Road Test Report: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Car Review

For those who are passionate about badges and enjoy indulging in extreme driving stunts, the Porsche 718 Cayman is an obvious choice. With its race-engineered bodywork and 500 horsepower flat-6 motor, this top-of-the-line GT4 RS variant amplifies the recipe to new heights. We went highway hunting and grocery shopping with it to see if we could defend its pricing and position in the market. We discovered the following:

Aesthetics & design

The Cayman is designed to resemble the fabled 911. It has the makings of a good thing with its teardrop silhouette and sharply sloping nose. However, its fate of always being subordinate to the 911 meant that it would never be able to match the flagship's overall beauty, either because of willful design errors or genuine incapacity. The Cayman isn't unattractive; it's just not as good as it could be. Size is where it triumphs! Not only does it resemble the original 911 more closely, but its dimensions 4.456 mm by 1,822 mm by 1,267 mm make it the perfect size for a sports car.

The amazing GT4 RS appears, and it is further accessorized to create a look that even Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada would be proud of. There is a massive swan neck rear spoiler for more drama and downforce, as well as NACA air intakes for the best brake cooling and louvers in the CFRP wings for better ventilation.

It has an emblem sticker for the bonnet to save weight, and the forged magnesium alloys are an extremely pricey option at Dh54,000. The car is incredibly beautiful in a way that an engineer would find admirable, thanks to its intimidating aero kit, hunkered-down appearance (30 mm lower than the standard car), and enormous 20-inch blue wheels. Form comes after function in this case.

The interior is low-slung after that. Even though it's a 2016 design parody with an excessively button-stacked layout, it's still a useful area that radiates richness from the materials and details used. Not only is the stylish three-spoke steering wheel covered in Alcantara, but the roof is as well. To complement the allure of those blue wheels, the black leather and deep sea Race-Tex seat upholstery combination further uplifts the atmosphere. Inside, door handles are replaced with nylon blue pulls to further reduce weight.

The seat is low to the ground, the steering wheel and pedals are positioned for maximum control, and the driver enjoys the standard Porsche setup. Even with the excellent visibility, there are large blind spots visible through the rear windows because someone had the bright idea to replace them with CFRP air intakes. I'm hoping they'll come up with a better solution. Moving on, the stunning analog counters are still present, and the 330 km/h speed marker and high 9,000 rpm redline provide readings that are both motivating and frightening. A customizable 4.6-inch digital screen is located on the far right.

Regarding capacity, be aware that the racing buckets are narrowly fitted and cannot hold holiday weight. The jokes are on you if you intend to travel with children, much like in a 911. The 718 only has two seats.

Powertrain & performance

The ignition key's actual insert is another now-iconic feature. There isn't a start button here. With a bark of awakening, the naturally aspirated 4.0-liter 6-cylinder boxer engine, which is derived from the GT3, fires up. You can tell right away that RS has all heart. Inside, the noise level is similar to that of a Nissan GT-R, with loud clanking mechanical noises that evoke the atmosphere of a ship's boiler room.

As soon as you pull out of the garage, the throttle feels immediate, and the chassis seems willing to comply. It follows you around akin to an exoskeleton. It seems related. Additionally, you see that what is essentially the opposite of quiet luxury is being observed by jealous neighbors.

It flies when you give it some juice. Driving this requires being awake since the acceleration is so harsh and it moves you from where you are to where you want to be so fast. Repeatedly test the launch control will ensure that it delivers. From a standstill, 100 km/h can be reached in just 3.4 seconds, and a quarter mile in 11.3 seconds. If you can hold on long enough, it can reach an amazing 315 km/h against the wind. I discovered that the 7-speed DSG is arguably the fastest transmission I've ever tested as I indulged in my love of fast drives. You can instantly see the needle on the rev counter jump up and down by simply pulling the paddles.

It transforms from an exoskeleton into a shadow that moves with you as the speed increases. Thanks to upgraded springs and dampers, the grip is so great that you can change lanes and navigate corners both sharp and sweeping ones with the dexterity of a surgeon. It would require some naughty behavior to push it beyond its bounds. During all of this, the twin rear exhausts, which have a button to turn them up, are letting out loud barks.

You are propelled forward from your seat when you call for an emergency stop. Its six-piston calipers grip 408 mm front discs and four-pistons clamp 380 mm rear discs, allowing it to shred speed with authority. What more could you ask for? The fact that it didn't feel shaky in traffic is good news. Furthermore, the ride quality is acceptable and better than it was in the Cayman R we used to drive!

Functionality & features

Similar to most electric cars, all Caymans have two trunks for convenience. Irony that surprises me! Though I'm not sure if either can accommodate a full-size suitcase, the front compartment has 125 liters of space while the rear cavity behind the engine has 134 liters. Two retractable cupholders tucked away in the carbon fiber and not much more are the only spaces inside.

In terms of infotainment, the equipment's age is evident. It has an older CD player that isn't retro; rather, it's small for this day and age. Audio enthusiasts won't mind, though. If the rumbling exhaust isn't enough, you can always turn up the 10-speaker 505-Watt Bose system to annoy your neighbors. Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay are also included. With features like cruise control, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system, the RS meets safety standards.

Verdict

A fantastic way to get started with Porsche is with the Cayman. It is well-built, stylish, and fast. The ultimate version of that formula is this GT4 RS. This is the real thing—a road-racing race car par excellence—with its intimidating aero kit, race-derived engine, and exceptional chassis dynamics. It will keep captivating you even as you log more miles in its pursuit of speed. Granted, there is a large blind area and limited cargo capacity, but as far as driving is concerned, this is the new gold standard.

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