Porsche Unveils New 718 Cayman GT4 And Spyder
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.
Adaptive cruise control and blind spot warning aren鈥檛 standard on the 911 Turbo S, and features like autonomous braking with pedestrian warning and lane keep assist are simply not offered. The screen in the 911 is low-resolution and looks dated. It鈥檚 easy enough to use, but the display is clearly an afterthought compared to the rest of the car. This seems to be fixed for 2020, as the next-generation 911 will feature a larger, high-resolution screen that uses the same multimedia system found in Porsche鈥檚 more recent offerings. My other qualm with the system is that it doesn鈥檛 offer Android Auto connectivity (though it does feature Apple CarPlay). Those two seats in the back are vestigial organs 鈥?not even children will fit back there, and the seats act more like a glorified storage area than a place to put humans. Let鈥檚 dispense with the charade, give it upholstery that鈥檚 more conducive to hauling and just call that space what it is 鈥?a good spot to put a jacket or backpack while you zoom from place to place. Cars.com鈥檚 Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com鈥檚 long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don鈥檛 accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com鈥檚 advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
80,000-plus or more car should have some outstanding quality that makes that expenditure feel justified. However improved or formidable, the Cayenne in the base trim doesn鈥檛. The Cayenne will be more than enough SUV for most buyers. Porsche will sell a number of them. The cachet from that Porsche emblem alone will keep many Cayenne customers happy. It better, because they are paying a steep premium for it. Verdict: The Cayenne is a proper Porsche. It鈥檚 top notch engineering. It performs just about every task well. It will be more than enough for most buyers. 90,000 car, SUV or no, should give you the giggles. It should have one exceptional quality that excites you about spending that much money. 鈥?鈥淚t took Porsche 53 years to sell a million 911s. Porsche has sold 770,000 Cayennes in the 15 years since it was launched in 2002, and the millionth will probably be built in about three years.