Two new members that are being added to the Porsche 718 line-up: the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and the 718 Spyder.
The new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder share a technical base and have a newly developed naturally aspirated, 4.0-litre, six-cylinder boxer engine that uses Piezo injectors for direct fuel injection for the very first time in such a high-revving engine. The unparalleled boxer sound remains untouched. The technical highlights include adaptive cylinder control, where, under partial load, the injection process in one of the two cylinder banks is temporarily interrupted, reducing fuel consumption. The fuel consumption of the cars is approximately 9.2 km/l. The maximum engine speed is 8,000 rpm. It produces 420 PS at 7,600 rpm and 420 Nm of peak torque between 5,000 and 6,800 rpm. That means an output of 35 PS more than the old Cayman GT4 and its 385-PS, 3.8-litre boxer-six, and 45 PS more than the old 375-PS Boxster Spyder. Both are available only with a six-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels.
The new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 is now the entry-level GT road model. Both the 718 models rely on highly efficient aerodynamics, a full GT chassis and powerful brakes. Proof of outstanding aerodynamic efficiency is the fact that it produces up to 50 per cent more downforce, without adversely affecting drag. The Porsche 718 Spyder, unlike the GT4 has a rear spoiler that comes up automatically at 120 km/h. Thanks to the functional diffuser, it is the first model in the Boxster family to generate aerodynamic downforce at the rear axle. Both cars can breach the 300-km/h barrier. The Porsche 718 Spyder gets up to a top speed of 301 km/h, while the hard-top Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 can reach up to 304 km/h.
The 718 Spyder benefits from the high-performance chassis of the 718 Cayman GT4. The chassis delivers superior cornering dynamics, that provide a great driving experience. The Porsche Active Suspension Management damping system with 30 mm lower suspension lowers the centre of gravity and improves lateral dynamics potential. The Porsche Stability Management (PSM) operates with even greater sensitivity and precision here but can optionally also be deactivated in two steps. Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with mechanical rear differential lock further enhances the longitudinal and lateral dynamics, cornering performance and driving pleasure. The GT4 also comes with the option of a Clubsport package. This includes a rear steel roll-bar, a hand-held fire extinguisher and a six-point harness on the driver’s side.
The cars get large aluminium monobloc fixed-caliper brakes that provide consistent feedback and make it easier to drive on the track. Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) is optionally available. The 718 Spyder now runs on ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyres specially adapted by Porsche. They are part of the overall package that makes the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 fly on the Nürburgring “Nordschleife”: its lap time on the 20.6-km classic racetrack is more than ten seconds faster than its predecessor.
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 is priced at € 96,206 (Rs 77 lakh approx) and the 718 Spyder is priced at € 93,350 (Rs 74.7 lakh approx). We hope to see a few of these offered in India as well.
Story: Azaman Chothia
