2022 Porsche Cayman GT4 RS revealed, Australian pricing confirmed for 368kW hero

For almost as long as we can remember, Porsche has somewhat crippled the Cayman. That’s not to say that the mid-engined coupe isn’t a great car, it’s just that Zuffenhausen is fully aware of the position of the iconic 911 within its sports car firmament and has long ensured that the Cayman doesn’t encroach unduly onto its patch.

With the impending release of the first RS-badged Cayman, the gap between the two models has undoubtedly closed. That an RS-badged Cayman was on its way has been one of the worst-kept secrets in the performance car world, with relatively undisguised prototypes being a regular fixture at the Nordschleife. We even had a Porsche dealer in Brisbane take to Instagram in 2017 canvassing for deposits, somewhat letting that particular cat out of the bag.

The full details of the new car have just been revealed in Los Angeles, and we have a jaw-dropping Nürburgring lap time to chew on.

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With Jörg Bergmeister at the wheel, it did a full 20.832-kilometre lap in 7m09.3s, and the old 20.6km industry benchmark (minus the short straight at T13) in 7m04.511s, a massive 23.6 seconds faster than the 718 Cayman GT4.

Much of that gap will come down to the fact the RS was wearing gumball Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres on its centre-lock alloys, rubber that would only be good for Calder’s Thunderdome landfill after a handful of laps. Michelin has reported that these hoops are worth around 0.5s per kilometres on track, so that’s around 10 seconds accounted for right there. Then there’s the fact that the GT4 RS uses a PDK transmission compared to the GT4’s manual ’box which, if Porsche’s data for the 991 Carrera is anything to go by, will save another seven or eight seconds.

That leaves another six or seven seconds to find, easily accounted for by improved aero – check that vast GT3-style swan-neck rear wing – a wider front track and, finally, a lot more grunt to the tune of 368kW and 450Nm, thanks in no small part to the naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre lifted from the 911 GT3. Process air intakes now replace the rear quarter windows, and the Cayman GT4's signature side intakes remain. With a full tank of fuel and no driver, the Cayman GT4 RS tips the scales at 1415kg.

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Combine all that with the telepathic PDK transmission (no manuals for RS models) and you end up with a vehicle that’ll lap faster than a McLaren 720S. To really put that figure into perspective, it’s around eight seconds quicker than Lars Kern ever managed to lap a 991.2 GT3. Porsche was at pains to note that unlike some ’Ring-timed vehicles, this was in production representative state, with just a racing seat fitted for Bergmeister’s safety.

Lap times are all well and good, but has Porsche developed this car to such a scalpel-sharpness that its genius is lost on mere mortals? Andreas Preuninger, Porsche’s director of the GT Model Line believes that the two demands are not mutually exclusive.

“During development, we gave the 718 Cayman GT4 RS everything that characterises a genuine RS: lightweight construction, more downforce, more power and, of course, an even higher level of responsiveness and feedback to driver inputs. The fantastic lap time of the Nordschleife is impressive proof of how clearly noticeable these improvements in driving dynamics are,” he said.

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“Our customers can look forward to a pure driver’s car that makes a thrilling driving experience an absolute priority.”

“The 718 Cayman GT4 RS is an uncompromising driving machine. It feels as nimble as a go-kart on mountain roads, yet is impressively stable and well-balanced on the race track. Otherwise, such a lap time wouldn’t even be possible,” says Jörg Bergmeister.

“The GT4 RS is one of the sharpest cars Porsche has ever developed. And you really have had to experience the breathtaking noise it makes for yourself,” adds the driver, who has devoted more than 500 hours to the 718 Cayman GT4 RS during test and tuning drives as part of the car’s development.

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The RS badge is a natural fit for the 718, as the first Porsche to wear the hallowed RennSport badge was the 1957 718 RSK, winner of the 1959 Targa Florio years before the 911 was conceived. After that RS 60, RS 61 and W-RS versions of the 718 were launched and the 718 birthed another hugely iconic badge with the 1962 GTR Coupe.

Australian pricing begins at $300,800 with deliveries expected to commence from mid-2022. Local cars will receive auto-dimming mirrors with rain sensor, cruise control, ParkAssist (rear only), reversing camera, Light Design Package and digital radio.