Porsche Cayman GT4, the lizard shows its teeth

Porsche has launched one of those models everyone hopes to see someday. We’re talking about the Cayman GT4, the most hardcore and racing-oriented version of the German sports car.

It has been a long wait, far too long, I would say, always with the hope that Porsche would take the plunge and dare to create what we could call the “almost-definitive” machine.

The exterior of the Cayman GT4 leaves no room for doubt. It is a true Porsche, and a Porsche born to be as fast as possible, whether on open roads or on the track. The front already hints at its intent with oversized, contrasting-painted air intakes and a small horizontal outlet in the bumper, right next to the bonnet, very similar to the one found on the 911 GT3.

The alloy wheels have a new, very open design that reveals a braking system inherited directly from the 911 GT3, which speaks volumes about the GT4’s racing ambitions. As in most models in the Porsche range, the brakes are steel as standard, but a high-performance carbon-ceramic braking system is available as an option.

Behind the door there is a moulding bearing the “GT4” logo, flush with the air intake that cools the boxer engine. The rear has a truly brutal look. The tailgate has been extended very slightly, giving it a more dynamic line. However, what immediately catches the eye is the brutal, large fixed rear spoiler, which provides a generous amount of aerodynamic downforce at high speeds.

Inside, the changes are less striking. Nevertheless, they are still noticeable thanks to the addition of a sports steering wheel and gear knob trimmed in Alcantara. The instrumentation also features specific details such as yellow-painted needles, a touch reserved only for the most sporting models of Porsche. Furthermore, if you look at the centre console, you will see that, in addition to a button to deactivate the electronic stability control (ESC), there is now another button that deactivates traction control (TC) as well as ESC.

Mechanically, the Cayman GT4 has every chance of becoming a true “giant-killer”. The 3.8 six-cylinder naturally aspirated boxer engine increases its output to 385 CV. Paired exclusively with a 6-speed manual gearbox, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, reaching a top speed of 295 km/h. As a point of interest, it can lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes 40 seconds.

Source | Porsche