718 Cayman GT4 is here – at long last.!

[Motorhead]

Yes Dave, I reckon both the Boxster and Cayman in the clips were out with PDK, but then I seem to recall there was a 4.0 CGTS PDK running last year at the 'Ring well before its announcement, so nothing new there.

I think it unlikely the GT4RS will have anything other than PDK, given the torque limitations of the manual transmission. I wonder if the car in the clips is actually a GT4RS or the next Clubsport development? Either way, as you say it's bound to be both mega expensive and in very short supply, but you can be sure that the Dealers have already earmarked the privileged few destined to receive one.

I presume we'll be seeing the PDK option appearing for both GT4/Spyder and the 4.0 GTS twins later this year now that testing is gathering pace once again, but when we'll see the GT4RS very much depends upon how long Porsche plans to keep 718 production going - most likely for the last year?

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

I was wondering if the 'GT4RS' was in fact the next Clubsport, but I was shot down on PH by folk saying you can't just run anything on the road so it must be a road car. I thought development cars could be real lash ups but I could be wrong. The rear quarter cooling looks non-road to me, I can't see that making it to a road car?

 

[Motorhead]

I'm with you on that Dave, particularly re the rear quarter ducting ... looks much more race than road to me. Even the bonnet NACA ducting makes it look more like a race car to me, but who knows?

Who says the car was actually driven to the 'Ring? With three or four cars out, I'm sure Porsche would have transported them to the circuit and not driven them there. Development cars are regularly seen on public roads, even early prototypes (witness all the camouflaged examples that are out and about at any time), but a race car would be trickier unless it was running a silenced exhaust (maybe that's a GT4 race series requirement?). Whatever, I'm sure manufacturers should be able to get some sort of limited dispensation if necessary, and provided the car was insured for road use.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

Exactly my thoughts too Jeff. The Clubsport is only lightly modified from a standard car so testing the engine, drivetrain and aero is very possible on a mostly-road GT4 base car. The test car has licence plates, and has been seen on the road previously, plus Rennlist posters claim the GT4RS is coming.

I'm still not 100% convinced it's coming.

 

[Motorhead]

Nor me Dave. But if Rennlist say it's coming, it must be true. []

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

Ha ha, I know! They think they know everything over there. Claims of 480bhp+ are being stated, can't see that in this universe.

 

[Motorhead]

It seems that production will be starting on Monday at Zuffenhausen and in Leipzig, but there's no mention of the Osnabrück factory where Caymans are built.

https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2020/company/porsche-restarting-production-site-and-task-specific-basis-20712.html

It's going to be a while before production levels approach those achieved before shut-down with all the safety measures which have been introduced and the lack of components to build complete cars. Just-in-time production is going to be a real challenge for the vehicle manufacturers.

All this is going to impact severely new car deliveries, and it's going to be a while before those with firm orders in the pipeline will know when their cars are going to be delivered. I would guess that initially Porsche could well choose to concentrate Cayman production on the non-GT cars (including the GTS?), but who knows at the moment?

Jeff

 

[JohnCRS]

I wonder what this virus hiatus has done to the order book? Obviously committed orders will come through but I guess there must be people around who have now paused before hitting the order 'lock down' button. (Oh, the irony)

Perhaps not so much on the GT cars.

 

[Motorhead]

I'm sure you're right John. Many potential customers now facing more pressing and immediate issues will be either reluctant or unable to commit significant funds to a sports car right now.

On the other hand, with interest rates on the floor I'm sure that there will be some very attractive finance deals on offer for those willing to commit to a purchase. And, Heaven forbid, Porsche might even have to provide financial incentives to would-be punters in the short term.!

Unfortunately, I reckon that GT4 slots could be even harder to come by. []

Jeff

 

[Scrounger]

Speaking with my OPC at the beginning of April, he believes the current Q2 finance campaign will continue into Q3. He says they are still taking orders and are now allowed to deliver vehicles that are sat in the compound and any new vehicles that arrive on the transporter can also be delivered but that depends on when the logistics company re-open. Their service department opens week after next. I'm led to believe that a factory build team consists of 5 associates but to ensure social distancing, this has been reduced to 2 so build times may be longer.

Personally I think that the market will bounce back pretty quickly and as Jeff says, folk may be keen to take advantage of the finance incentives.

 

[Motorhead]

A few more pics here of the supposed GT4 RS, but nothing we haven't seen before:

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-germancars/porsche-718-cayman-gt4-rs-spied-at-the--ring/42358

The rear quarter window vents still look more race car to me, but we'll have to wait and see what materialises.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

There are at least four cars that have been doing the rounds recently - 'BB J 6006', 'BB J 6007', 'BB J 6008' and 'BB J 6009'.

6006 has the standard GT4 rear wing

6007 has the swan neck wing and 5-stud wheels

6008 has the swan neck wing and 5-stud wheels

6009 has the swan neck wing and 5-stud wheels

All cars have the vented rear quarter, so it looks like that will end up being on the final car. There's some debate, as usual, but at least one of the cars is PDK. I haven't seen any videos of them at the Nurburgring that definitely show a manual gearbox car.

There is one outlier, the winter testing mule 'BB J 6016' which has centrelock wheels. Given that the latest mules have the standard GT4 wheels it may be that centrelocks have been ditched.

 

[AndrewCS]

Speaking with local OPC yesterday …

Previous and due GT4 allocation has been reduced by a third, three to two cars.

PDK version may be the RS ?

They have `sold` twenty six cars during lockdown, `sold` being deposits taken and finance agreed. Due in part to reduced pricing and low interest finance. Cars to be collected when they open, which may be next Monday 11th, distancing measures being put in place now but date TBC as awaiting official guidelines.

 

[Twinfan]

There will be PDK non-RS GT4s, Spyders and GTS 4.0s. I saw a video with a PDK Spyder and Cayman GTS 4.0 on the 'Ring recently.

 

[Motorhead]

As you say Dave, we've seen a few GTS 4.0s running with PDK, so that's a given. Unless Porsche have beefed-up the Getrag manual 'box which is torque-limited, I can't see it making the RS which I'm sure will be PDK only.

It looks as though the swan-neck wing supports will be used on the new GT3, so it's quite possible that the RS could have them, but sometimes Porsche use them just for aero assessment and development - easier adjustability.

Hardly surprising that GT4 allocations have been reduced Andrew, but restricted working conditions and interrupted parts supply will hamper delivery of all cars for quite a while even if demand is strong.

Jeff

 

[PeterRH]

As you say Dave, we've seen a few GTS 4.0s running with PDK, so that's a given. Unless Porsche have beefed-up the Getrag manual 'box which is torque-limited, I can't see it making the RS which I'm sure will be PDK only.

It looks as though the swan-neck wing supports will be used on the new GT3, so it's quite possible that the RS could have them, but sometimes Porsche use them just for aero assessment and development - easier adjustability.

Hardly surprising that GT4 allocations have been reduced Andrew, but restricted working conditions and interrupted parts supply will hamper delivery of all cars for quite a while even if demand is strong.

Jeff

 

[PeterRH]

Its an ugly looking wing on the black car ring photo. I am sure the finished wing will look much nicer. I was lucky enough to take delivery of my GT4 on the 14 th March. Just a week before lockdown !

It makes it a challenge to run the car in as it is a very noticeable car so cant go too far afield

I am managing one journey a week with a slight detour to work and back to collect the mail. Is there likely to be a GT4 type register within the club ?

The 991 register was very active although that will have been down to the numbers.

 

[Motorhead]

I'm not a fan of the wing design either Peter but I understand that the swan-neck supports give a cleaner and more consistent air flow over the wing, which is more important for race cars.

You were very lucky with your GT4 delivery date there, even if you're unable to use it very much ATM. Hopefully things will ease-up fairly soon and you can get on with the running-in process.

I think the chances of there being be a separate GT4 or GT4/Spyder Register are zero. Much too small a subset to be viable - and look at all the problems we've had getting a Cayman Register Secretary!

Jeff

 

[PeterRH]

I was lucky. it would be great to arrange a meet up hopefully later this summer. I have optimistically booked accommodation for the NC500 in September

Any thoughts on the switchable exhaust to keep the flaps open ?

I had a quote for a Brooks system but would like to hear it first

 

[Twinfan]

I was lucky too, I also picked up mine on 14th March and then managed to get my harnesses adjusted at the OPC a few days later before everything shut down. I'm hoping to make it up to Knockhill in late August for the BTCC round if things are up and running by then.

For the exhaust more options are coming on the market - JCR have a back box replacement at £££, Cargraphic are doing a switch I think and there's always the DIY method of closing off the vacuum pipes. The last two will only make things a bit louder, not change the tone, only a backbox swap a la JCR will do this as it mixes the gases from banks 1 and 2. The standard exhaust keeps both banks entirely separate.