Porsche has released the new, ultimate Cayman that aims to wipe the floor with the previous ultimate Cayman, the GT4, with an even more powerful GT4 RS version.
We know Porsche for their obsession with precise engineering and having as much options as they can for their models. The 911 model we all know and love is almost 60 years old now and Porsche has produced so many versions of it that it would take hours to list all of them. That is what is loved about Porsche though, they build versions for every budget and driving preference, and thankfully, not only their variety of versions still continue until this day, they release numerous versions of other models as well and the Cayman, the baby 911, got this treatment most recently.
The Cayman had numerous versions like the base model, the S, the R, and more recently, the GT4 and GTS. But Porsche, being Porsche, thought that this simply isn’t enough, especially considering that the RS moniker is used extensively on the 911 model for the top-gun track monsters, so a bit of a brainwave was all it took for them to come up with an even faster model than the GT4, the ultimate track toy Cayman, the GT4 RS.
The new GT4 RS, based on the 718 Cayman platform, feature extensive usage of carbon fiber with the Weissach package which costs $13,250 as an optional extra. The huge rear wing swan-neck design ensure the best downforce a Cayman could ever get, which certainly looks much more focused and serious than the GT4. Thanks to all the extra spice of the aero, the GT4 RS generates 220 pounds of downforce at 124 miles per hour. The aero lunacy continues on the bonnet, featuring NACA air intakes which aims for optimum temperature for the massive brakes which are bigger and 22 kilograms lighter than the brakes of the GT4. As always, carbon ceramic brakes are offered as optional extras, costing $8,000. Following the stellar braking performance, Porsche also added louvres to the front fenders to cool the wheel arches as well. Besides the cooling perks to help aero, the cooling of the engine is completely revamped as well. We should also mention the optional magnesium rims which are 9 kilograms lighter than the standard rims. The rapid Cayman comes with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R high-performance tires as standard.
Porsche is famous (or rather, infamous, you’re the one to judge) for having a huge list of optional extras for all customers, but the extras certainly make sense in the new GT4 RS, since Weissach package offers a huge weight reduction on a car that already weighs as heavy as a feather. Now, to complete the recipe for the perfect Cayman track toy, Porsche used the 911 GT3’s 4.0L 6-cylinder boxer engine which produces 493 HP and 448nm of torque, which is 79 HP and 19nm more than the GT4, but the party piece of this hell of an engine is definitely that it can rev all the way to 9000 rpm like its big brother 911 GT3. The engine also has individual throttle valves for each cylinder, ensuring immediate throttle response and power. Such a massive power, combined with the extensive weight diet, allows the GT4 RS to accelerate from 0 to 60 in just 3.4 seconds, a considerable upgrade to GT4’s 3.7 seconds recorded by Porsche themselves.
Besides the aero and the state of the art engine, the airbox has been moved to the interior to allow for better air flow and a new air filter gives the Cayman an aggressive, growly voice. Furthermore, the intake ducts in the interior also allow the driver to hear the roar of the engine better allowing the driver to feel how they should feel in a Porsche track toy, as if they’re in a race car like the 911 RSR. Further enchantments include the 7-speed PDK transmission which is lifted from the 991.2 GT3 RS, a limited-slip differential from the 991.2 GT3 with a manual gearbox. The result of all the recipes combined is an unmatched driving experience akin to other track monsters like the GT3 and GT2 RS, allowing the driver to be brave enough to get it sideways yet protect them from losing grip and crashing, so long as you’re not as clumsy as Richard Hammond, of course.
We’re simply in love with the Cayman GT4 RS. We already love how Cayman GT4 looks and sounds, but we have known that Porsche would release an even more berserk version of Porsche’s one of the best-selling models besides the 911. The Cayman GT4 RS costs $143,050 (£109,192) excluding the Weissach pack. Without the optional extras, the GT4 RS is $21,100 less than the starting price of a 911 GT3, which is a great value considering the performance that’s quite similar to the GT3. The price with all optional extras including the Weissach package, the magnesium rims and the carbon-ceramic brakes is $171,940 (£131,289), which sounds a little too excessive for a Cayman and illustrates Porsche’s obsession with must-have but slightly overpriced extras. If you’re a keen Cayman driver and have your pockets full with green though, it’s definitely worth getting the best track day Cayman you can buy today.
