The GT4 RS is the car all of us petrolheads have been waiting for since it had first been rumoured. It’s fast, powerful, and the most lightweight model to date. Porsche has come out of its comfort zone when creating this masterpiece. Each different Porsche model (911, GT3, GT4, etc) has pushed its boundaries even further than the previous model that was produced. In terms of upgrades, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS has shown us why it has set itself apart from its predecessors the GTS Cayman and the GT4 and it comes as no surprise that the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS’s price starts at a whopping £108, 370.00. Not only that, with a premium package the prices can increase to £131, 000.00. The latter being the same starting price as the 911 GT3. So here’s why we believe it’s worth the money.
POV Track Drive
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS’s sound is like no other and if you watched the video above you will have noticed it’s unmissable. It gives the car an even more exhilarating driveability.
Performance
If you’re cruising at 70mph you can feel the car is driving along smoothly and you are very comfortable in the car. If you wanted to go any faster (for example trying to overtake a car on the motorway) then this is when you really start to notice the power of the throttle. The engine is the same as the motorsport drive engine of the 911 GT3 cup and road cars. The result of this is that the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS’s horsepower is 500hp. This is only 10hp less than you get in the 911 GT3 and who’s really counting 10hp, am I right? As this is the same engine in a different model of car, we wondered how Porsche made this work. In order to fit the engine into 718 Cayman, you need to turn the engine around. Which then requires a longer exhaust, this reduces some of the power too. BUT, you still have 80hp more than you get with a normal GT4. In terms of performance speed, the GT4 RS is an immense 23.6 seconds faster than the original GT4 model and only 5 seconds slower than the 911 GT3. Pretty impressive if you ask us.
Let’s talk 0-60mph. This is what we’re really interested in when it comes to Porsche’s sports models. The 718 Cayman GT4 RS can complete 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds. In terms of cars that are on similar levels to our GT4 RS, the 911 GT3 does it in 2.9 seconds (obviously). The Audi TT RS does it in 3.7 seconds, so just missing the GT4 RS’s time. And the BMW MC2 CS does it in a VERY SLOW 4.10 seconds. Come on BMW, catch up already! We’ve tried and tested the 718 Cayman GT4 RS’s Top Speed and we managed to get it to 196mph. This is what Porsche has said is the Top Speed. But let me tell you, it feels like you’re going a million miles an hour. The steering stability is still strong, but if you’re on a track going at this speed, then the overall feel of the car will make you feel like you’re Lewis Hamilton in the F1.
Design
Its tuned suspension with stiffer springs and anti-roll bars is a combination of power and lightness. The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS weighs a groundbreaking 1,415kg. Porsche’s objective with this car was to shed as much weight as possible and gain power. Therefore, a lot of minor replacements of physical elements have been made to achieve this. We’ve stated its intense driving ability and its exterior design goes hand-in-hand with that. It sounds aggressive, it drives aggressive, and it looks aggressive. Porsche has stated that the GT4 RS is ‘perfectly irrational’. It’s a razor-sharp track tool. The rear end of the car contains an enormous rear spoiler, which comes as standard. This reinforces the track feel of the vehicle. The GT4 RS is a more hard-core/intense version of the standard Cayman Its debut is to be an entry-level race car and it’s already living up to its expectations as it lapped the standard Cayman on the Nurburgring track in over 23 seconds. Another feature that is worthy of mentioning is the visible engine technology. Porsche has decided to move the airbox to the interior and it also features a newly developed air filter for a throatier interior sound accompanied by optimum airflow.
Exterior
The front diffuser on the vehicle is adjustable, similar to the back spoiler. It has a special toggle just by the front of the wheel arch and fins alongside this to create a curtain of air. Also on the front of the vehicle are vents on the top of the arch. We first saw this feature in the GT3 RS and the Porsche GT1, Porsche did this to reduce the pressure that builds up inside the wheel arch. Another addition to the air elements of the vehicle is the NACA air intakes on the bonnet. They are nostril-type air vents that help for optimum brake cooling. All of these features will effectively support the vehicle when pushing the car to its limits on the track. Porsche has really focused on air ventilation in this car. We can see even more of this in the upper openings in the carbon-fibre reinforced plastic wings. These louvers optimise the wheel arch ventilation, as does the redesigned front spoiler lip with side blades that allow the flow of air from all sides. From this, there is a reduction in excess pressure and therefore more downforce.
As the vehicle has a mid-mounted engine, the air intakes are inside of the rear windows and these specific ones help to increase airflow to the engine. The air intake at the bottom of the vehicle help to feed air into the radiators. Each section that needs to be cooled down has been thoroughly thought about by Porsche. On the GT4 RS, there has been a new exhaust fitted, it takes its inspiration from the Porsche 935. Porsche offers a premium package called the ‘Weissach Package’ and within this, you are able to have titanium tips on the exhaust. But, the most eye-catching feature on the exterior is definitely the large rear-wing with a swan-neck connection. This is a fixed rear wing made with carbon-fibre reinforced plastic. The air flows over the entire surface of the underside of the wing, without any interference. This specific feature takes inspiration from the prestigious 911 GT3. As with all GT cars, the set-up is usually highly adjustable. With the rear wing, you can adjust it across 2 settings, this gives the car its intended sporty feel as you can manually set it for road or track use. The result of putting it in track mode will increase the downforce and improve traction.
The GT4 RS Magnesium Wheels
Now, there have been rumours about lightweight magnesium wheels being included on the new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS. However, as a standard, the GT4 RS comes with 20 inch forged aluminium lightweight wheels which adds to its sporty character and design. The paint finish is available in other colours too. However, if you opt for the Weissach package you are able to have the 20-inch forged magnesium wheel, which is still lightweight. This add-on costs approximately £10,521. With the addition of ceramic brakes for £5,595. These alloy wheels are available in a variety of paint finishes and offer a total weight saving of around 10kg. Which is around £1000 per 1kg of weight saved.
Weissach Package
There are two different options of the Weissach Package available to purchase. The first costing £8,913 and the more premium package costs £11,186. Both of which bring a variety of interior and exterior styling upgrades. The package includes exposed carbon-fibre on the exterior bonnet, mirrors, and rear wing. The Weissach logo on the headrests of the racer seats. As a standard in this package, the brakes are made from steel and are not carbon-ceramic. Also included in this package is the Porsche lettering on the back of the gorilla lightweight glass window. Extra options for this package include Racer seat belts/harnesses. This add-on intensifies the race track feel of the car.
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Interior
The interior of this vehicle is where we start to see Porsche really strip away elements that are typically in contemporary vehicles. Porsche’s whole idea was to try and make the GT4 RS as lightweight as possible and we can see obvious change. The carpets are thinner, creating less sound insulation. They have created fabric door pulls – as even if they weigh slightly less than a normal door handle, they’ll have made it count. There’s an option of ‘infotainment delete’. Means that you can buy the car without any infotainment screen at all, there is a space for one still inside the car which is what we thought was strange, however, there’s nothing there but a whole. If you do have the infotainment screen, then there is an option of Apple CarPlay – like most contemporary cars being produced. What we did find peculiar was that Android Auto cannot be used in the GT4 RS. We find this limits potential clients/customers for Porsche. What are they trying to say here? Do they only want iPhone users to have a GT4 RS Porsche? Not a smart move by them.
One option that cannot be removed is the air-con. This is sensible and needed, especially on a hot day on the tracks. These are physical controls placed on the centre console so they can easily be reached and used.
An element that we do like in the interior of the GT4 RS is the Alcantara material on the dash, gear stick, and steering wheel. It makes the car feel a lot more sporty and stable. The gear stick has been manufactured to look like a manual gear lever – for sporty and succinct gear changes. It’s a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. There is no manual option available for the car, which reinforces the race track drivability even further. Porsche received a lot of complaints about their longer gearing in the GT4, so they have worked on this and created shorter gearing.
The top speed the GT4 RS reaches in second gear is a whopping 75mph, with 8000rpm. The seventh gear is no longer overdrive too. But it is simply the ratio in which the car hits its 196mph top speed.
Boot Space
As expected, in entry-level race-track cars you don’t expect to be able to take your family of five’s luggage to the airport for a week-long holiday. The front storage compartment holds 124-litres. Which is only 25-litres less than the boot on the GT4 model. What takes up more room in the GT4 RS model is that the air ducts for the brakes are also placed underneath the front bonnet. They take up quite a bit of space, which is where I think the RS model has lost the 25 extra litres.The rear end boot, however, holds 136-litres. Which is a shocking 334-litres less than the GT4 model. This is a large significant difference.
Is the GT4 RS Model A Good Investment?
If you ever have the opportunity to purchase the GT3 RS for £108k then GO FOR IT. Porsche hasn’t stated how many they are producing in the UK however, we know that it will be limited. Over time, this car will not lose you any money and will always provide a good thrill.
I hope you have enjoyed this review and if you are interested in purchasing the GT4 RS then head over to our CONTACT page and we will do our best to source this for you. Be sure to check out our other blogs too on our NEWS page, where we discuss features of cars and also review other new vehicles.
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The paint finish is available in other colours too. However, if you opt for the Weissach package you are able to have the 20-inch forged magnesium wheel, which is still lightweight. This add-on costs approximately £10,521. With the addition of ceramic brakes for £5,595. These alloy wheels are available in a variety of paint finishes and offer a total weight saving of around 10kg. Which is around £1000 per 1kg of weight saved.
If you do have the infotainment screen, then there is an option of Apple CarPlay – like most contemporary cars being produced. What we did find peculiar was that Android Auto cannot be used in the GT4 RS. We find this limits potential clients/customers for Porsche. What are they trying to say here? Do they only want iPhone users to have a GT4 RS Porsche? Not a smart move by them.
material on the dash, gear stick, and steering wheel. It makes the car feel a lot more sporty and stable. The gear stick has been manufactured to look like a manual gear lever – for sporty and succinct gear changes. It’s a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. There is no manual option available for the car, which reinforces the race track drivability even further. Porsche received a lot of complaints about their longer gearing in the GT4, so they have worked on this and created shorter gearing.
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