They say good things come to those who wait, and the newly announced Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is proof “they” were right. Porsche fans all over the globe waited with bated breath for confirmation of an RS version of the Cayman, yet all we received were teasers from the rumor mill. After a few, long years, the German automaker finally confirmed the high-performing, windy-road-tackling, blazing-fast sibling to the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 just a few weeks ahead of its November premiere, and we couldn’t be more excited.
While Porsche has yet to release the full specifications of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, early test results from the Nürburgring could not be more promising. A production prototype of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS (fitted with a racing seat and roll cage to protect the driver) clocked an eye-popping 7:09.3 minute lap time around the full 12.9 miles of the iconic German track. To put that into perspective, that’s 23.6 seconds faster than the 718 Cayman GT4 and 3.4 seconds faster than the 991.3 GT3. Though we don’t know its performance specifications, it’s all but guaranteed that the mid-engine sports car will have a more powerful engine than the 414-hp 4.0L flat-six that’s in the current Cayman GT4. Porsche has stated, however, that the RS augmentations for the 718 Cayman GT4 RS are standard with a typical RS package: a lighter construction, higher downforce, more horsepower, and a higher level of responsiveness. From an aesthetic perspective, 718 Cayman GT4 RS looks to have a new rear spoiler and was outfitted with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, which Porsche confirmed was an optional add-on.
With the age of automotive electrification in full swing, it’s quite possible that the 718 Cayman GT4 RS could be the last of its kind with a combustion engine. Regardless, the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS promises to be one of the best performing iterations of the Cayman yet.
