Shop Creates Cayman GT4 RS Since Porsche Didn't
The Cayman GT4 was already an awesome car to drive. But Shark Werks couldn't help but to create the RS version that Porsche did not.
The Porsche Cayman GT4 Finally Has ‘Bite’
When Porsche first produced the Porsche 911 in the 1960s, many considered it as the ‘perfect’ sports car. For most, it was hard to imagine how they could improve on ‘perfection’. Enter the Boxster and the Cayman in the mid-1990s. The Cayman’s mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout gave it superior on-road balance and the ability to handle corners like it was built for them. After intense calls from the motorsport community to crank up the performance of the Cayman, Porsche finally heeded to their pleas and came up with an even better car than the 911 in the view of most ardent car enthusiasts – the Porsche Cayman GT4. This car’s exceptional steering precision and body control set it a class above even much pricier sports cars like Ferrari in terms of handling. It also featured a 385-horsepower 3.8-liter flat-six engine.
The GT4 was indeed awesome, but many, like the folks at Sharkwerks, Inc. in California, felt that it still lacked sufficient ‘bite’. These guys endeavored to give the GT4 that extra ‘snap’, and they managed to build an extremely quick Porsche GT4 that they named it the Cayman GT4 RS.
A Worthy Tuning Establishment
Sharkwerks is a top-rated auto workshop based in Fremont, California that has more than 10 years of experience in tuning Porsches. They know how to give Porsches serious track-day potential, and for that reason, they are among the go-to places for Porsche owners in the Fremont when they need to tweak their cars. Therefore, when the folks at Sharkwerks say that they have built a Cayman GT4 RS, their claims ought to be taken seriously.
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Hard Work Pays Off Eventually
The guys at Sharkwerks knew that they had their work cut out for them and that they had to do a lot of spending to upgrade the Porsche Cayman GT4. By the time they were done with their Cayman GT4 RS, they had added $20,000 worth of upgrades to it. They took intake components from iPd® and asked EVOMSit® for software tuning. A new exhaust was also installed with 97 mm tips along with other equipment. They also installed Salter Aero® rear wing uprights, RSS canards to the front bumper, and an RSS ducktail to the rear.
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The Workings Under the Hood
The 385-horsepower 3.8-liter inline-6 engine that comes with the standard GT4 is no joke. On its own, the car can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds but frankly speaking, there is room for improvement and the guys at Sharkwerks saw that. They managed to ooze out 40 more horsepower from the engine and plenty of more torque. However, they did not work alone. The GT4’s transmission is known to have long gear ratios, which hurts the car's potential. Therefore, Sharkwerks asked Guard Transmission LLC to help them out in this area. The folks at Guard Transmission are seasoned veterans when it comes to transmission related work, which they owe to their commitments with World Racing Teams. Guard Transmission replaced the GT4’s gears with shorter ratios to maximize output.
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Toe And Camber Angles
Sharkwerks made no changes to the suspension for their ‘RS’ version and left it stock. However, they asked their friends at TC Design to help out with wheel alignment and adjust the car’s toe and camber angles. The idea behind the alignment was to add a bit more grip to the car while it is cornering while keeping it stable and civil. The GT4 RS does perform exceptionally well around corners.
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Wheels and Tires
The Sharkwerks Porsche Cayman GT4 RS would not be complete without a set of new wheels and tires. They chose to add 20-inch Fifteen52 Outlaw 001 3-piece wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires that deliver the kind of grip that an ultra-high-performance car like the GT4 RS ought to have.
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Daily Driver?
The fantastic thing about this Porsche Cayman GT4 RS is that it is civilized enough to serve as a daily driver. Most other high-performance-car builders would not hesitate to give the car an even more aggressive suspension system setup, but the guys at Sharkwerks refined its wheel alignment instead. As a result, the car still offers smooth, compliant rides while exhibiting improved stability and control. The new exhaust system installed on this car is also reasonably quiet at lower speeds, so you can drive through your neighborhood without waking up the neighbors.
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What’s Next on The Table?
Shark Werks outdid themselves with their Cayman GT4 RS project. One thing is for sure – Porsche enthusiasts will be watching them intently to see what other Porsche build they are going to come up with in the future.
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