Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Revealed: A true driver’s car

More than 3 years since the 718 Cayman first debuted with its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, Porsche has now unveiled the new 718 Cayman GT4 and it’s exactly what we wished it would be.

It has a 4.0-litre, NATURALLY ASPIRATED, flat-six engine mated to a 6-speed MANUAL transmission. I said it out loud as I typed it and it gave me a fair bit of the ‘fizz’. This engine is tuned to an output of 414bhp and 420Nm and it can rev all the way up to 8000rpm. The new Cayman GT4 is more powerful with more torque and can reach 100kph from a standstill in just 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 304kph.

As its name would suggest, it has a GT chassis with a bunch of aerodynamic elements at play, like that cool wing. This performance-oriented chassis is tuned for cornering dynamics with lightweight spring strut front and rear axles using race tech, 30mm lower suspension, a more responsive PSM system and Porsche Torque Vectoring with mechanical rear differential lock. The GT4’s aero bits like the wing, front lip spoiler and air curtains add more downforce without too much additional drag. That rear diffuser may not be the prettiest or coolest, but it accounts for 30% of the downforce on the rear axle. It also gets a high-performance brake system and large aluminium monobloc fixed-calliper brakes with ceramic brakes as an option.

Is the new Porsche Cayman GT4 prettier than the last one? Debatable. Is it faster? Yes. It’s more than 10 seconds faster around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Definitely faster.

But wait! There’s more. Alongside the 718 Cayman GT4, we have the new 718 Spyder. It’s got the same wonderful naturally-aspirated flat-six engine with the manual gearbox and now you can enjoy the sound of revving up to 8000rpm without any roof in the way. This is one of the few soft-top convertibles I would like. The 718 Spyder is NOT to be confused with the 718 Boxster.

This new 718 Spyder’s rear spoiler pops up at 120kph and its roof can be stowed under the bootlid in “a few steps”. It accelerates just as quickly as the GT4 and has a top-speed of 301kph, uses the same GT chassis which would make it a dream to drive on some twisting roads. And it looks pretty, especially in this unveil specification. It’s also EUR 3000 cheaper than the GT4 with prices starting around EUR 93,000.

Personally, I can’t wait to see some review videos of both the new Porsche 718s, particularly the Cayman GT4 with the Clubsport package. The GT4 is exactly what its name suggests – a baby GT3. And I’d like one.

What do you think of the new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder? Do these driving machines make up for the turbocharged four-pots? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to subscribe to the Auto Loons for the latest update on our newest content.