The Porsche Cayman has always occupied an unusual position in the Porsche lineup. The lighter weight, mid-engined layout, and shapely styling make it very appealing as a sports car, but it often seems Porsche has not allowed this model to fully bloom due to the desire to keep it slotted below the 911. That may be changing with the announcement of the new Cayman GT4. At 385 hp, it is a substantial 45 hp jump over the current Cayman GTS, and even a 35 hp jump over the base 911. The 3.8 liter flat-six engine is a slightly detuned version of the one in the Carrera S, and propels the car from 0 to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds, with a top speed of 183 mph. The chassis is primarily sourced from the 911 GT3, and offers a 30 mm body drop compared to the current Cayman. It also allows for a larger brake system, with an available option of PCCB, or Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes. Other options include lightweight shell seats made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic, a Club Sport package, and a custom Sport Chrono Package with Track Precision app. The design includes expanded front inlets and a large fixed rear wing.
The new member of the Porsche GT family is the Cayman GT4. This is the first time Porsche is introducing a GT sports car based on the Cayman which has components of the 911 GT3. A lap time of 7 minutes and 40 seconds on the North Loop of the Nürburgring positions the Cayman GT4 as the new benchmark at the top of its market segment. It also makes a clear statement that Porsche will continue to promote radical two-door sports cars in the future – sports cars that are developed at the Motorsport department in Weissach.
The engine, chassis, brakes and aerodynamic design of the Cayman GT4 are configured for maximum driving dynamics; yet the top model still retains the versatility and everyday utility that are typical of the two-seat Porsche coupe. It is powered by a 3.8-litre flat-six engine with 385 hp (283 kW), which is derived from the 911 Carrera S engine. Its power is always transmitted by a six-speed manual gearbox with dynamic gearbox mounts. The Cayman GT4 accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds; its top speed is 295 km/h. The car's NEDC fuel consumption is 10.3 l/100 km. The chassis – which features a 30 mm lower body position and a generously sized brake system – consists nearly entirely of components from the 911 GT3.
Fit for the circuit race track: first Porsche Cayman with downforce at both axles
On its exterior, the Cayman GT4 is clearly differentiated from related mid-engine coupes. Three distinctive inlet openings at the front and a large fixed rear wing are part of an aerodynamic package which is systematically designed for downforce. Upon request, the Cayman GT4 can be equipped even more comprehensively for sporty use. Options include the PCCB ceramic brake system, full shell seats made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), a custom Sport Chrono Package with the unique Track Precision app and a Club Sport Package.
The interior of the Cayman GT4 is designed so that the driver and front passenger can experience unfiltered driving enjoyment. They sit on sport seats, upholstered in a combination of leather and Alcantara, which are distinguished by very good lateral support. The new GT4 sport steering wheel guarantees ideal control and direct steering feedback due to its compact dimensions.
Technical aspects of the new GT sports car are based on the 911 GT3. As a mid-engine sports car and a prime example of driving dynamics in its class – it follows the conceptual tradition of such cars as the 904 GTS, 911 GT1, Carrera GT and 918 Spyder.
GT sports cars from Porsche embody the most passionate connection possible between everyday driving and the race track and thereby the sporty core of the brand: Intelligent Performance. Four out of five drivers of Porsche sports cars with this classification also use them on the race track.
The Cayman GT4 celebrates its world premiere in early March at the Geneva International Motor Show. It can already be ordered now, and it will arrive at dealers at the end of March. In Germany, the price of the Cayman GT4 is 85,779 euros including VAT and country-specific features.
What It Is: A Porsche Cayman prototype wearing an aggressive front fascia and a giant rear wing. A prototype of what, you may ask? It appears to be a GT4, the long-rumored, range-topping ultra-high-performance Cayman variant that will follow in the epic 911 GT3’s footsteps.
Why It Matters: Porsche has long throttled the performance of the Cayman and Boxster twins in order to maintain a safe buffer between them and the pedestal on which the 911 sits, but a Cayman GT4 would upset that hierarchy for the first time. Until now, the Cayman’s output figures have been carefully clipped to levels below those enjoyed by various 911 models, even though a mid-engine chassis as good as the Cayman’s could easily handle more power. Should the GT4 pictured here come to fruition, it would give us our first look at just how far a factory Cayman can be pushed.
Platform: The Cayman GT4 will share its mid-engine bones with other Cayman models such as the S and GTS, but should see significant stiffening in its structure and suspension. The car pictured here even has a roll bar, just like its 911 GT3 sibling. But unlike its GT3 sibling, which gets carbon-ceramic brakes, the GT4 appears to be equipped merely with the Cayman GTS’s big-brake kit. (In Porscheland, red brake calipers represent upsized iron rotors, while yellow calipers clamp carbon-ceramic discs; there also are black, silver, and even neon-green units that represent base cars, all-wheel-drive cars, and hybrids.) Given that Porsche’s Ceramic Composite Brake package is available on the Cayman GTS (for a cool $7400), we figure it’ll at least be available on the GT4, if not ultimately standard fare.
These spy photos suggest that Porsche is working on a fixed rear wing similar to the oversized unit it fitted to the 911 GT3. Aero tweaks to the front end include a hefty splitter. The same extractor vent worn by the 911 GT3 between its front bumper and hood is present on this Cayman tester, as is the GT3’s trio of gaping front intakes. It isn’t clear whether the GT4 will get the GT3’s red seatbelts, but they’re an option in regular Caymans. The prototype does, however, have some sweet racing-shell-type seats, though.
Powertrain: This is where the Cayman GT4 is holding its cards close to the vest; these photos provide us not even a hint at what engine lies beneath the pumped-up bodywork. We suspect the GT4 either will use the bigger of the 911’s two naturally aspirated flat-sixes—the 400-hp 3.8-liter from the Carrera S—or a worked-over version of the 3.4-liter unit Cayman S and GTS models share with the base 911 Carrera.
The GTS makes 340 horsepower, and the same engine in the Carrera puts out 350 horsepower, so if the 3.4-liter is used, expect at least 355 ponies. Alternatively, there is speculation about the GT4’s powertrain as being a turbocharged V-4 like the (non-production) one used in Porsche’s 919 endurance racer, but that seems extraordinarily unlikely and costly. Like the GT3, we suspect Porsche will keep the GT4 automatic-only. Manual fans can at least take solace in the fact that Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch auto is among the sportiest and best self-shifters around.
Новото Porsche Cayman GT4 е успяло да мине Северната дъга на "Нюрбургринг" за впечатляващо време. Часовникът е спрял на 7 минути и 40 секунди, което го вкарва доста напред в класацията. Това време е същото и при големия му брат 911 GT3 от 2011 година. Това е първата по рода си модификация на Cayman и тя показва зъби. Мъникът е оборудван с двигател от 911 Carrera S, а той е обичайният боксер с обем от 3.8 литра и респектиращите 385 конски сили. С тези данни ускоряването от 0 до 100 отнема само 4,2 секунди и колата е способна да вдигне 295 километра в час. Скоростната кутия, с която ще се предлага Cayman GT4, ще бъде само и единствено шестстепенна ръчна.
Колата заимства някои възли от 911 GT3 като предния мост, амортисьорите и кормилната уредба. Тук обаче завиване на задните колела, както при GT3, не е нужно и затова задният мост на колата е изцяло нова разработка. Благодарение на аеродинамичните детайли, които са добавени, притискателните сили са идентични с тези на GT3. Сухото тегло на GT4 е 1 340 килограма и е един от определящите фактори за динамиката на тази кола. Бърза справка показва, че Cayman GT4 оставя зад гърба си модели като Audi R8 V10, Pagani Zonda S и Ford GT.
Engine
ManualLayout / number of cylinders6Displacement3.800 cm³Engine layout/DriveMid-enginePower283 kW (385 hp)at rpm7.400Max. torque (Nm) at rpm420 Nm at 4.750 – 6.000Compression ratio12.5 : 1
Fuel consumption/emissions*
ManualUrban in l/100 km14.8Extra urban in l/100 km7.8Combined in l/100 km10.3CO2 emissions in g/km238
Performance
ManualTop speed295 km/hAcceleration from 0 – 100 km/h (0 – 62 mph)4.4 secsElasticity 80 – 120 km/h (50 – 75 mph)5.5 secs in 5th gearAcceleration from 0 – 200 km/h14.5 secs
Transmission
ManualDriveline layoutRear-wheel driveManual-shift gear6-speed
Body
ManualLength4,438 mmWidth1,817 mmHeight1,266 mmWheelbase2,484 mmDrag coefficient (Cd)0,32Unladen weight (DIN)1,340 kgUnladen weight (EC)1,415 kgPermissible gross weight1,640 kg
Luggage compartment volume425 litres (150 l front / 275 l rear)Fuel tank54 litres
