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POrSChE hAS wOrkEd ITS NEw COmPACT CAymAN GT4 INTO A SPOrTS CAr ThAT PErFOrmANC­E PurISTS wOuld lOvE.

- By LEE PANG SENG automania@thestar.com.my

THERE appears to be a growing trend of extending prestigiou­s and exclusive models down the line to expand appeal and market share. From Porsche, this has surfaced in the Cayman GT4, the entry-level model to purist sports car driving for those who might find the newly launched 911 GT3 RS too big for their liking.

This GT family model is not to be confused with the Cayman GTS, which is provided as a sportier option to the standard one with merely a bigger (and more powerful) displaceme­nt engine and firmer dynamic settings.

According to Porsche’s High Performanc­e Cars project manager Jorg Jürgen, the Porsche GT with a numeral is the car that is developed for some really serious fast driving on the road and it is said that more than 80% of those who buy this GT range take them to the race tracks.

Understand­ably, there are some handme downs in the developmen­t of the Cayman GT4 from the bigger GT3, with some refinement­s made to accommodat­e the more compact body of the Cayman.

The front suspension and brake set up is taken directly from the GT3, with minor adjustment­s and changes made, while the rear is developed from the mid-engine Cayman base as it is different compared to the rear engine modus of the 911.

Even the brake system is specially adapted to the Cayman GT4; apart from the discs being bigger than that in the Cayman GTS, the brake discs are made of a special composite to achieve a lower unsprung weight for better vehicle dynamic balance. There is also the option for PCCB ceramic brakes that are mounted differentl­y to handle more forces acting on them during braking and contribute to even better dynamic control.

Although the 3.8-litre flat-six engine is the same six-cylinder unit powering the 911 Carrera S, it has to be turned 180 degrees to accommodat­e the exhaust and fuel feed trunking that is typical to the mid-engine location.

This is the first time that Porsche has used this engine in a mid-engine location and it was a learning curve for its engineers.

Output for the direct injection engine is improved with 385hp (an additional 45hp) being churned out at 7,400rpm and 420Nm (+40Nm) that is delivered from 4,750 to 6,000rpm. To raise the purist appeal of the Cayman GT4, Porsche decided that it would be available only with a six-speed manual transmissi­on, also a carryover from the Carrera.

However, the transmissi­on is strengthen­ed in a few areas to provide better gear engagement; interestin­gly, the gearshift was made 20cm shorter so that the travel between gears is actually shorter for the desired sporty feel.

In body styling, the Cayman GT4 differs from the normal models in a unique front section that has a longer overhang and runs on a longer wheelbase to be 34mm longer than the Cayman GTS, it also sits 30mm lower.

The body styling is refined to achieve greater downforce and engine cooling: three large air intakes in front supply air to three radiators behind them as well as the front brakes, and the large front spoiler extends lower to accelerate air flow between the underbody and the road to generate downforce in front.

At the rear is a fixed rear wing, made of lightweigh­t carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), located by two aluminium brackets that generates downforce with the less distinct rear spoiler bib beneath it.

This arrangemen­t is said to result in a high level of driving stability and exceptiona­l performanc­e through corners.

As proof of Porsche’s ambition to display its competence in building ‘exceptiona­l’ sports cars in every vehicle class, the Cayman GT4 is a top performer in its segment clocking seven minutes and 40 seconds on the North Loop of the Nürburgrin­g.

Our understand­ing of that was provided in a drive on familiar grounds, the Algarve motorsport circuit in Portugal that we enjoyed an impression drive of this new generation Cayman two years ago.

Again, the drive format was similar; we drove in a four-car convoy, starting with a warm-up lap and a cooling-down lap, with three fast

We had former Rohrl as the pace was as dazzling

The lighter than made driving the Cayman GT4 easy throw gearshift

Using mostly fourth on the short gear for two hairpins, speed above 5,000rpm, immediatel­y that different kettle model.

It was a point- dynamics, probably MINI Cooper S and stability from

We could take quicker, with less specially ‘homologate­d’ Cup Sport tyres) the car momentaril­y rise, lifting off and

helped to regain The first Cayman PCCB brakes that

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The Cayman

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