The novelty of the week: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS

On the other side of the Atlantic, car shows continue to be full, including new products. Among Porsche's five world premieres in Los Angeles, here is the 718 Cayman GT4 RS.

Published on 25/11/2021 à 14:00

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New this week: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS

It is always possible to dream, and the German manufacturer has understood this well. Because if Europe will end up taking the world into its electric delirium, there is still time to put cutting-edge models on the road. Decadent too, for some, certainly the same as those who spend an hour or two every week in the parking lot of a supercharger. And then, there are those who still vibrate to the sound and smells of cutting-edge mechanics, capable of going very high in the towers. That's good, the 6 liter flat 4.0 of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS delivers 500 hp and can climb to 9000 rpm. It's something other than the banal 4-cylinders that we've been served for five years. Then let the hairs on your arms stand up as you imagine the scene and enjoy the present moment, Parts and accessories This is probably the last time. By 2024, the 718 Cayman will be electric. For those opposed to battery-powered sports cars, there will then remain the 911 range which will become hybrid, buta priori not rechargeable. Honor is safe.

From a stylistic point of view, this sassy version of the 718 stands out with intake air inlets located behind the front windows. They replace the rear quarter windows, are supposed to improve intake flow and make a noise described as emotional. We ask to hear. The GT4 RS also gets a racing-heritage fixed rear wing, which comes from the 911 RSR. The front diffuser has several levels of adjustment and the finned spoiler lip can improve downforce by 25% compared to the 718 Cayman GT4. However, in this case, it is a “Performance” position, prohibited for the road. It is the same principle as what is proposed Alfa Romeo on the Giulia GTAm, with a manually adjustable mechanical spoiler. Obviously, its running gear has been optimized, with firmer springs, stiffened stabilizer bars and a chassis lowered by 30 mm.

The Nürburg' for garden

Jörg Bergmeister, in-house test driver, covered the almost 21 km of the Nürburgring in 7'04''511. This is 23”6 less than the GT4 version on the old route (20,6 km). A significant difference, greater than one second per kilometer, which we owe to a block which develops 80 hp more with a slightly higher torque (450 Nm against 430 Nm). This first Cayman RS is also lighter. Approved at only 1415 kg, or 35 kg less than the GT4, it receives a hood and front wings in carbon fiber reinforced polymer, and removes some of its insulators (among other less notable provisions). Announced at 3”4 at 0 to 100 km/h, the RS livery is only offered with a seven-speed PDK automatic transmission. So much the better for the speed of changing gears, so much the worse for the pleasure of manipulating the lever and heel-toe.

Le Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS est commercialisé à partir de 144 485 euros, hors malus de 40 000 euros sur le marché français. Autant dire qu’il s’adresse à des passionnés fortunés qui se moqueront, au-delà de la question financière, de la philosophie fiscale de la transaction. À moins qu’il ne s’agisse d’investisseurs qui guettent la bonne affaire et qui croient au potentiel de spéculation d’un modèle déjà annoncé comme un collector. Ils n’auraient pas tort…