Porsche Cayman T, BMW 7-series, BMW 8-series Convertible, Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Think weekends not weekdays for this driver-focused 718 Cayman T
The good news? Compared with the entry-level 296bhp 718 Cayman, the new T equates to a 10 per cent discount when you add all T-specific extras. That includes dark 20-inch alloys, adjustable sports suspension, bi-lingual exhaust, the Sport Chrono kit, a Sport mode for stability control, torque vectoring and a mechanical limited-slip diff. The bad news is that it costs £7071 more than an unadorned Cayman, pushing it to within £3746 of the 718 Cayman S, which has an altogether stronger 345bhp.
However, thanks to the impressive real-life performance of the downsized 2.0-litre engine, the Cayman T does not – unlike the 911 T – feel like an otherwise highly complete athlete with a weak heart.
It can swoosh from a standstill to 62mph in 5.1 seconds and reach 170mph with our test car’s manual transmission, which suits this concept better than the optional PDK. While the four-cylinder engine doesn’t sound as musical and strong-voiced as the old flat-six, ultimately acoustics aren’t really an issue.
In ethos if not hardware, this is a cut-price alternative to the track-focused Cayman GT4. Because it sounds meaner, answers more promptly to throttle orders, tramlines a little more and is lowered 20mm on stiffer springs with firmer adaptive dampers, the 718 Cayman T feels brawnier and subjectively faster than the base model.
When warm, the bigger tyres instil more lateral grip as well as fierce traction, but you pay for its dynamic focus with well-below-par ride quality on B-roads. In crosswinds and when following ruts, the directional stability can also be unsettling at times.
The T looks the part. With the exception of tacky full-length stickers along the door bottoms, the 718 T looks every bit as desirable as the top-spec GTS. Inside, we find sports seats (take your pick from off-the-peg chairs to pricey 918-style carbonfibre buckets), acres of so-called Sport Tex upholstery and fabric loops in lieu of conventional door openers.
All things considered, the 718 Cayman T is a better car for weekend thrill-seekers than the regular 718 Cayman, but less easy to live with the rest of the week.