PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4

Its destination: the circuit racetrack. Its mission: pure Porsche driving pleasure. In introducing the Cayman GT4, Porsche is once again demonstrating its competence in building exceptional sports cars in every vehicle class. It is making its debut with a drum roll: the Cayman GT4 is the top performer in its segment, turning in a lap time of 7 minutes and 40 seconds on the North Loop of the Nürburgring.

GT sports cars from Porsche embody the most passionate connection between everyday driving and the circuit racetrack, and so they embody the sporty core of the brand. Four out of five drivers of Porsche sports cars with the GT classification also use them on the race track. The Cayman GT4 also makes a clear statement that Porsche will continue to promote radical two-door sports cars in the future - sports cars that are developed at the motorsport department in Weissach.

Although the engine, chassis, brakes and aerodynamic design of the Cayman GT4 are configured for maximum driving dynamics, the Cayman GT4 still retains the versatility that is typical of the two-seat Porsche coupes. It is powered by a 3.8-litre flat-six engine with 385 hp (283 kW), which was derived from the 911 Carrera S engine. Its power is transferred by a manual transmission with six gears. This combination lets the Cayman GT4 accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and attain a top speed of 295 km/h. The car's NEDC fuel consumption is 10.3 l/100 km.

The front suspension, the PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) active damper system with a 30 mm lower ride height, and the brake system all come nearly entirely with components from the 911 GT3. The car's tuning for high sporty performance incorporates all control systems relevant to driving dynamics such as Porsche Stability Management (PSM), Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with a mechanical rear differential lock and dynamic transmission mounts.

The exterior of the Cayman GT4 is clearly differentiated from related mid-engine coupes. Three distinctive air intakes at the front and a large fixed rear wing signify an aerodynamic design that is designed for optimal performance. If desired, the Cayman GT4 can be equipped even more comprehensively for sporty performance. Options include the PCCB ceramic brake system with brake discs up to 410 mm in diameter, full bucket seats made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), a custom Sport Chrono Package and a Club Sport Package with a rollover protection cage at the rear, a fire extinguisher and a six-point safety harness for the driver.

The interior of the Cayman GT4 is equipped so that the driver and front passenger can experience unfiltered driving pleasure. They sit on sport seats that are upholstered in a combination of leather and Alcantara and offer very good lateral support. The new GT4 sport steering wheel, with its compact dimensions, guarantees precise control and direct steering feedback.

As a mid-engine sports car and a prime example of driving dynamics in its class, this car follows the conceptual tradition of the 911 GT1, the Carrera GT and the 918 Spyder.

Powerhouse from the 911 Carrera S

85 hp (283 kW) of power with 1,340 kg of unladen weight yields a weight-to-power ratio of 3.48 kg/hp, which forms the foundation for the impressive sprinting ability of the Cayman GT4. At maximum acceleration, the car reaches a speed of 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds.

420 Newton-metres of maximum torque over a range from 4,750 to 6,000 rpm, on the other hand, guarantee high flexibility, ensuring that the Cayman GT4 can also move at an exceptional swift pace with very little shifting work. The 3.8-litre flat-six engine always makes light work of driving in the latest Cayman.

The induction system of the Cayman supplies air to the naturally aspirated direct-injection engine in this model with its optimised air intakes. Sideblades guide a portion of the lateral air flow into the induction openings in front of the rear axle, creating a power-enhancing air charging effect.

Active gear shifting assist: automatic throttle-blips at push of a button

The driver can use two buttons on the centre console to adjust engine-relevant functions for even sportier dynamics. One of them activates automatic throttle-blips in downshifts. This enables better matching of engine speed during quick downshifts and optimal gear shifting. The other button controls the flaps of the sport exhaust system between cultivated damping and reduced back pressure with passionate sound.

Higher-strength six-speed transmission and dynamic transmission mounts

As a purist driving machine, the Cayman GT4 comes exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission. The Cayman GT4 is equipped with two dynamic transmission mounts for precise and stable handling in fast passages through bends. When driving in a dynamic style, the mounts are adjusted to a hard setting to prevent movement of the drive unit and its effects on driving behaviour.

Engine power is distributed to the two rear wheels via a classic mechanical differential lock which is a component of Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV). The locking effect is 22 per cent in traction and 27 per cent in thrust. In PTV, the system improves steering response and precision by making specific brake interventions at the rear wheel on the inside of the bend.

Chassis and brakes

The impressive lap time of the Cayman GT4 on the North Loop of the Nürburgring is also due to the sports car's new chassis. It is based on components from the 911 GT3 and was fully retuned.

The car also has a 13 mm larger front track width and 30 mm lower ride height than a standard Cayman. By comparison, the optional sport chassis for the other mid-engine sports cars offers a 20 mm lower ride height, and the usual PASM chassis is 10 mm lower.

In the Cayman GT4, PASM and PSM stability control operate based on algorithms that are tailored for circuit track driving. This results in very high speeds in bends, enhanced agility and even better track stability at higher speeds. And yet they also offer the entirely satisfactory driving comfort for long journeys and everyday driving that is typical of Porsche.

Many of the front suspension components come from the 911 GT3, including the larger wheel bearings and split wishbones. They create the right conditions for individual adjustment of wheel camber for circuit courses by means of adjustment plates - also known as shims. At the rear suspension, the wishbones and the mounting bridge of the anti-roll bar have been reinforced, and a special suspension knuckle is used that is tuned to the kinematics of the Cayman GT4. What are referred to as helper springs enable the use of a short and light main spring. At the same time, they assure that the main spring is pretensioned in the fully extended state. This design is widely used in motorsport, and it is used in all 911 GT race vehicles. To further improve wheel location, the Cayman GT4 gets individual chassis mounts at the front and rear suspensions similar to those of the 911 GT3 in a ball joint design.

Active dampers with Nürburgring tuning

As in all GT sports cars from Porsche, the PASM is tuned with special upside-down dampers based on those used in motorsport. The "Normal" setting is adapted to the course profile of the North Loop of the Nürburgring, while the "Sport" setting is for modern circuit race courses. This reduces movements of the superstructure to a minimum, which results in very precise and accurate driving behaviour.

One visual characteristic of the highly developed chassis that stands out immediately: the wheels. They fill nearly the entire space of the wheel arches. The design of the GT4 wheels is based on the wheels of the 911 GT3, but unlike those wheels they are mounted with five lug bolts. The wheel dimensions are significantly larger than on the other Cayman models. The 20-inch diameter wheels have a width of 8.5 inches in front and 11 inches at the rear. They are fitted with UHP (Ultra High Performance) tyres: 245/35 tyres in front and 295/30 at the rear. As in the 911 GT3, the Cayman GT4 also has a tyre pressure monitoring system as standard along with auxiliary circuit racetrack mode functionality. When driving on a circuit racetrack, this system enables precise monitoring of individually adjusted air pressure under consideration of ambient air pressure and temperature conditions.