It can be a complete monitor rat.
Porsche
A person of my most loved automotive conspiracy theories is that Porsche intentionally holds the Cayman back to shield the sanctity of the 911. It truly is so silly. And right after hitting the monitor in the new GT4 RS, I have to check with: How could a Cayman get much better than this?
The RS is way more than just a hotter GT4, and we truly have the 911 to thank for significantly of this updo. Porsche included the front end from a 991-generation 911 Carrera 4S into the GT4’s overall body framework, assisting to make the RS much more rigid, but also permitting it to be fitted with an digital front-axle elevate — one thing no other Cayman offers. The RS’ hood and front fenders are designed from carbon fiber, and the air vents in the wheel wells are wonderful for both of those aerodynamics and brake cooling, as well as they glance rad as heck. Ditto the side air ducts that exchange the Cayman’s rear quarter windows.
People side ducts feed a 4.-liter obviously aspirated flat-6 motor, but it can be not the same 1 utilised in the Cayman GT4. The RS gets the motor from the 992-generation 911 GT3 — by itself a model of the powerplant utilized in the 911 GT3 Cup race vehicle — which places out 493 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. Of course, it really is not the numerical specs that actually subject listed here. The linear energy shipping and delivery screamin’ 9,000-rpm redline are what make this engine these kinds of a peach. Blend that with facet air intakes and the audio the detail would make at full wail is amazing.
You can only get the Cayman GT4 RS with Porsche’s 7-velocity PDK twin-clutch gearbox, and it has the exact same tuning as the transmission used in the most latest 911 GT3 RS. The shifter is the same fake-handbook stick from the new GT3, and there are tiny paddles on the steering wheel if you come to feel like calling the photographs. But lapping California’s restricted and complex Streets of Willow race track (in counterclockwise configuration, no fewer!), I hardly ever have the burnin’ want to choose around shifting duties. PDK is familiar with finest.
The Porsche 718 chassis is one particular of the most effective out there, and it only receives greater as you climb the Cayman hierarchy. The RS has special dampers and noticeably stiffer spring costs, both of those a boon for pancake-flat dealing with, but which will very likely make this issue to some degree brutal on general public roads. (It truly is an RS, what did you hope?) The retuned suspension indicates the RS sits 1.2 inches lessen to the ground than a foundation Cayman, hunkered down on 20-inch center-locking wheels wrapped in 245/35 front and 295/30 rear Michelin Pilot Activity Cup 2 tires. Like the 911 GT3, supersticky Cup 2 R rubbers are available, even though Porsche can make you get by way of the supplier, not the factory.
The RS has bigger brakes than a frequent GT4 (carbon ceramics are optional) and it has a big swan-neck wing, as properly. You can brake late going into corners and scrub off velocity promptly, recognizing the RS’ aero tricks won’t bring about the front finish to dive or the rear end to shimmy through hard stops. This is amazing for coming down the hill on to what would ordinarily be Streets’ entrance straightaway, and braking challenging as you enter the skid pad for a sharp remaining toward Transform 1.
Go on, stay a very little.
Porsche
The RS is not so a great deal sharper than the typical GT4 as it is extra keen, intense and playful. It benefits speedy reflexes and fearless corner entry speeds, and it doesn’t arrive with rear-axle steering to assist tuck in that rump. A mechanical restricted-slip differential with Porsche’s torque-vectoring tech manages electric power amongst the rear wheels, and it does so brilliantly, hardly ever succumbing to oversteer or sloppiness need to you get on the ability a little early even though exiting a convert. Elevated rear camber assists with balance, and definitely, the Cup 2 R tires ought to have some credit history, also.
Porsche suggests the RS is 49 lbs . lighter than an equivalent Cayman GT4 with PDK, for a ultimate control excess weight of 3,227 lbs. That’s seriously light by fashionable sports car or truck requirements — specifically contemplating the massive-displacement flat-6 ballast. You can lower bodyweight by an added 22 lbs . if you spec the magnesium cast wheels that you see on this check car, which search unquestionably killer painted in optional Indigo Blue. On their have, these wheels are a $15,640 update, nevertheless you can only get them if you add the $13,250 Weissach Deal, technically making them a $28,890 choice. This is the place wherever I might generally throw in a “yikes” for impact, but Porsche tells me 95% of the people today who preordered the GT4 RS went for the Weissach, and 80% of these picked the magnesium wheels. Good.
You truly can come to feel a big difference with the Weissach package, largely mainly because the magnesium wheels decrease unsprung pounds at just about every corner. Convert-in is a tiny sharper and the steering wheel feels much more energetic in your fingers. If that’s worth $28,890 to you, then hey, by all signifies. Other Weissach goodies contain uncovered carbon fiber on some body panels and motor bits, Porsche lettering on the rear window and titanium tailpipes that flip an brilliant blue-purple when they are incredibly hot.
Seems like a guide but it is actually an automatic. The GT4 RS gets the exact same shifter as the new 911 GT3.
Porsche
Heading for the Weissach also provides Race-Tex suede on the dashboard, one of the several discrepancies amongst the RS and non-RS interiors. Matte carbon fiber trim lines the front of the dash and the centre console, and you get a yellow center marker on the steering wheel that matches the colour of the gear sample on the shifter. The single-piece carbon-fiber seats are like the kinds in other Porsches, supportive and rough to get in and out of as at any time. I am going to mention the 7-inch coloration touchscreen and Apple CarPlay (but not Android Automobile) integration mainly because I kind of have to, but no just one getting a GT4 RS will treatment about that stuff in any way.
The initial spherical of GT4 RS coupes will get there in North The usa later on this yr, priced from $143,050 such as $1,350 for spot. Optioned to the hilt with the Weissach pack, magnesium wheels, entrance-axle elevate, ceramic brakes, a Bose audio procedure and lots of tiny styling tweaks, the Arctic Gray motor vehicle pictured below expenditures $195,190, which is form of wild. Then once more, the RS additional than punches earlier mentioned its excess weight, and Porsche will provide each and every solitary one particular it can make, so who cares?
The GT4 RS is the top expression of what the Porsche 718 Cayman can be, and it in no way feels like its wings have been clipped to permit some thing like the 911 GT3 to fly larger. It’s an immensely able, hilariously entertaining minor monitor rat that stands out as a little something actually unique. 10 out of 10, 5 stars, no notes.