2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS

The best keep getting better at Porsche, and the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS brought out the best in us during our initial track laps at the Streets of Willow race course in central California. 

When you’ve got a parts bin as extensive as Porsche’s to pick from, you can create some pretty amazing machines. For the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, Porsche chose the best engine in their arsenal, the 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated flat-six from the 911 GT3..with its 9000 rpm redline to stir our souls and 493 horsepower to rocket us towards the horizon. It’s mated to an upgraded 7-speed PDK transmission and routes power through a limited slip rear differential, also jacked from the 911 GT3. Zero to Sixty runs are over in 3.2 seconds, enroute to a 196 mile-per-hour top speed. 

Thankfully, Porsche never adds power to a car without optimizing the chassis and aero to make the most of it. And here that means an adjustable front diffuser and rear wing to balance downforce, additional air ducts, upgraded brakes and a noticeably stiffer, yet still compliant suspension designed for precision control and stability over sustained track loads. 

Center lock wheels are fitted for the first time on a Cayman, along with front axle lift. A Weissach package adds acres of exposed carbon fiber, a magnesium wheel option, and titanium tailpipe trim.  

The sensation you get from behind the wheel of the Cayman GT4 RS is exhilarating, to say the least.  A new airbox atop the engine is integrated into the cabin interior, so you get an earful of that sweet symphony with every tip of the tachometer.  Add to that razor sharp steering, quick throttle response and all that extra oomph, and you’ve got a winning formula indeed. Cayman GT4 RS is expected to go on sale this summer, with a starting price around $141,000.