As is usually the case when Porsche enthusiasts have nothing better to do, the rumor mill has started swirling again. This time, in regard to an extremely hot version of Porsche’s 981 Cayman chassis, dubbed the “GT4”. Porsche’s head of GT3 development, Andreas Preuninger, was quoted almost a year ago as saying that Porsche was “considering” a more track-focused version of the mid-engine coupe, but that a conclusion had not yet been reached. With recent spy photos taken of a visually aggressive Cayman, the internet has been abuzz with rumors of the “GT4” coming soon, and what exactly the specification will be when it arrives.
Many of these rumor mongers have been proffering that Porsche has finally seen the light on high-performance mid-engine models, and will be bringing a baby-GT3 with gobs of power, monsterous grip, and all number of other tweaks. Some outlets are claiming power will be somewhere around 400 horses, and that the car will be a stripped down track fighter, and that it will cost more than $100,000. It’s been lauded as a 911 killer, a mid-engined Renaissance for the Porsche brand, and any number of other superlatives. The problem is, I think some of these media outlets are giving Porsche a bit more credit than they might deserve.
Here’s Why I Don’t Think It Will Be Built
The car shown in these spy photographs won’t be a new “Cayman GT4”, it just won’t. There are a number of reasons for this:
1. Because Porsche don’t have any intention of selling a $100,000 dollar Cayman that will compete on a level playing field with a 911.
2. Because Porsche doesn’t have any intention of producing a motorsport oriented Cayman.
3. Because the Cayman platform will never see 400 horsepower (at least not in this generation).
4. Because Porsche has a history of watering down their most heavily performance based non-911s in order to continue the 911s reign as king of the P-car mountain.
So What Are We Really Seeing?
No, the car shown in these photographs simply must be a revival of the Cayman R that came late in the 987 generation. It has all of the accouterments of new-gen Cayman R, including the lightweight, wider wheels with stickier rubber, the fixed rear aero, the more aggressive front bumper. In fact, the only thing it’s really lacking is the retina-searing Peridot Green exterior paint work.
From the looks of things, this new car will be a slightly more aggressive Cayman R than the 987 version was, featuring some not-so-subtle aero, and some brake rotors that really fill out the wheels (It is hard to tell from the photos, but possibly the GT3’s 380mm rotors at all four corners?). Surely power will be bumped, but how much is all just speculation at this point. Using the Carrera S’ 400 horsepower 3.8 liter would surely produce a righteous car, but how would Carrera S models continue to sell if you could get a lighter, more aggressive Cayman with the same engine for less money? No, I don’t imagine that will be the case. If anything, the standard Carrera 3.4 liter would be used, providing 350 horespower, which is 10 horsepower more than the new Cayman GTS, and 25 horsepower more than the bog-standard Cayman S. This would give it a bit more oomph without stealing big brother’s thunder.
Could It Be The Turbo Charged Four Cylinder?
It has been said that this could be the test mule for the first of the new-generation four-cylinder cars, potentially turbocharged. That would, certainly make sense, as Porsche always launches their highest spec vehicles before introducing lower tier cars with the same or similar engines. An S always launches before a base model, so perhaps what we are seeing here is a two liter, flat-four turbo Cayman R. If this is the case, I’d guess 350hp, or just a tick more than that, would still be the power level to aim for in this car. That provides a needed boost in power over the standard Cayman, while still allowing the 911 just enough room to breathe. While just as baseless as the GT4 name, I’d call this model a “Cayman Turbo R”, and if launched, I would be standing in line to get my hands on one.
Whatever the Porsche shown here is, whatever it is called, and however it is marketed, you can be sure of one thing. This Cayman, be it a GT, R, GTR, GT4, Turbo, Turbo R, or whatever else, will not be an out and out 911 killer. Based on history, Porsche will stifle little brother’s potential in order to preserve the family favorite’s perception as top-dog.
UPDATE: Looks like we were wrong! 🙂 Porsche just announced the Cayman GT4.
Other Porsche Blog Posts You Will Enjoy
Why Porsche Should Consider a Flat-Four Engine for the Boxster and Cayman.
Porsche Confirms They Will Build A 4-Cylinder Boxster And Cayman
Are The New Boxster GTS And Cayman GTS Worthy Of The Badge?
Behind The Wheel Of The New Boxster GTS And Cayman GTS
The yellow Cayman GT4 rendering developed by De Telegraaf newspaper in the Netherlands from a Porsche Cayman press release photo. Green Cayman GT4 rendering developed by German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport. Spy photos sourced from AutoExpress.co.UK.
View Comments (16)
I would think that the gear heads at Porsche have already experimented with a 400+ hp Cayman and realize its capabilities as a mid engine racing machine. The next step would be to incrementally replace the rear engine 911 with a mid engine 911 and I can see the Cayman morphing into that model. The four cylinder turbo Caymans will then move into the current Cayman's position in the line up.
IMHO, the 911 is entirely too profitable to replace with a Cayman. 911 will never lose its back seats, either, and moving to a mid-engine 4-seater would be a bit difficult.
If you've ever been to Porsche museum, you will realize that Porsche will never replace rear engine 911 with mid-engine (and it would never be called "mid-engine 911").
911 has been around the block for over 50 years now, and it will never disappear from Porsche's line. Porsche may build track ready Cayman GT4 in the future and sell for more than 911, but how many people will buy track ready car for daily drive? So here is my prediction for the future Porsche line:
Boxster,
Cayman
Boxster S
Cayman S
Boxster R
Cayman R
Boxster GTS (Turbo, mabe)
Cayman GTS (Turbo, maybe)
911 (S, 4S, etc.)
Cayman GT4
911 GT3
911 Turbo (S etc.)
Bradley not saying the Cayman will replace the 911, saying the two will morph into a new mid engine 911 and the Cayman will have the turbo four being developed. As far as back seats in the 911 does anybody really use them other than for storage?
Agree tee-totally with the article.
At some point Porsche will pay in the marketplace for this hubristic behavior. Methinks that it is already taking some of its punishment on the track from keeping the 911 in its present configuration as well as maintaining its apex stature in the Porsche line and holding back the Cayman.
We've witnessed other car companies doing this in the past. A pity...
I am a bit confused with the spy shots and the belief that there will not be a larger HP motor.
The spy photos show a center mounted top exhaust 3rd radiator, which makes me believe that there will be a high horsepower engine. Surely a lower HP car would not need this extra cooling and downforce......
Let's offer a little counterpoint here.
1. Because Porsche don't have any intention of selling a $100,000 dollar Cayman that will compete on a level playing field with a 911. -- How do you know this? Have you an inside source that's feeding you information that justifies this statement? Just because they haven't in the past doesn't mean they won't in the future. What I see happening now is a divergence of purpose, between the 911, which each year seems to move more and more toward a luxury GT market, and the smaller Cayman, which appears to have greater performance potential, and appeals to a different market segment. There is much support for the idea that Porsche is moving to establish a high-performance line and a luxury GT line. In this lineup, we have SUVs, entry-level sports cars (Boxster), high-perf sports cars (Cayman), luxury GT cars (911), and luxury sedans (Panamera). Marketwise, that approach offers more logical marketing opportunities.
2. Because Porsche doesn't have any intention of producing a motorsport oriented Cayman. -- Again, see the first two sentences under #1.
3. Because the Cayman platform will never see 400 horsepower (at least not in this generation). -- Why not? There are aftermarket turbo 3.4l installations flying around in the world offering more than 400 HP already, if you believe the maker's ads. The life/reliability issues of aftermarket installations aside (hand grenade, anyone?) Porsche itself has done hugely well engineering incredible amounts of horsepower with just as incredible reliability and long engine life. As to chassis fit, the basic Cayman chassis design is well-adapted to the task. A few added gussets here, a thicker structural member there, and presto!
4. Because Porsche has a history of watering down their most heavily performance based non-911s in order to continue the 911s reign as king of the P-car mountain. -- History is history. Parent VW group is sucking wind, with Audi and Porsche its only bright lights. It's a great time to shake up the established order, think new thoughts, and re-position the line in the relevant buyer's mind. The 911 buyer is looking for performance, yes, but not at the cost of cockpit room and a "2+2" cabin. There is also a performance buyer who doesn't care about interior room, wants to "wear" the car, and really wants top performance. Market segment, market segment, market segment. Porsche has great opportunities here.
As a matter of fact, I have heard several times from several Porsche employees that Porsche will *never* support anything other than a 911 in GT motorsport.
Company representatives have also stated that they will not make a Cayman that competes with the 911 segment.
You say that "Parent VW group is sucking wind". Where do you get that information? Volkswagen Group is the second highest selling car company in the world behind only Toyota. They sold 4.97 million vehicles between January and June of this year, which is a 5% increase over that same period in 2013. Toyota sales have slowed in the second half of the year, and some analysts are saying that VW could sell the most cars of any company ever in history this year.
Reference the proposed new Cayman GT4 concept, be in no doubt Porsche engineers and marketing gurus are fully aware of the Cayman's potential as a separate entity within the firm's product line. Having driven various 991 911's, and also various current and past Cayman variants, the Cayman is the better more focused car. Porsche know this but are unlikely to admit it. It is after all going back to its Spyder roots is it not? And certain Porsche personnel here in the UK are fairly assured a GT4-style Cayman is in the cards, not just a rumor.
Least we also not forget it was the Boxter that brought Porsche back from the brink so why would they not want to develop the mid-engine platform to higher levels. And if we consider the next generation mid-engined sports concept from Porsche, the rumored but highly likely Flat-8, 988, we are already seeing a design/production commitment if Porsche is to compete in this segment of the market. Porsche is no longer about 911's as evidenced from recent models and future concepts.
The jury is out for me in regard to the GT4's final form, but I do tend to agree with Mr Brownell that it might indeed morph in to a new Cayman R with a potential power hike of up to perhaps 375bhp. The last generation Cayman R was a huge success as a low volume production variant so it seems entirely feasible the people in Stuttgart would want to repeat that success without harming the 911 market segment. And if one considers the long term situation with the 911 template, a car one has to agree that has been perhaps around far too long, Porsche's sport car commitment to the mid-engined platform would seem to me at least to be a logical transition.
Had personnel at Porsche Centre Melbourne confirm a GT4 is on the way, as a top of the totem pole model to sit above the GTS and offer the mid mounted equivalent of the GT3.
Now if only they would shoehorn that 4.0 litre mill from the GT3 RS into it, All would be right with the world.
Guess you were wrong. Porsche announced the GT4 and said it will be debuted in September at Frankfurt. You lose
Well I guess this article was wrong
Wow, did you ever strikeout on this prediction!