Belt up for the best ride of your life

ONLY Porsche’s most focused, performanceoriented models get the RS treatment.

There’s been longstanding thought that the Cayman has been kept at such a level so as not to interfere with its

911 big brother – but with the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS, the gloves are off.

This is a Cayman dialled right the way up.

Acting as a flagship for the range, it gets the same engine as the larger 911 GT3 but in a more compact, lightweight body.

And of course, as with any RS model, it’s got a host of aerodynamic touches that not only keep it as sticky in the bends as possible, but ensure nobody misses it.

We’ve been behind the wheel…

What’s new?

Every part of the regular Cayman GT4 has been tweaked, sharpened and

– in most places – made lighter in its evolution to RS specification.

The car weighs in at 1,415kg with fuel, some 35kg less than the regular GT4.

This has been achieved through the widespread use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) in areas such as the bonnet and wings, while even the carpets have been made thinner and lighter.

A new Weissach package – fitted to our test car – takes these measures even further and adds a titanium roll cage, titanium exhaust pipes and a number of panels that are given a carbon-weave finish for an even sportier look.

What’s it like to drive?

There’s no need to dance around it – the Cayman 718 GT4 RS drives like few other cars available.

It’s a car that takes the performance and brawniness of the larger GT3 and throws it into an even sharper, compact package.

The steering is spot-on, while the gear shifts from the PDK gearbox fire into place with scarcely believable crispness. Then there’s the noise of the thing.

The GT4 RS features air intakes behind the driver and passenger windows, so when you’re accelerating you get this glorious blend of intake noise and outright savagery from the engine.

It’s an engine that feels even more capable within the Cayman package, while the ride – though firm – is remarkably pliant.

We spent a few hours on the motorway and the Cayman managed it without a quibble.

How does it look?

Porsche’s RS models aren’t known for their shy and retiring looks and the GT4 RS is no different.

Our car’s Weissach package included a carbon-fibre weave bonnet and a huge rear wing, meaning everywhere it went, it attracted a crowd.

But these types of cars aren’t designed to fly under the radar, so we can’t fault it for a bit of flamboyance.

The whole car is designed to go fast, after all, which is why it incorporates all manner of aerodynamic touches.

The underneath of the car has been optimised to lower drag and it ties in with the rear diffuser, too.

As a result of these changes – and others – the RS generates 25 per cent more downforce than the regular GT4, in fact.

The GT4 RS sits atop Porsche’s Cayman range. Jack Evans finds out what it’s like

What’s the spec like?

Prices for the Cayman GT4 RS start from £108,370 and though that represents a huge premium over the regular Cayman’s £47,700 starting price, it feels worth every single penny.

Of course, the majority of that cost is going into mechanical upgrades, with all of Porsche’s motorsport learnings poured into this pint-sized performance car. Features such as an adjustable chassis for race track use and ball-jointed suspension mountings – which help to give more direct handling – show that the upgrades to this car are all about making it go as quickly and drive as sharply as possible.

You can bump the price up considerably by going near to the options list, with our test car coming in at just over £133,000 after all of its extras had been applied.

The verdict

The Porsche 718 Cayman

GT4 RS is undeniably one of motoring’s all-time greats. This is a car to remind you just why driving is so special and, through its almost nervelike link between driver and machine, ensures that each drive is just as memorable as the last.

Though it might be angled towards track use, this is still a hugely competent road car and one that should be celebrated wholeheartedly.

Its combination of pace and outright agility is nothing short of spectacular.

It’s a sports car for the ages.