The 718 GTS 4.0 Get A Six-Cylinder Porsche Soul
After over a decade of carefully pruning the Cayman, Porsche has planted its mid-engined darling in the most fertile soil of the enthusiast garden. With the announcement of the new 4.0 liter GTS models, they have created the perfect offering. If it is only speed that you are after, it is good to remember despite all of the posturing, unless your name is Timo a standard 718 has more juice than you can squeeze on a public road. But Porsche knows that for enthusiasts, there is more than simply speed that makes a car feel special.
Luckily this driver can avoid falling debris with their new 718 GTS
Audio Identity
The soundtrack of a car is defined by its motor. The heartbeat of the car and the six-cylinder score (not the 997 bore scoring) is the soul of Porsche. When Porsche launched the 718 exclusively with turbo four-cylinder engines, there was a chance that the model would be known as the Cayman Snow. Luckily, the 718 proved to not be a bastard child born out of a quick fling outside of the Volkswagen Auto Group. It only sounded like one.
Dynamically, the 718 delivers driving pleasure at nearly any speed with joyful refinement beyond cars costing twice as much. No matter the thrill of the drive, the sound of vape-cloud approaching Subarumble numbed the joy of the previously sweet six found in the 981 and 987 generations of the Cayman.
Perfect for those with an Alcantara fetish
A Serious Bit Of Kit
The new 718 GTS is the only non-GT naturally aspirated flat-six engine available in the Porsche lineup. A 4.0-liter engine at that, or as Walter Rohrl technically specifies, a big chonker. The 4.0-liter air manipulator comes in a slightly detuned spec from six-cylinder developed for the GT4 and Boxster Spyder models. That unit itself is a bumped out version of the 3.0-liter flat-six from the 991 Carrera less the exhaust pulse disrupting turbo. The six-speed manual transmission (PDK will be released later) boasts a mechanical limited-slip rear differential. Standard equipment includes a sports exhaust and Porsche Active Suspension Management sports suspension, which lowers the ride height by 20 millimeters versus the standard car. Those along with the GTS Alcantara interior treatment and exterior details make it a very compelling package. Looks like the Cayman wasn’t taken off the will, it was the favorite child all along.
A GTS Model Worth The Extra Badging
It is clear that Porsche knew that it needed to do something with the GTS trim beyond the basics from the S models with some black trim and mouse fur interior. Slow sales of the 718.1 GTS and 718 overall made it clear that they needed to make some changes. When the GTS range launched on the 997 Carrera in 2012 it was the enthusiast spec. From there, the GTS models had moments of brilliance but were especially questionable for the 718. Paying near six-figure prices made people question the decision to stretch beyond the base or S models.
Sweet Sixes Until Silence
Porsche has not Indicated that they will remove the flat-four versions of the Cayman from the lineup. It is unlikely to do so because of important sales markets that issue tariffs based on engine displacement, read China. These will likely stick around as fantastic driving sports cars until the next generation of the Boxster Cayman twins, when no one will be sad that they are replaced by electric motors.
The fast hands of Porsche to develop and relaunch the flat-six Cayman is proof that they care about building the best sports cars in the world. Cars will be hitting German dealerships in March with other markets rolling afterwards. We live in a strange time, but at least the cars are fantastic.
