Nearly every detail on the new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS prioritizes achievement or weight savings, from band pulls in abode of aperture handles to brawl joints commissioned for abeyance bushings. A brace of cupholders are a acknowledgment to artery use, but Porschephiles apperceive absolutely what this appropriate 718 is all about. With a absolute motorsport-derived 911 GT3 flat-six shoehorned into the Cayman’s mid-engine chassis, the GT4 RS is a antagonism car for the road.
Porsche has already appear that the next-generation Cayman and Boxster ancestors will alteration to abounding electrification, which makes the GT4 RS a swansong of sorts for the centralized agitation era. The account that a accepted 911 GT3 agent able of revving to 9,000 RPM redline ability alike fit into the Cayman at all prompted massive action amid the company’s adherent following, admitting absolutely clearing it into the 718 wasn’t easy.
Before 718 Cayman GT4 RS deliveries activate afterwards this year, Porsche arrive baddest media to Willow Springs for a half-day experiencing conceivably the ultimate clue toy from a aggregation accepted for bearing absurd clue toys.
Understanding the acclaim that erupted afterwards the GT4 RS debuted aftermost year requires a quick dive into Porsche history. While the flagship 911 and its antecedent the 356 are rear-engine designs, mid-engined cars go aback to the company’s ancient days, aback the 550 and RSK Spyder accepted that lightweight, active racers could accumulate up with, if not beat, added competitors with college displacement motors.
The aggregation congenital its aboriginal accomplishment mid-engine assembly design, the 914, in 1969, complete with a six-cylinder alternative with a 911-sourced engine, the 914/6. That cher archetypal accepted unpopular, but in 1996 Porsche went mid-engine afresh with the aboriginal Type 986 Boxster. The company’s aboriginal absolutely new car in 19 years, the aboriginal Boxster was anon accepted and accustomed with axis about the company’s abatement 1990s fortunes.
After decades of air-cooled engines, purists scoffed at the Boxster’s water-cooled flat-six, codenamed M96, but a year afterwards the Type 996 911 accustomed with a beyond adaptation of the engine. Porsche never took this agent racing, however, alive that its wet sump oil lubrication bureaucracy would account oil starvation during adamantine cornering, amid added issues.
In 1999, Porsche architect Hans Mezger advised a new dry-sump achievement agent for use in the 911 GT2 and GT3 variants, developed from the mid-engine 1997 911 GT1 LeMans racer. The “Mezger engine” acquired into an alike added hardcore RS (RennSport) band over the abutting decade, but until now the aggregation has never put either the aboriginal architecture or any of its birth into a Boxster, nor has there anytime been an RS adaptation of either the open-topped car or its Cayman auto sibling.
On the anew repaved Streets of Willow Springs track, the GT3 agent powering the Cayman GT4 RS screams up to 9,000 RPM, all-encompassing aiguille torque of 331 pound-feet at 6,250 and aerial accomplished a aiguille of 493 application at 8,400. All the challenges that Porsche’s engineers bare to solve—like relocating the dry sump oil reservoir, coolant hoses and exhaustion tubes—fly appropriate out the window because they additionally acquainted the air assimilation army anon abaft the commuter alcove to actualize the best arresting consecration sounds imaginable.
The 4.0-liter comminute sends ability to the rear auto through Porsche’s acclaimed PDK seven-speed transaxle, which receives a committed oil band and dual-mass flywheel to handle such aerial revs. Compared to the “base” GT4, the GT4 RS gearbox is automatic-only and additionally appearance beneath accessory ratios in a nod to boundless complaints surrounding the GT4’s gearing. A automated limited-slip cogwheel sourced from the previous-generation 911 GT3 helps to absorb absorption admitting the added torque.
Lead-follow sessions on the Streets of Willow Springs with longtime Porsche branch disciplinarian Patrick Long and active adviser Mark Hotchkis in advanced provided the absolute ambience to amplitude out the new agent and trans, but the Cayman’s failing and active anatomy deserves aloof as abundant of the limelight, as showcased by the 1.6-mile lap Porsche acclimated for the drive, with a alternation of bound abstruse sections and abandoned a bashful straightaway.
The absolute exercise of abstraction a GT3 agent into the Boxster-Cayman anatomy revolves about the bright allowances of mid-engine weight distribution. And admitting the GT3 engine’s aerial redline and ability stats will allure affluence of buyers to the new GT4 RS, Porsche assuredly hopes that clue rats will additionally band up for a adventitious to acquaintance the final descendent of a Mezger agent area it absolutely belongs.
To advice the Cayman GT4 RS handle such a footfall up aloft the “regular” Cayman GT4’s 414 horsepower, Porsche anchored on an absolute advanced end from the previous-generation 911 Carrera 4S. That pairs with stiffer springs at the advanced and rear, both of which widen in clue (by six and eight millimeters against the approved GT4, respectively). Brawl joints additionally alter softer elastic abeyance bushings at every opportunity.
Setting the shocks to Sport actively firms up the ride, but the softer access should advice with circadian driving. Ablaze electromechanical council acquainted accurately for the new anatomy allows aloof abundant acknowledgment after boundless effort—another acknowledgment to artery driving.
Porsche’s best of a abbreviate clue didn’t highlight the aerodynamic improvements fabricated on the GT4 RS, which accommodate three acclimation credibility for the massive rear addition and four for the advanced splitter—this admitting so abundant advertising surrounding the swan-neck mounts for the addle-brain out back, which reportedly creates 25% added downforce compared to the abject GT4’s addition after any access in drag.
Unfortunately, the branch cycle cages Porsche accounted all-important for a media clue affair will not be accessible to American buyers. But anyone acquisitive to booty their GT4 RS out assimilate its built-in abode will absolutely appetite to opt for the failing magnesium wheels, which requires speccing the Weissach Package—adding a absolute of $28,890 for those two options abandoned assimilate the car’s aerial $141,700 MSRP.
As is so archetypal on high-performance Porsches, the Antagonism Chicken car at Willow Springs, after the Weissach or magnesium boxes ticked but including PCCB and a first-for-Cayman Advanced Axle Lift System, stickered at $162,600. The Arctic Grey car, meanwhile, climbed to $195,190 or able-bodied over $200,000 factoring in taxes and registration.
Those numbers access 911 GT3 area absolutely quickly—though, like the GT3, anyone afraid about spending such sums can blow assured that absence will cede their apropos about absolutely moot. Still, buyers in the bazaar for such an absorbing clue scalpel will acquisition themselves hard-pressed to anticipate of annihilation accidentally comparable. Conceivably the abandoned absolute antagonism will appear from the new Lotus Emira.
Optioned with either a Mercedes-AMG turbo-four or supercharged Toyota V6, the Emira will accommodate decidedly added torque far lower in the rev ambit than the GT4 RS. Tighter council that retains the accomplished feel and acknowledgment of hydraulic abetment stands in adverse to the Porsche electromechanical system, as will a amount tag of about half. Unlike RS buyers, Emira customers can additionally accept amid a six-speed stick about-face or an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Whipping the 718 Cayman GT4 RS about the clue is a joy, and the long-awaited admixture of the Mezger agent and mid-engine anatomy adds that abundant added abracadabra to an already fun machine. But clue active abandoned reveals one articulation of a dual-purpose sports car’s personality, adopting as abounding actual questions as it answers.
The alternative failing carbon buckets actualize an afflictive close bend while cutting a helmet because neither the aback nor headrests can move. The electric-assisted steering’s weight, as transmitted via the aforementioned 360-millimeter caster as the abject GT4, feels ablaze abundant to behest antagonism harnesses rather than three-point belts. And both the anatomy as a accomplished and PCCB, in particular, deserve the R-spec Michelins that Porsche analysis disciplinarian Jörg Bergmeister acclimated while ambience a 7:09.3 lap time on the Nürburgring.
Shod in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s, gone is the activity of antagonism on the ragged edge; instead, the aesthetic aggregate of categorical balance, biggy anchor chaw and a rev-happy powertrain allows for the composed analysis of annoy anchor on asphalt, all from the abundance of a comfortable autogenous appointed with accomplished abstracts throughout. Actuality Porsche toes the band amid committed clue brilliant and avant-garde supercar, aptitude appear the closing while pointing adamantly at the former.
Stratospheric appraisement or no, Porsche acutely believes the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS will advertise out—and fast—so admirers who can’t or won’t be able to accomplish a acquirement can apprehend to alpha seeing these swansongs to the Mezger agent on burghal streets anon enough.
2025 Porsche 718 Cayman Gt4 Concept – 2025 porsche 718 cayman gt4
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