New Porsche 718 Boxster GTS, Cayman GTS Are Here; Are Surprisingly Reasonable
Follow us on this one Porsche fanatics. On Tuesday, Porsche announced the 2018 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS and 2018 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS models complete with a handful of upgrades, including a slightly more powerful 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-4 that makes 365 horsepower. 82,950 for the Cayman GTS. For that kind of money, the GTS comes equipped with a 6-speed manual, 20-inch wheels, sport seats, and Porsche's Sport Chrono package, which is a gateway for more smile-inducing performance options such as torque vectoring and a mechanical rear differential. If, over the past few years, you've found yourself spending hours on Porsche's online configurator like we have, you'll agree: Porsche is faster at emptying wallets than they are on the streets sometimes. Perhaps we've hit "peak Porsche," or perhaps Porsche has found some common sense because in the case of the 2018 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS, the starting price seems somewhat reasonable. 3,000 by just asking Porsche to "make mine a GTS." That even skips the added horsepower (15 hp) over the base model鈥攃all that value added. That makes the GTS a relative deal among 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster models. 40 keychain: save money by sticking with the base model. If your idea of a Boxster or Cayman involves a canyon corner or 318鈥攑erhaps you live next to the Tail of the Dragon? 鈥攁 GTS is a fine pick.
But what about BMW? Well, BMW wished to build autos in the United States, and did not want to build the same autos it built in Germany as that would increase costs. So it decided to build a racer for the US market, although it would be marketed elsewhere. At that time there was more potential volume for a boulevard cruiser sort of two-seater than an out-and-out sports car in the United States, so the BMW Z3 was born. It was a rather tall car for a sports auto, and though a hardtop was offered, it looked peculiar, making the car look even taller than it was. Because Porsche makes flat-six engines, it can easily produce engines of different capacities from 2.7 to 3.8 liters, and many parts are shared by all of them. But when it comes to the choice between the Z4 and Cayman coupes,you will be influenced by which one looks better. Though the Z4 looks miles better than the Z3 it does have some quirky lines, which don't appeal to everybody, and the coupe is no better. The Cayman has the customarily slick Porsche lines, with a long tail and built-in spoiler which looks good. On the road performance is not much different, and both have super engines and gearboxes, but they don't do things in quite the same way. The Cayman is a superbly balanced vehicle that may be driven fast with confidence, but if you need to hang the tail out, the Z4 might be more to your liking. Both are great sports automobiles, and will give you a lot of fun. What else should you consider? Nissan's 350Z is also quite a vehicle, with a lusty V-6, the Mercedes-Benz 350 SLK 350 and new Audi TT are also worth having a look at.
We could see the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 break cover at Goodwood. It鈥檚 been a while since we鈥檝e caught a prototype of the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4. Now that the track-only 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport has been revealed, it seems like only a matter of time before the covers come off the road-going GT4. Our spy photographers have snapped some photos of the new GT4 being put through its paces at the Nurburgring, and it looks practically production-ready. All it鈥檚 missing is are Porsche badges at the front and rear. Compared to our last sighting of the GT4, the front bumper and diffusor are devoid of camouflage, giving us a clear look at the range-topping 718 Cayman, which will likely be produced in limited numbers. The only change we're expecting to see on the production model is the headlights being replaced with Porsche's LED units. In terms of styling, the GT4 looks more aggressive than the GTS thanks to larger intakes in the front fascia, a fixed rear wing, and a prominent diffuser.
The dual exhausts are also wider apart than on the GTS. If the recently-revealed 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport is anything to go by, the road car will be powered by a 3.8-liter naturally-aspirated flat six. In the Clubsport, the engine produces 419 hp and 313 lb-ft of torque, with rumors suggesting the road-going GT4 will have around 400 hp. Like the Clubsport, the Cayman GT4 will initially only be available with a six-speed manual, but an optional dual-clutch gearbox is expected to be offered later. The interior won鈥檛 be as barebones as the Clubsport, but thinner glass and fewer luxuries will help shed some weight. Recent spy shots also suggest a wingless Porsche Cayman Touring is on the horizon, which will likely launch after the standard GT4. As for when the Porsche Cayman GT4 will break cover, rumors suggest it will debut at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, but it could be revealed online sooner.