2019 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Looks Right At Home At The Green Hell
The Cayman GT4 was a storming success for Porsche, and work is well underway on its second generation that is based on the latest 718 Cayman. Filmed here testing at the Nurburgring, it is pretty obvious that Porsche isn鈥檛 messing about with its latest track-tuned sports car. Not only does the 718 Cayman GT4 look even more impressive than the first-generation model, but it鈥檚 also bound to be quicker and sounds even better. Information about the new Cayman GT4 is limited, but according to reports it will feature either a 3.8- or 4.0-liter flat-six. No matter its capacity, it will be a naturally aspirated unit, in stark contrast to lesser 718 Cayman and Boxster models that come with turbocharged engines. The vehicle鈥檚 911 GT3-sourced mill will allegedly be de-tuned to roughly 420 hp so as not to tread on its bigger, and more expensive, sibling鈥檚 toes. The Cayman GT4 will initially be sold exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission that features an automatic rev-matching function, which is what this prototype seems to be sporting. For buyers who aren鈥檛 hell-bent on a stick shift, Porsche will also offer a PDK transmission at some stage. Like its predecessor (and all 718s, for that matter), power will be sent exclusively to the rear wheels. Not only will the Cayman GT4 have more power than all other Cayman variants, it will also weigh less, as it could drop as much as 110 lbs (50 kg) of weight. This should allow it to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in approximately 4 seconds and max out at 185 mph (297 km/h).
Of more significance, the ingredients for the GTS version of the Cayman have always been appealing. The objective is to create the most thrilling 718 Cayman yet. In the model鈥檚 range, the GTS is currently the flagship, above the standard and S models. 鈥楥urrently鈥?because the last Cayman and Boxster were expanded with GT4 and Spyder versions; new 718 equivalents are expected to arrive next year. It鈥檚 a quick car: 0-62mph takes 4.6 seconds with the manual. But if drivers pick the PDK and used launch control, that drops to 4.1 seconds, which means you鈥檙e getting a car as fast as a Ferrari F40 for a fraction of the price. Talking of the price, the manual model costs from 拢59,866.00 and the PDK from 拢62,169.00. That sees it rubbing shoulders with cars like the BMW M4 Competition Package (拢62,080), Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic P340 (拢57,765) and even Audi鈥檚 RS version of the TT (拢52,450). It all sounds so appealing, doesn鈥檛 it? Unfortunately, it鈥檚 the precisely the sound of this car that leaves you wondering where Porsche鈥檚 engineers went wrong.
Like many Porsche fans, we still haven鈥檛 forgiven the company for replacing the naturally aspirated, flat-six cylinder engine of the previous generation model. The 718, by comparison, sounds like a loud fart, and at certain points in the engine鈥檚 rev range, there is some distinctly unpleasant noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). In the Cayman 718 GTS, that is only exacerbated by the sports exhaust. Simply put, all it does is make an unpleasant noise louder. This means you aren鈥檛 inclined to work the engine through the rev range as though your life depended on it. Rather, you make use of the low-down torque provided by the turbocharger. You might as well be driving a diesel. Happily, the rest of the package sees the GTS redeem itself as far as possible. This remains one of the sweetest-steering, best-handling sports cars on a race track. And it鈥檚 quick. Work your way past some initial turbo lag and the engine comes alive from 4,000rpm, surging toward the rev counter鈥檚 7,400rpm red line with gusto. Unfortunately, I wasn鈥檛 on a race track. I was on the road, where the majority of buyers of this car would spend the majority of their time. Whereas in something like the lighter, more malleable Alpine A110, you can have fun on the road almost all of the time, because the level of grip from its skinny-ish tyres makes it enjoyable at sane speeds. The shock verdict, then: between the 718 Cayman GTS and the Alpine, it鈥檚 the French car that I鈥檇 sell my grandmother to own (sorry Gran). The previous generation Cayman GTS was sublime.
Porsche has unveiled the new 718 Cayman at the Beijing Motor Show. The new Cayman will be the second model in the 718 range, which takes its name from the Porsche sports cars of the 1950s and 1960s. The 718 Cayman is powered by a new, mid-mounted turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. The entry level 718 Cayman produces 296bhp, and can reportedly hit 62mph in 4.7seconds and 170mph flat out. The 718 Porsche gets a new brake system, with 330mm discs at the front and 299mm at the rear. On the Cayman S these are linked to four-piston calipers. The chassis system has been revised, with firmer springs, anti-roll bars and retuned dampers. The rear wheels have been made wider and the steering is 10 percent more direct for better handling performance. Porsche Torque Vectoring (the electronic limited-slip diff), Sport Chrono and PASM are all available for an added premium. Sport Chrono now features a wheel-mounted dial with 4 modes: Normal, Sport, Sport plus and Individual.