Porsche always kept a tight leash on its Cayman and Boxster to keep the mid-engined duo from nipping on the rear engine of the flagship 911. They finally relented and gave us the Cayman GT4 back in 2015, dropping the 3.8-litre flat-six from the rear of the 911 into the middle of the Cayman. It only came with a manual and it was phenomenal.
Blessed we are for the new GT4 and its topless sibling; the Spyder, is here. Based on the 718 generation of the Cayman and Boxster, the 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder is all the Porsche you need… provided you need your Porsche to only deliver driving pleasure and not much else.
Although the base 718 models are exclusively turbocharged now, there’ll be no such blasphemy for the top-dog variants. Both are powered by a larger 4.0-litre flat-six that makes a healthy 420hp and a matching 420Nm of torque.
Interestingly, the engine in question here isn’t a detuned version of the GT3’s powerhouse but a new design derived from the 3.0-litre turbo mill in the current 911, sans turbos.
Paired exclusively to a six-speed manual with rev-matching, the cars will hit the century mark from a standstill in 4.4-seconds and top out at just over 300kph.
Although mechanically almost identical, the 718 Cayman GT4 gets a new single-chamber arch rear silencer that opens up the rear for a functional diffuser to generate aerodynamic downforce at the rear axle. No adjustable rear wing here, purpose over posing is the only way. Hence a fixed wing and a large front lip spoiler. Porsche claims it’s all good for an extra 20 per cent downforce over its predecessor.
As for the 718 Spyder, the engineers focused more on the front end with improved grilles, a new front lip spoiler and shaping indentations into the surface below the front end to mimic a golf ball’s surface for reduced drag. The 718 Spyder does get an adjustable rear wing that extends above 120kph.
You’ll also find all the acronyms from the Porsche dictionary thrown into the mix for both cars. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) damping, Porsche Stability Management (PSM) and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with a mechanical rear differential lock all make the cut to help you carve the corners.
Although already focused on track use, the optional Club Sport package adds in a steel roll-cage finished in black, a six-point racing harness for the driver’s side; including two shoulder belt designs for use with or without the HANS safety device and a fire extinguisher with bracket.
As for the Spyder, don’t feel left out. You can spend extra on the optional Spyder Classic interior package. It comprises a two-tone look in Bordeaux Red and black that can also be extended to the hood. The trim strips will be painted in GT Silver Metallic; found on the Speedster.
Everyone will want one in their porch but only a select few will be able to afford the RM970,000 for the 718 Spyder and the RM999,000 for the 718 Cayman GT4.
