2019 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4/Spyder First Look
Peak output is 414 horsepower at 7600 rpm along with 309 lb-ft of torque from 5,000 to 6,800 revs and redline is at 8,000 rpm. A 6-speed manual is the only available gearbox and offers automatic rev-matching on downshifts, although the feature can be switched off. A mechanical limited-slip differential and Porsche Torque Vectoring also are standard. How fast are the new 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder? Porsche says the 0-to-60-mph time for the duo is 4.2 seconds, which is 0.2 second quicker than the six-speed-manual GTS but 0.3 second behind the GTS with its available PDK automatic. The Spyder and GT4 are comfortably ahead of the GTS in top speed, however, reaching 187 mph (Spyder) and 188 mph (GT4), versus 180 mph for the lesser model. The brakes are adopted from the 911 GT3, with standard iron rotors of 15.0 inches, with the fronts squeezed by 6-piston calipers and the rear by 4-piston units. Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake rotors are optional, their rotors measuring 16.1 inches and 15.4 inches front and rear, respectively. The standard 20-inch wheels are specific to these cars and are wrapped with ultra-high-performance Michelin or Dunlop rubber, size 245/35 front and 295/30 rear.
As on the GTS models, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is standard, but the ride height here has been further lowered, sitting 1.18 inches below that of the standard cars. The suspension includes adaptive dampers and helper springs in the rear axle, and offers adjustable camber, toe-in, and anti-roll bars. The traction control and stability control can be partially or fully switched off. Like past Boxster Spyders, the new 718 Spyder foregoes a power top in favor of a manual soft top with fabric flying buttresses, although the new car鈥檚 lid is said to be easier to operate. The restyled rear panel incorporates fairings similar to those on the new 911 Speedster, and a spoiler at the trailing edge of the rear lid extends automatically. The GT4 gets a manually adjustable rear wing, along with blade-like elements at the side air intakes. Both models have a deep front fascia with enlarged air intakes and a redesigned rear diffuser. Inside, fabric loops replace the door handles, the shift lever is shortened by 0.39 inch, and a smaller-diameter GT Sport steering wheel is standard (with a hash mark at 12 o鈥檆lock on the GT4).
Standard Sport Seats Plus have more pronounced side bolsters, while Full Bucket Seats or Adaptive Sport Seats Plus are optional. Alcantara is used on the seats鈥?center section, on the steering wheel, and on the shift lever. Contrast stitching is available in red, silver, or yellow. Brushed aluminum trim is standard in the GT4, while the Spyder gets body-color interior trim. The roadster can be optioned with the Spyder Classic Interior Package, which includes two-tone red and black leather, a red and black fabric top, silver interior trim, and additional Alcantara. Unlike previous versions, air conditioning is standard here, as is Porsche鈥檚 PCM infotainment system with Sound Package Plus鈥攁lthough navigation costs extra as does Apple CarPlay. How much do the 2020 Porsche Cayman GT4 and Spyder cost? These are the first Boxster and Cayman variants to land solidly in six-figure territory as equipped. 100k mark. But given the way these two cars are poised to push Porschephiles鈥?hot buttons, we suspect they will be undaunted.
Both cars tip the scales at 1420kg. In fact, the new GT4 is 90kg heavier than the last one thanks to a new particulate filter, start stop system and other ancillaries to make it future-proof. Porsche says that the GT4鈥檚 aerodynamic efficiency has gone up by 50 per thanks to an adjustable rear wing and a new rear diffuser. The 718 Spyder is also ahead of its predecessor thanks to the benefits of the new diffuser. Like its predecessor, the GT4 borrows its suspension and braking setup from the 911 GT3. Porsche also claims that the new GT4 will be 10 seconds quicker than the old version around the Nurburgring Nordschleife. The GT4 can also be opted with the Clubsport package which deletes the stereo and comes with a roll bar, six-point racing harnesses and a fire extinguisher. The styling remains more or less similar except for a few aerodynamic additions. 99,200 (Rs 67 lakh and Rs 69 lakh respectively, excluding taxes). Not exactly affordable, but this is a sacrifice we guess many are willing to make, especially the purists.
Since the 981-generation Boxster Spyder and Cayman GT4 launched, we鈥檝e been convinced that they were the greatest road car and greatest track car that Porsche had ever built, respectively. Sadly, they鈥檝e been holding their values too well for the likes of us writer types to purchase one. We are still holding out hope for someday. In the meantime, the 718 twins have launched and the Spyder/GT4 was discontinued. So that showed us that there is a specific market. The customer likes this kind of Cayman and Boxster, very sporty, very powerful expression. When we attended the 718鈥檚 launch, we asked about the potential of another 911-powered mid-engine sports car. We were told that the current Carrera S engine would not fit in the 718. The new 718 features a subframe with four motor mounts, and the current 6-cylinder is too large to fit in the engine compartment, as-is. However, the reasoning given included the 鈥渘ecessity鈥?of finding room for the 911鈥檚 turbocharger. Apparently, a naturally aspirated 6 will fit in there just fine. Achleitner continued, 鈥淪ix-cylinder turbocharged engine wouldn鈥檛 fit,鈥?he said. 鈥淣aturally-aspirated we have today, and most likely we will offer versions in the future, like GT4 for example. It is possible that our favorite line of mid-engine Porsches will return. Considering that the GT3 has recently moved to a 4-liter engine, it could be possible that we鈥檒l see a larger displacement engine. Perhaps with even more than the 420 horsepower found in the Carrera S. We would love to see a 450-horsepower GT4 come to fruition, especially with the naturally aspirated sound we love.