7 things you need to know about the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS
The GT4 RS is the pocket rocket that packs a serious punch
This is the 718 Cayman GT4 RS – the fastest street-legal Cayman that Porsche has ever produced. Let’s dive into the details of this spectacular sportscar
What is the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS?Meet the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS – a car designed to set pulses racing both on the road and track. Following on from the 718 Cayman GT4, this new model is the first Cayman to get the Porsche RennSport treatment. It’s the ultimate Cayman, the halo model of what is an exceptional all-round sportscar.And don’t just take our word for it. You only need to listen to what Andreas Preuninger, Directors GT Model Line at Porsche, says about it: “During development, we gave the 718 Cayman GT4 RS everything that distinguishes a true RS: lightweight construction, more downforce, higher engine power and, of course, even more direct handling. The fantastic lap time on the Nordschleife is unmistakable proof of how palpable these improvements in driving dynamics are.”The 718 Cayman GT4 RS: dynamic from every angleHow powerful and fast is the 718 Cayman GT4 RS?The 718 Cayman GT4 RS is the most powerful mid-engined sports car Porsche has ever made. Featuring a 4.0-litre, naturally aspirated, six-cylinder engine – similar to the one found in the current 911 GT3 (992 generation) – the stats behind the GT4 RS are mightily impressive. With 500ps, it’s 80ps more powerful than the GT4 and has 30Nm more torque at 450Nm. The red line is now 1,000rpm higher too, which means that the 718 Cayman GT4 RS revs out to 9,000rpm – accompanied by a suitably spine-tingling soundtrack.As standard, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS comes with the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) seven-speed automatic gearbox with short gear ratios for thrilling acceleration. This combination means the 718 Cayman GT4 RS sprints from rest to 100km/h in just 3.4 seconds – half a second faster than its PDK-equipped 718 Cayman GT4 cousin.Porsche has added special lightweight features to the 718 Cayman GT4 RS such as its carbon fibre reinforced plastic bonnetWhat is the 718 Cayman GT4 RS like to drive?Whether it’s a switchback mountain pass, curvy country road or on the track, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS has been honed to reward the driver. Because the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is mid-engine, with the engine placed behind the driver, the car has near-perfect weight distribution for extremely neutral handling and excellent agility. The dynamic characteristic of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, which has been lowered by 30mm compared to the standard car, is further amplified with the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). What are some of the key features of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS?Part of what makes the 718 Cayman GT4 RS so special to drive is its lightweight construction. Weighing just 1,415kg unladen, it’s 35kg lighter than a PDK-equipped 718 Cayman GT4. This gives it an impressive power-to-weight ratio. The bonnet lid, side air intakes, front wings and rear wing are made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) to trim weight and keep the 718 Cayman GT4 RS light on its toes. There’s also a lightweight stainless steel sports exhaust system and a rear window made out of lightweight glass.Other standout features for the 718 Cayman GT4 RS model include its outstanding aerodynamics. Among the many features that make up the car’s aerodynamic profile there’s a multi-level adjustable front diffuser, side blades to control air flow through the wheel arch, louvres in the bonnet, a rear apron valance with an integrated diffuser and fins, and a large swan neck rear wing to help control air flow and increase downforce for exceptional cornering speeds and stable high-speed cruising. The swan neck rear wing of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS generates 25 per cent more downforce than the 718 Cayman GT4What is the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport?Designed for spring racing and long-distance international competition, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport takes the essence of the road car and distils it down even further for the track. Distinguishing features of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport include sustainable natural fibre composite materials for the driver and passenger doors, front cover, front wings and add-on parts to reduce weight, while like the fixed rear wing with swan neck connection is made of aluminium.How fast is the 718 Cayman GT4 RS at the Nürburgring?In a word, extremely. Jörg Bergmeister, Porsche brand ambassador and development driver, lapped the 20.832-kilometre Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes 9.3 seconds. That’s just 9.4 seconds off the time of the 991 GT3 (992 generation). As for comparisons to the lap time of the GT4, the RS lapped the slightly shorter 20.6km version of the track 23.6 seconds faster.“The 718 Cayman GT4 RS is an uncompromising driving machine,” said Jörg Bergmeister after his run. “It feels as nimble as a go-kart on mountain roads yet is impressively stable on the racetrack.”The 718 Cayman GT4 RS comes with the highly acclaimed and super-quick seven-speed PDK gearboxWhat is the Weissach package for the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS?Available as an option, the Weissach Package is named after the world-famous Porsche development centre where its sportscars are born. It features special details to further set your 718 Cayman GT4 RS apart. The package includes a carbon-weave finish for the front lid, air intakes, rear wing and exterior mirror trim. The Weissach Package also features large PORSCHE lettering on the rear window, titanium tailpipes (inspired by the Porsche 935) and optional 20-inch magnesium alloy wheels, which cut 10kg in weight. Inside, there’s a titanium roll cage, which saves 6kg, Weissach logos on the seat headrests and cup holder, a black six-point racing harness for driver and passenger while the upper part of the dash is finished in Race-Tex, a high-quality material partially made of recycled polyester fibres.
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