MID-ENGINE MARVELS
German automaker’s sports cars made more comfortable while losing marginal speed
ESTORIL, PORTUGAL The Porsche Cayman is a sports car, not a race car. But Portugal’s Circuito Estoril is a serious racetrack and for a sports car, the Cayman is clearly in its element. Maybe it has something to do with the GTS nameplate bolted to the mid-engine two-seater’s backside.
Many Porsche models have had the GTS appellation over the years, including the Cayman and its droptop sibling, the Boxster. The 2021 model year sees the return of the six-cylinder boxer engine for the Boxster and Cayman. The GTS gets a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat six-cylinder borrowed from the upcoming 2020 Boxster Spyder and Cayman GT4, though slightly detuned, at 394 horsepower. Even so, the new GTS puts out 29 more horsepower than its predecessor.
The new Boxster and Cayman GTS 4.0 offer comfort and amenities, while being only marginally slower in doing so.
The GTS’s power is put through a six-speed manual gearbox. Yes, eventually a PDK transmission will be offered, but Porsche is appeasing traditionalists first before looking after two-pedal fans.
The list of standard go-fast goodies is extensive — sport exhaust system, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) sport suspension with a 20-millimetre lower ride height compared to standard 718 Boxster and Cayman models, torque vectoring with a mechanical limited-slip differential, Porsche Stability Management (PSM) with individually selectable Sport mode, Sport Chrono package including upgraded Porsche Track Precision App, and Porsche active drivetrain mounts.
The mid-engine sports cars are fitted with 20-inch black alloy wheels and high-performance Pirelli P-Zero tires measuring P235/35ZR20 at the front and P265/35ZR20 out back. Along with the increased power, the brake system has been upgraded; the crossdrilled cast-iron front rotors now measure 350 mm in diameter (up from 330) and are equipped with red six-piston calipers, while the rear rotor size has been increased to 330. Ceramic brakes are available as an option.
Superior throttle response is a given. Both the Cayman and Boxster accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, and reach a top track speed of 293 km/h. And while the road experience along the Portuguese coastline in the Boxster was a much-needed restorative — thanks to a top-down drive on a warm and sunny afternoon — the lapping of Estoril’s 4.2km circuit in the Cayman was the car guy’s version of the Perfect Day.
Though both GTS models are conceptually and historically tied to some of Porsche’s sportiest mid-engine racing cars, their modern descendants are what the company likes to call “sporty all-rounders.”
Estoril is a fast, technical track with 12 corners — including two parabolic corners — elevation changes, esses, and a 303-metre front straightaway. Two Cayman GTSes played follow the leader with one of Porsche’s driving instructors, who set the pace in a 911 as well as demonstrated the proper lines around the circuit.
There were some differences in the cars, one with all the gofast bits, including the ceramic brakes, lowered suspension and sport seats, the other with the optional PASM suspension and the cast-iron rotors.
Both displayed strong, linear acceleration as only a lightweight (1,405 kilograms) sports car with nearly 400 hp can. And for a dedicated three-pedal guy, 7,000-rpm upshifts with the bolt-action precision of the manual transmission were an absolute joy, and the benefit of being in Sport+ mode meant automatic rev matching on the downshifts.
The lip spoiler and air intake of the Sport Design front fascia, along with the redesigned lower rear fascia, remain finished in black, while the front running light lenses and tail lights are tinted. Black Alcantara is the material of choice for the interior, covering the centre sections of the standard sport seats as well as the steering wheel, centre console, shifter, and door armrests. In the Cayman, Alcantara also covers the A-pillars and headliner. The standard interior trim is carbon fibre.
Also standard is Porsche Communication Management infotainment system, with a high-resolution seven-inch touch screen and the Sport Chrono package, including the enhanced Track Precision app. The smartphone app shows performance-related data on the PCM display and records it for later analysis.
As the majority of the variations of the iconic 911 mature into a more comfortable, heavier — though still exceedingly fast — sports car, the Boxster and Cayman inherit the mantle of Porsche’s sporting purity. In GTS guise, they are more than up to the task.
The 718 Cayman and Boxster GTS 4.0 will be available to order this summer, with cars arriving at dealerships late in the year. Pricing has not been announced. Driving.ca