The 2019 Porsche Cayman GT4 Is Everything We鈥檝e Ever Wanted
At last, the all-new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 is here! For starters, it packs an all-new 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six. That鈥檚 right, in the era where only 10 percent of 911 variants are naturally aspirated, and 100 percent of the Cayman/Boxster lineup is turbocharged, the free-breathing Cayman GT4 (and its mechanically identical 2020 Boxster Spyder sibling) stands alone. The sublime first-gen GT4 pulled power from a 3.8-liter, 385-hp naturally aspirated six sourced from the 991.1 Carrera S, so there鈥檚 precedent for this 4.0-liter model. The lineage of the powertrain is a bit more muddled this time, though, as Porsche claims this is a completely new engine and not at all related to the wild 4.0-liter in the 991.2 GT3. Porsche tells us that this new powerplant is based on the 9A2 generation of engines that power the soon-to-be-replaced 991.2 Carreras. This is quite a leap from the regular 9A2, however, considering all 991.2s from base Carrera through Carrera GTS pack the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six.
At minimum, this new engine has had the turbos and attendant plumbing removed, its displacement enlarged by a full liter, and been packed with a new crankshaft, pistons, connecting rods, valvetrain, air intakes, and cylinder heads. Against this work, it was allegedly too costly and complex to make the GT3鈥檚 4.0-liter work here, which is hard to imagine. As to why the engineers in Flacht, where Porsche鈥檚 race cars and GT road cars are developed, stuck with natural aspiration, GT boss Andreas Preuninger says it鈥檚 sticking to its guns. There鈥檚 always a way and we will continue going the naturally aspirated route for GT cars. The right way is not always the easy way.鈥?Alright then. A total of 414 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque are sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission sourced from the current 718 GTS. Porsche admits it has future plans to bring the snappy PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox to the GT4, but for now, you鈥檒l need to shift it yourself or find another car. Performance is strong, with the zero-to-60-mph run taking just 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 188 mph.
There鈥檚 also a whole paddock鈥檚 worth of handling hardware to go along with the power. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with active dampers is standard, dropping the GT4 1.2 inches lower than the regular 718 Cayman. For the true track rats, the suspension allows for manual camber, toe, ride-height, and anti-roll-bar adjustments. Aesthetically, it鈥檚 a refreshed last-gen GT4, now wearing aggressive variations of the current 718 bodywork鈥攅ssentially what we pictured in our mind prior to its premiere. However, those good looks aren鈥檛 just for show; according to Preuninger, the updated rear wing and front diffuser help the car generate 50 percent more downforce than the last-gen model. It also doesn鈥檛 hurt that the wing and front diffuser are manually adjustable. We鈥檙e in love, but our bank accounts are bracing for impact. 16,000 jump over the previous car. Of course, this is also a more cohesive product, with more specific engineering and bespoke componentry. Order books are open now, with deliveries scheduled to begin next spring.
Junior coupe and roadster receive 420hp of six-cylinder power and manual gearbox. Is it still naturally aspirated? To the delight of driving enthusiasts, the new 718 Cayman GT4 still gets a naturally aspirated motor despite the rising use of turbocharging and electrification in other sports cars. But unlike the predecessor鈥檚 3.8-litre flat-six, the 718 Cayman GT4鈥檚 4.0-litre block is actually a bored-out version of the brand鈥檚 latest 3.0-litre unit, currently used in turbo form in the 911 family. This new 4.0-litre motor produces 420hp, revs to 8,000rpm and features adaptive cylinder control to allow for a 9.2kpl average. Like before, only a six-speed manual gearbox is available despite Porsche being greatly known for its intoxicating PDK twin-clutch automatic. The 0-100kph of 4.4sec remains unchanged. The open-top 718 Boxster also receives this 420hp sixer but is known as 718 Spyder. To cope with the increased levels of performance, both 718s have 30mm lower suspension than the regular models, which only use turbocharged flat-four engines in various power guises. The aerodynamics have also been honed for more downforce at speed.
While the 718 Cayman GT4 has that typical fixed rear spoiler, the 718 Spyder does with a pop-up variation located just behind those unique humps. How does it fare against the M2? If you mean the M2 Competition from BMW, the game is even. However, some driving purists may argue that the 718 Cayman GT4, like how Porsche has stressed in its press release, offers a truly unadulterated driving experience with its non-turbo engine, mid-engined layout and manual shiftstick. There鈥檚 a good chance that the BMW may take the game to the next level with a potential CS version of the front-engined M2 Competition boasting slightly more power and less weight to boost performance even further. And it鈥檚 here where Porsche might be keeping some cards up its sleeve. A PDK auto and Clubsport name for the 718 Cayman GT4 could instantly improve the acceleration time by a few tenths of a second.