2020 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 first drive review: A standout track star

The Knockhill Racing Circuit is a 30-minute drive northwest from Edinburgh, Scotland, and is surrounded by sheep-filled grazing fields. Based on the encircling countryside and observe map, Knockhill does not appear to be an excessive amount of of a problem, however romping round “Scotland’s national motorsport center” in a 2020 Porsche Cayman GT4 proves in any other case. The 1.3-mile, 9-turn highway course retains you in your toes with tight turns and elevation modifications. It’s a severe race observe finest tackled in a severe observe automotive. Thankfully, that is precisely what the brand new Cayman GT4 is.Sweet sixAfter a sluggish and regular recognizance lap behind an teacher in a 911 GT3 RS, it is time for my sizzling laps. Flooring the GT4’s throttle out of the hairpin onto the entrance straight causes its new, 4.0-liter, naturally aspirated flat-six engine to belt out some pretty sounds, operating as much as its 8,000-rpm redline. The soundtrack is not fairly as ear-pleasing because the higher-pitch scream of the GT3, however not many engines come near matching these riveting noises. It positive beats the four-cylinder drone from different Cayman fashions, anyway.Like within the 718 Spyder, with which the GT4 shares its mechanicals, the engine has a stop-start system and cylinder deactivation, too.
I’ve no complaints concerning the engine’s 414 horsepower and 309 pound-feet of torque. It betters the 2016 Cayman GT4’s 3.8-liter mill by 29 horsepower and is related solely to a slick-shifting, six-speed handbook gearbox, making the particular person behind the wheel really feel like an integral a part of the driving expertise. From a standstill, Porsche says the brand new GT4 accelerates to 60 miles per hour in 4.2 seconds and can high out at 188 mph if given sufficient house.  The non-obligatory carbon-ceramic brakes kill velocity in a flash, and happening a gear earlier than coming into a flip is a cinch, because of the GT4’s computerized rev-matching characteristic. Want to heel-and-toe for your self? No downside — rev-matching might be disabled with the contact of a button.GT3 underpinningsAndifferent main piece of the GT4 puzzle is its upgraded chassis elements, which have been poached from the 911 GT3. The adaptive shock absorbers, management arms, ball joints and subframes are taken immediately from the hard-core 911. Compared to the bottom Cayman, the GT4 sits greater than an inch nearer to the bottom, for a decrease middle of gravity. The GT4 borrows numerous suspension items from its 911 GT3 huge brother.
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Track rats may also respect the power to regulate the GT4’s toe, camber and the antiroll bars. A mechanical, limited-slip, torque vectoring rear differential, new stability management tuning and sticky, 20-inch Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires full the dealing with alterations.With the suspension within the Normal setting, there’s some preliminary lean coming into corners and a few physique roll by Knockhill’s chicane. But make no mistake, the GT4 is remarkably agile, with responsive steering and powerful grip. The automotive does not thoughts bouncing off an apex curb, both. Punching the dampers into Sport mode tightens issues up, making the Cayman really feel a bit extra keen to show in, change instructions, and cling on tight by the excessive velocity bends. Attacking Knockhill’s tight hairpin flip with an excessive amount of enthusiasm causes the GT4’s entrance tires to clean out, nevertheless it’s straightforward to assemble issues up and nonetheless energy by rapidly. Around the remainder of Knockhill’s various turns, the GT4 does every thing you inform it to with out fuss. The GT4 by no means throws you any curveballs with its dealing with. It’s an absolute thrill, and completely predictable.Riding the curbs isn’t any downside within the 718 Cayman GT4.
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Because of the grey, wet skies in Scotland, my observe time includes just a few moist laps, which do not upset the GT4 as a lot as you may assume. Credit the Michelin tires for his or her wonderful grip in these situations; it is good to know the GT4 does not grow to be a handful ought to a rain cloud put a damper in your day.Form and performanceThe GT4 will get a brand new entrance fascia with bigger air dams, a revised lip spoiler, new middle air outlet and facet air curtains up entrance. Around again, there is a mounted, manually adjustable wing with built-in facet plates, and useful rear diffuser. Not readily seen is closed underbody paneling. All of this leads to a 50% enchancment in downforce in comparison with the previous GT4. Inside, the GT4 might be accessible with just a few seating choices within the US, starting from a normal, two-way sport seat to $5,900 carbon-fiber buckets. Unfortunately, US laws prevents the factory-installed roll bar characteristic from coming stateside, however we do get a wholesome serving to of Alcantara protecting the steering wheel, seat inserts, door panel armrests and headliner. Brushed aluminum on the sprint and middle console trim can be normal. The carbon fiber bucket seats will lock you down in place, however they’re going to value you $5,900.
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The Porsche Communication Management infotainment system makes use of a 7-inch touchscreen, and each US-spec GT4 will get this tech. (Buyers in different nations can spec a multimedia-free middle stack.) The GT4 comes with an eight-speaker sound system, satellite tv for pc radio, Bluetooth and two USB shops. Navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a Bose audio setup, wi-fi charging pad and Apple CarPlay are non-obligatory. As with each Porsche, Android Auto remains to be a no-go.An improved observe starAfter driving the brand new Porsche Cayman GT4 on observe, it is clear that is an involving and vastly succesful machine. Without driving them again to again, it is arduous to quantify precisely how significantly better of a automotive it’s over its predecessor — in any case, the earlier GT4 was a excessive benchmark in its personal proper. Porsche does remind me that the brand new GT4 will lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 28 seconds, which is 12 seconds faster than the final GT4. In truth, the brand new GT4 is 4 seconds faster than the 2004 Carrera GT supercar, for no matter that is value.The 2020 Porsche Cayman GT4 arrives within the US quickly with a base value of $99,200, not together with $1,350 for vacation spot. Deliveries are anticipated to start subsequent spring. This makes it $18,500 costlier than the superb Cayman GTS, however should you’re shopping for a Porsche 718 for observe obligation, you need to completely splurge for the GT4. Trust me, you will not remorse it.
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