Prototypes of what looks like an RS version of latest Cayman GT4 come after firm’s head of sports cars revealed personal desire to launch one
Porsche appears to be testing a faster and more focused ‘RS’ version of the new 718 Cayman GT4 – barely a day after the firm’s head of sports cars revealed his personal desire for one.
Prototypes of the GT4 have hit the roads outside the Nürburgring with notable bodywork additions. At the front, we can see versions of the ‘NACA’ bonnet air ducts similar to Porsche’s GT2 RS, while at the side the rear quarter glass has been replaced by slatted cooling vents.
The most significant alteration is at the back, where we can see a spoiler mounted considerably higher on bespoke mounts. It’s not clear if the distinctive mounts will make production in that form, as they’re more likely used to test multiple wing shapes and types.
Porsche’s man in charge of the 718 and 911, Dr Frank Steffen-Walliser, told Autocar at the Frankfurt motor show that he would “definitely” like to see a faster and even more focused RS version of the new 718 Cayman GT4, but that the decision hinges on prioritising development resources within the maker.
“Everybody’s asking for the RS,” Walliser told Autocar. “Can I imagine a GT4 RS? Sure I can. That’s not to say we will make a decision on it yet, as it is a challenge. Would I like such a car? Yes, definitely! Would I like more horses? Yes. But we need to put the resources where the market is – it would be a lot more expensive than the normal one.”
Porsche has never made a GT4 RS, previously suggesting such a model would be too close in price and performance to 911 GT models. But the new 4.0-litre flat-six found in the latest GT4 forms part of an all-new engine family, and it is expected that Porsche will spin off further variants of that unit to justify the investment.
It is understood that the brand is looking to re-introduce the flat six to more mainstream Cayman and Boxster variants as part of a facelift. Although Walliser would only confirm that Porsche has “started the thinking process” on this, he did acknowledge that the US market has been less welcoming of the current four-cylinder models than hoped. “American customers aren’t asking for four cylinders, they are asking for four litres”, he said.
Walliser also discussed the idea of all-electric 718 models (first reported by Autocar in April). He claimed that if the official go-ahead was given he “would not like to change the character of the car, and the price point – we need to have an entry level car as 718 buyers often step up to a 911.
“Priority number one is to keep the character of the car – not making a big car, not making it heavy, but this is very tricky. And it’s a relatively small volume car, so we maybe cannot do a separate platform.”
Porsche definitely won’t be joining the glut of newly launched electric hypercars with its own take on the formula, however – for the time being at least.
Pouring water on the claims made by manufacturers such as Rimac and Lotus, Walliser said: “We have seen a lot of studies of electric hypercars – for me the proof is when it’s on the street with a licence plate… does an EV hypercar work? It’s like saying to me that a drag racer is a suitable sports car. For sure it’s perfect from 0-100, but to make it usable and do several laps of the Nurburgring would not work with the technology at its current state”.
Walliser did welcome the idea of using hybrid technology to extend the life of Porsche’s widely celebrated naturally aspirated GT engines. “A hybrid for sure with a normally aspirated engine works well together. The low-rev electric motor torque and high-revving normally aspirated engines fit perfectly. It could help to keep a normally aspirated engine to survive, and we are very motivated to do so”.
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Source: Autocar
