Porsche Gives The 718 Cayman An Even Lighter, Faster GT4 RS Variant

• The 718 Cayman GT4 RS is the new flagship in the 718 model line 

• Powered by a 4-litre flat-six turbo-petrol engine paired with a 7-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox

• 35kg lighter than the standard 718 Cayman GT4

• Lapped the Nurburgring in 7:04.511 minutes, 23 seconds quicker than the standard 718 GT4

Porsche has unveiled its newest sports car, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS at the LA Auto Show. It’s a mid-engined sports car with a 500PS 6-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. The engineers have trimmed every gram of fat from the sports car, so the GT4 RS weighs 1,415kg, or about the same as a Tata Nexon EV. It’s even lighter than the standard 718 Cayman GT4 by 35kg. 

The Cayman GT4 RS has a 500PS/450Nm flat-6 engine that revs all the way to 9,000 rpm. That’s 80PS and 20Nm more power than the regular Cayman GT4. As standard, the engine is paired with a 7-speed PDK automatic transmission. 

All that weight saving results in a supercar-quick 0-100kmph time of 3.4 seconds. If you’re into numbers, the Cayman GT4 has lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7:04.511 minutes, over 23 seconds quicker than the non-RS Cayman GT4. 

The RS is equipped with a bonnet and front fenders that are made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic. Inside, lightweight materials are used in the rear windshield, door pads, and carpets. The GT4 RS doesn’t even have proper door handles -- you get fabric loops that you pull to open the doors. 

An optional Weissach package is available in which the bonnet, air vents, rear wing and outer rear view mirrors have a carbon-weave texture. You even get a titanium roll cage behind the front seats, and titanium tailpipes to boot. For even more money, Porsche can equip the Cayman GT4 RS with 20-inch forged magnesium alloy wheels! The standard car has 20-inch forged aluminium wheels. 

You might have had an inkling of the price after reading the words “titanium roll cage.” In its home market, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS retails at an equivalent of Rs 1.19 crore! If the car is launched in India, you’d have to pay around twice as much for a fully imported model. In comparison, the standard Cayman GT4 costs Rs 1.88 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) and rivals supercars such as the Lamborghini Huracan.