Throwback Thursday: Porsche Appeases Faithful with 4.0 GTS Cayman
Bigger engine emboldens Porsche's Cayman GTS
Bigger engine - always a win
Small car, plus big engine, equals lots of motoring fun. This has always been a formula for success when developing the very best sports cars decade after decade and Porsche delivered for fans of the Cayman. Instead of adding boost, Porsche has increased engine capacity and built a thrilling new Cayman denoted by its 4.0 GTS branding. If you believe in the pursuit of a sheer driving appeal, then there is no substitute for this Porsche.
Engine in the middle - where it should be
For many dedicated Porsche fans, the Cayman is close to the perfect sportscar. With its engine near the middle giving ideal balance, the coupe handles accelerating, braking, or cornering all very nimbly. This mid-engine layout also gives it a wonderful overall shape, with the low nose and full mid-section. And Porsche has now exploited the Cayman platform even better, with its new 4.0 GTS designation.
Devours the corners (and their kerbs)
Cayman 4.0 GTS owners can enjoy more than an inch of ride height reduction compared to an 'S' variant Cayman. The lower center of gravity means even better cornering performance when at speed. Porsche always over-engineers and the bigger engine has shown what the Cayman platform is capable of. Built with great inherent rigidity, it will remain committed to your line-choice.
Delicate drifter
A crucial part of the Cayman's appeal has always been its handling balance. With the engine in the middle, the Cayman can be steered on the throttle or made to pendulum around its own center-point. That means an incredibly engaging high-speed driving experience. With a larger 4-liter now sitting amidships, the Cayman 4.0 GTS has an even better anchor around which to drift into oversteer - and the power to sustain those powerslides.
All the power and drama
The Cayman 4.0 GTS engine is wonderfully potent and linear. In a time when most of the market only offers turbocharged alternatives, having a large naturally-aspirated engine truly distinguishes this Porsche from its rivals. Peak power rates at 394hp and there is 309 lb-ft of torque. But those numbers, impressive as they are, do not convey the linearity of this flat-six engine. It can run up to nearly 8000rpm with an amazing soundtrack to match.
It runs impressive numbers
As with all Porsches, the Cayman 4.0 GTS has a tachometer smack dab among its instruments. The red-facing on the gauge adds some go-fast design flair to the mix. It is an impressively light car, at 3100lbs, which helps to produce excellent acceleration numbers. Even with the clutch coordination required for a manual gearbox, the 4.0 GTS is good for 0-60mph in only 4.3 seconds. It is a true champion of Porsche's traditional naturally-aspirated flat-six engine values.
Six in the center tunnel
It only seems apt to equip such a purist sports car with a manual gearbox. The Cayman 4.0 GTS already possesses all the elements that true driving enthusiasts desire: a mid-engine configuration and atmospheric flat-six engine. Kudos to Porsche for allowing its customers the discretion and choice of opting for a manual-gearbox, to make the driving experience that much more immersive. For those who live to complete the perfect heel-and-toe downshifting technique, there is possibly no finer new sportscar to practice it in, than Porsche's Cayman GTS 4.0.
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