2019 Porsche 718 Cayman S Review: Brave New Turbocharged World
In the world of sports car design the mid-engine layout is king, which makes the 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman S one of the reigning blue-bloods of the high performance niche. Perfectly balanced, and from a certain perspective affordably priced, the Cayman family of compact coupes has given Porsche a strong throne from which to command its sub-911 empire. That鈥檚 not to say that there haven鈥檛 been changes afoot for Porsche鈥檚 purebred. As concerned as the company is about heritage, it also possesses a very German capability for balancing tradition with its own evolution - particular as examined from an engineering perspective. This is, after all, an automaker that made the reluctant jump to water-cooled engines in the 911 while resolutely leaving them hanging out over the tail of the car to continue their taunting of the laws of physics. So it goes with the 2017 edition of the Porsche 718 Cayman, which has swapped the silky sewing machine sounds of its cadre of flat-six motors for the CAFE-pleasing brap of turbocharged four-cylinder units.
This is one of those rare cases where less truly is more, at least from a power perspective, as the turbo engines boost their way past the original sixes both on paper and when objectively measured with a stopwatch. Still, the Cayman is widely considered - and I count myself as a holder of this opinion - to be a rare example of the 鈥榩erfect鈥?sports car, so any alterations to the formula tend to be greeted with suspicion. The Porsche 718 Cayman S displays two unmistakable tells that it鈥檚 dropped a pair of cylinders in favor of a more efficient layout. The first is sound: turn the key and you鈥檙e no longer greeted with a reassuring mechanical clatter directly behind your head, but rather the distinct sensation that you鈥檝e just fired up a burbling Subaru WRX. Or is that a Volkswagen GTI? It鈥檚 not so much an unpleasant sound, and Porsche has worked hard to massage its rougher edges with its pleasing sport exhaust feature, but it鈥檚 definitely off-menu for longtime Porsche fans.
Then there鈥檚 the power delivery of the Cayman S鈥?2.5-liter motor. With 350 horses and 309 lb-ft of torque on tap, the Porsche鈥檚 3.6-second 0-60-mph time is fantastic, and roughly a half-second quicker than it was the year before thanks to its newfound muscle. In some ways, the shift to turbocharging currently underway almost across the board at Porsche feels like a lateral move more than a let-down or improvement of the breed. 67,700 (base MSRP for the S). That the Porsche 718 Cayman S is a truly excellent car is not up for debate. Whether the soundtrack it has to offer is on par with the blood-curdling roar of a Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport鈥檚 V8 or the carefully-autotuned chaos emitted by the tailpipes of the Jaguar F-Type S is another matter entirely. The Cayman S has certainly won my mind, but the 718 wasn鈥檛 quite capable of dislodging last year鈥檚 more visceral 3.4-liter model from my heart.
Porsche鈥檚 718 Cayman and Boxster received the GTS treatment for 2018, but this doesn't represent the end of the performance road for Porsche's entry-level sports car. The German sports car marque is currently working on the next rung up the ladder, the new 718 Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder. Previously thought to be arriving for 2019鈥攊nstead we got the tamer 718 Cayman and Boxster T鈥攖he Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder should now arrive for 2020, meaning a debut can't be far. Shown here is a prototype for the Cayman GT4, or possibly a more extreme Cayman GT4 RS. We've also spied the Boxster Spyder in recent months. The standard Boxster and Cayman are fitted exclusively with turbocharged flat-4 engines, but the more potent versions are expected to run naturally aspirated flat-6 engines, just like their predecessors. That鈥檚 the word of Porsche engineer August Achleitner, who headed 718 and 911 development prior to retiring late last year. The last Cayman GT4, introduced for 2016, came with a 3.8-liter flat-6 good for 385 horsepower.
There are rumors this new one will come with more than 400 hp. The latest 718 Cayman GT4 race car is running a 3.8-liter flat-6 good for 425 hp. What isn鈥檛 so clear is whether there will be a dual-clutch transmission available this time, though the option is rumored to be coming. The last Cayman GT4 was offered exclusively with a manual. Expect the 0-60 mph time to dip below 4.0 seconds and the top speed to lie somewhere above 180 mph. The last Cayman GT4 would hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and top out at 183 mph. Other upgrades will include lowered suspension, a more aggressive aero kit with larger intakes, plus uprated brakes and sharpened steering. We can also see that the exhaust tips have been moved away from the center of the rear bumper, like on the last Cayman GT4, and more toward the outer flanks. There's also a much bigger rear wing fitted to the latest testers. Production will be limited, so if you鈥檙e interested in parking one on your driveway you better start cozying up to your local Porsche dealer. These special editions typically sell out fast, and the new Cayman GT4, like its predecessor, will likely turn out to be a true collector's car. This will especially be true if Porsche goes ahead with plans currently being discussed about converting the 718 line to electric power.