A new prototype of the forthcoming Porsche 718
Cayman GT4 has been spied testing at the Nurburgring and much like others
snapped last year, it appears to be wearing its production-ready skin and
inching towards its global premiere.
The original Porsche Cayman GT4, introduced back in
2015, was a huge success for the German car manufacturer. Based on the
981C-generation Cayman, the GT4 was outfitted with a de-tuned version of the
naturally-aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six engine of the 911 Carrera S. The car was
sold exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission and following the
introduction of the 718 Cayman, was the final track-focused mid-engine car from
Porsche with a stick shift.
However, the new 718 Cayman GT4 will launch with a
six-speed manual and a PDK will only become available at a later date. It is
believed that power will be sourced from either a 4.0-liter flat-six engine
free of any kind of forced induction. Power for the previous-generation GT4 sat
at 380 hp but this new model could have upwards of 420 hp. That may not be
quite as much as the 911 GT3 but the mid-engine layout of the Cayman promises
to make it an exceptional driver’s car.
The 718 Cayman GT4 should weigh slightly less than
other Cayman versions and could shed as much as 50 kg. The sprint
from a standstill to 100 km/h)should take roughly four seconds with
the car running through to a top speed of around 297 km/h.
From a visual standpoint, the most obvious
difference between the new GT4 and lesser Cayman models will be the rear wing.
Sitting on a set of sky-high uprights, the wing is much larger than the
previous GT4 and features larger endplates. Elsewhere, the car comes equipped
with a revised rear diffuser where a pair of exhausts neatly stick out. Other
alterations will include a tweaked front fascia with larger air intakes and a
set of larger wheels.
