Porsche has been spied testing the first Cayman GT4 RS – a lighter, harder and faster version of our 2019 evo Car of the Year. It’s expected that the GT4 RS will follow Porsche’s traditional RS recipe of combining lighter components, aggressive aero and an increase in engine power to create what could be the most exciting Cayman yet.
The GT4 RS should find its mechanical baseline in the standard GT4, utilising a version of the naturally aspirated 4-litre flat-six also in use in the GTS 4.0. Power will be raised above that of the standard GT4’s 414bhp, but is unlikely to go significantly higher so as not to get too close to the next 911 GT3 we will see later this year.
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Since 2015, all of Porsche’s RS models have only been available with Porsche’s dual-clutch PDK transmission, a trend we expect to continue with this GT4 RS. Standard GT4 and GTS models will also be available with Porsche’s seven-speed PDK later this year, joining the current six-speed manual.
Clear on this prototype are the GT division’s significant changes to the aero package, swapping out the standard GT4 wing with a top-mounted unit on chunky development stacks. The bonnet is also new, and mimics that of the previous 991.2 911 GT3 RS with its two NACA-style ducts and central crease.
In contrast to previous test cars is the inclusion of a 20-inch centerlock wheel design, which is a first for any Cayman derivative. The wheel itself looks to be the same magnesium item as is seen on other Porsche GT models fitted with the optional Weissach package, a typically popular option.
A more interesting adaptation on this mule is the replacement of the Cayman’s rear quarter windows with a set of vertical louvres. It’s impossible to know from these images whether they are functional or not, but if they are it would require a big change to the interior layout to incorporate a large high-mounted intake of any description, segmenting the engine compartment from the rest of the cabin in a similar way to that seen in a Ferrari F8 Tributo or Audi R8, rather than the standard Cayman’s open layout with the engine residing underneath a carpeted section. Look closely at the images and you’ll also notice the rear windscreen is also blackened from inside, adding further mystery to what a future Cayman GT4 RS’s interior could feel like.
Porsche has not yet confirmed its development of the GT4 RS, but with Porsche’s GT division proving to be one of its most profitable, there is reason not to expand on its mid-engined range, especially as the 992 911 GT3 promises to push the rear-engined flagship further up the performance spectrum.