The fastest mid-engined Porsche, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, debuts.
While the 911 sits at the top as the flagship Porsche coupé to get, it’s the mid-engined 718 Cayman that most drivers say is the most dynamic and well-balanced. The only issue is that it has always been a tad low on power in comparison to Porsche’s most powerful offerings.
That ends today with the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS – the new flagship of the 718 family and the king of the mid-engined Porsche range.
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is powered by a mid-mounted, naturally-aspirated flat 6. This is the same motor that motivates the 911 GT3 Cup racing car as well as the 911 GT3 series product car. The motor is particularly high-revving, with a redline of 9,000 rpm.
Compared to the next most powerful 718 Cayman, the 718 Cayman GT4, this model has 80PS and 20Nm of torque more from the engine. This makes it 23 seconds faster around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. With a kerb weight of just 1415kg and 500PS on tap, this gives the 718 Cayman GT4 RS a weight-to-power-ratio of 2.83kg/PS.
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS goes from 0-100km/h in just 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 315km/h when equipped with a 7-speed PDK. Gears can be manually rowed using paddle shifters or the centre gear selector lever.
Porsche has positioned the air intakes right behind the driver and passenger windows, which creates a unique intake noise right next the occupants’ ears. Intakes are also found in front of the rear wheels to cool the engine. What’s more, the Performance mode, which is reserved for use on race tracks generates 25% more downforce than the 718 Cayman RS’s.
Other changes made specific to this model include:
- Weight reduction of 35kg by using carbon fibre reinforced plastic components on the bonnet and front wings, lightweight carpets, lightweight glass on the rear window, lightweight door panels, textile opening loops, nets on the storage compartments and removal of insulation material.
- A new fixed rear wing with aluminium wing supports inspired by the Porsche 911 RSR GT racing car.
- 30mm lower ride height
- vents on the front wheel arches
- aero optimised underbody panelling
- rear diffuser
- multi-adjustable front diffuser
- new front spoiler lip with flow-around side blades
- chassis bound to the body using ball joints
- adjustable, circuit-ready chassis with RS-specific shock absorber set-up
- modified spring and anti-roll bar rates
An optional Weissach package adds the following:
- carbon weave finish on:
- front luggage-compartment lid
- process air intakes
- cooling air intakes
- airbox cover
- exterior mirror upper trims
- rear wings
- titanium tailpipes
- titanium fitted roll cage
- Race-Tex wrapped upper dashboard
- large Porsche logo integrated into rear window
- 20″ forged magnesium wheels
