NEW SPORTS CARS WITH OLD SCHOOL RECIPE
THE common setup for today’s sports cars is a highly-potent turbocharged engine paired with quick dual-clutch automatics.
But that’s not the case with the 2020 Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder and 718 Cayman GT4.
Both cars went for old school approach in this respect; using naturally-aspirated engines and manual transmissions.
Sitting in between the cabin and the boot of each cars is a 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated engine that revs up to 8,000rpm, mated to six-speed manual transmission. And that’s the only type of gearbox available.
Both cars are not entirely new, as there’s previous iterations for both Boxster Spyder and Cayman GT4. However, this time around, they featured 718 nomenclatures to their names.
Porsche said the 4.0-litre flat-six is a new engine, and based on the same family of turbo-charged unit for the new 911. But this particular engine has been tuned for the nonboosted purposes.
It develops 414hp and 420Nm of torque and gives both cars century sprint of 4.4 seconds.
Top speed for the 718 Boxster Spyder is rated at 301kph while the 718 Cayman GT4 is slightly faster, able to reach 304kph.
The Boxster Spyder continues with the tradition of Roadsters such as the Porsche 550 Spyder and the 718 RS 60 Spyder. With lightweight in mind, this means manually-operating soft top.
As for the Cayman GT4, among the striking features is the improved aerodynamics. It delivers up to 50 per cent more downforce without adversely affecting drag.
The front section, which is optimised in the GT style, maintains the aerodynamic balance with a large front spoiler lip and air curtains.
Inside, both cars get motor sport oriented theme which includes Al can tara wrappings for the steering wheel, gear lever and centres of the seats.
As before, there’s components borrowed from the 911 GT3. These two inherit the front axle and brakes from that car.
There’s also a larger Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake as an option.
Improved suspension is on the table as well. Both cars ride 1.18 inches lower than the standard Boxster and Cayman, and the system made way for manual adjustments for the camber, toe, ride height and anti-roll bar settings.
Wheels are 20-inch in diameter, shod in sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tyres with a 245-section up front and a 295-section at the rear.
Both cars also receive mechanical limited-slip differential with torque vectoring at the rear, together with the new sports exhaust.
The Boxster Spyder and Cayman GT4 are available for order now and will reach the international dealers in spring next year.