porsche have today revealed two new models for its Porsche 718 range. The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and the Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder both shun the four-cylinder engine we have grown used to in favor of a brand new 4.0 liter flat six. Availability will be limited (we assume) and demand will be sky high. Sitting at the center of the package is a bored and adapted version of the 3.0 liter straight-six fitted to the Porsche 991 Carrera. Slightly larger than the version found in the previous generation GT4, it is more powerful. The power is not the only noteworthy statistic for the engine. It is also optimized for fuel efficiency, scoring a 10.9l/100 km rating under the NEDC. It gets adaptive cylinder control which closes off two cylinder banks to preserve fuel together with a gasoline particulate filter emission control system. Emissions are 249 g/km. Piezo injectors are used for the first time together with a variable intake system. The GT4鈥檚 aerodynamics are also of interest.
It features a net gain of 50% over the outgoing model whilst also offering reduced drag. It achieves the gains through a more compact rear silencer which in turn allows the redesigned diffuser to channel air more efficiently. The rear wing has also contributed by increasing its efficiency by as much as 20%. Being topless, the 718 Spyder is less aerodynamic. Porsche have also fitted a rear diffuser for the first time. The Boxster gets a fabric convertible top. Both cars feature the same chassis technology. Spring and strut front and rear axles combine with Porsche Active Suspension Management to provide the damping. Both cars sit 30 mm lower than the standard models. Porsche Stability Management has also been tweaked and works in conjunction with toque vectoring and a mechanical rear differential. A Clubsport package is also optional on the GT4. It combines a rear steel roll bar, hand-held fire extinguisher and six-point seatbelt suited to the race track. 100,450 for the Cayman GT4. Both cars are available to order immediately.
However, pretty much everything else will be new as the car will have more in common with a 911 than with a 718. The front suspension setup will likely be the same as that found in a GT3 RS. The rear suspension architecture on the other hand is expected to be shared with the 911 R. This would give the Cayman much bigger brakes than the regular model as well as a much more capable suspension setup. This would likely mean the car will corner faster and harder. The only real drawback would be the comfort of its passengers. Luckily, as the car won鈥檛 really be a commuter vehicle, this shouldn鈥檛 really be a problem. 55,000 and goes up from there. 100,000. This would make it the most expensive version of the car but it should still be worth it considering the performance it will be able to offer. Unfortunately it still is unclear as to when Porsche will release the car.
Chances are they鈥檒l reveal it in the next couple of months and the car should go on sale shortly after. The current 718 models boast either a 2.0 or a 2.5 liter flat-four turbocharged engine. The upcoming GT4 RS will change that. Just like its predecessor, the car will feature a 4.0 liter naturally aspirated flat-six engine which can also be found in the GT3 RS. While the specifics are still unknown, most rumors seem to suggest an output of right around 500 horsepower and over 370 lb-ft of torque. Even though this doesn鈥檛 sound like all that much, the car would weigh less than 3,000 pounds. It would also mean the Cayman would get an engine that will rev up to nearly 9,000 RPM. This will likely make it one of the most thrilling cars to drive on the market. Despite what some suggested, it is unlikely for the car to feature an automatic. Instead, Porsche will likely use their great 6 speed manual which will only drive the rear wheels via a limited slip differential. The camouflaged prototype of the 2018 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS we have seen a while back seemed pretty much ready to go.