Porsche is finally giving its mid-engine little-brother to the 911 a proper motorsports flagship.
The 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman has been rumoured and spied, but it hadn’t been confirmed… until now, that is.
Details about the hottest-ever 718 Cayman are hard to come by at the moment, but Porsche says it has already burned around the 20.6km loop at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7:04.511, and the 20.8km loop in 7:09.300.
That’s almost 24 seconds faster than its little brother, the 718 Cayman GT4, managed. The near-production prototype was wearing Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres (which will be optional when the RS hits production) and was equipped with a race seat.
“The GT4 RS is one of the sharpest cars Porsche has ever developed. And you really have had to experience the breathtaking noise it makes for yourself,” said development driver Jorg Bergmeister.
What will power the GT4 RS isn’t clear, but it’s likely to be a development of the 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six engine in the regular GT4.
It makes 309kW of power and 430Nm of torque in the GT4 when the dual-clutch transmission is fitted, but that could be boosted to around 375kW if rumours are to be believed.
It’s like the new GT4 RS will be PDK-only, with the manual reserved for the regular GT4 and its (slightly) different focus.
There’s a more aggressive aerodynamics package than features on the regular GT4, with NACA ducts on the bonnet, a swollen front bumper, and a swan-neck rear spoiler nicked from the 911 GT3 RS.
What look like carbon-ceramic brakes lurk behind those spindly wheels, and the bonnet could be made of carbon-fibre or magnesium if the Weissach Pack-equipped previous 911 GT3 RS is a guide.
Expect to see a roll cage, fire extinguisher, and four-point harnesses on the options list as well.
It’s not clear how much the Cayman GT4 RS will cost, but the regular GT4 kicks off just below $215,000 before on-road costs. A price tag around the $300,000 mark isn’t guaranteed, but it’s possible.
