Cayman and Boxster 718-6?

[Brian_Innes]

If a Cayman-6 model is indeed launched, my opinion would be towards resurrecting the Cayman R model. Make the car lighter, deselect all the comfort stuff, optional carbon bucket seats, X81 suspension, some aero add-ons, LSD diff, and a manual and PDK option. Such a car would probably have a wider appeal in today's market than the previous CR enjoyed, which was pretty much a niche car at the time.

Such a move could would leave the current 718 2.5t F4 models as they are with all the comfort options available for owners who are not track day minded.

Brian

 

[Twinfan]

If a Cayman-6 model is indeed launched, my opinion would be towards resurrecting the Cayman R model. Make the car lighter, deselect all the comfort stuff, optional carbon bucket seats, X81 suspension, some aero add-ons, LSD diff, and a manual and PDK option. Such a car would probably have a wider appeal in today's market than the previous CR enjoyed, which was pretty much a niche car at the time.

I think that's the 718T model, Brian, albeit with the lowest powered engine in the range. A proper road-focused 718R with the F6 would be a great car though, I agree.

 

[Brian_Innes]

Thanks David.

Porsche should keep the 2.0 F4 for the very basic Cayster models. I've always thought the current 718 2.0 T to be a big mistake. The 2.0 F4 hasn't the technical sophistication nor the turbo technology of the 2.5 F4.

A Cayman-6 R along the lines I have suggested would sell very well. It would even tempt current 718 GTS owners like myself to give it a go.

Just one thing though, if Porsche do the Cayman-6 please don't label it a 718. It's a type 982.

Brian

 

[Motorhead]

Chaps,

An F-6 982R certainly would make an interesting proposition but somehow I can't see it happening, mainly because the the original track-focused CR's place has been taken by the more focused GT4.

We've had the 982-6 Cayman and Boxster "twins" running around for a while now and I can see how these cars could fit into the mid-engine car range with identical specs, including PDK, but I can't envisage a place for what would have to be an additional Cayman 982R, especially since it would be relatively easy to option a 982-6 with the items Brian has suggested.

Jeff

 

[Brian_Innes]

We can only live in hope Jeff......

Brian

 

[ChrisW]

I can't quite see how the NASP 6 works when P are trying to green up their range ...

NASP 6 for the relatively few GT cars makes sense but if the latest engine was the answer, why Turbo at-all ?

 

[Motorhead]

I think generally we're all in agreement with you Chris but the fact is that there are definitely non-turbo 6-cylinder Caymans and Boxsters running around the 'Ring, and the word is that they'll be arriving sooner rather than later.

Having commited strongly to turbo engines (supposedly in the interests of fuel economy and emissions) for the current-generation cars it does seem very odd that Porsche have chosen to take this path, but having commited to natural aspiration for the GT4 and developing what is essentially a new engine at significant expense, part of the business case must have been to use the engine in other models. I don't think that the 4-pot engine has gone down particularly well in the very important (for Porsche) US market, so that could have been a critical factor in the decision-making process.

All speculation of course, and we all wait to see how things pan out in the coming months.

Jeff

 

[Brian_Innes]

All points noted and valid Jeff.

Regarding the respective fuel economy of the 2.5 F4t, it uses more fuel on like-for-like driving than an nat asp F6. I'm not talking about 7th gear motorway miles here, I'm referring to rural road driving in manual shift and using the accessible big torque for maximum progress on flowing roads. Economical it is not.

Brian

 

[Motorhead]

Well, that's knocked on the head one of Porsche's reasons for going turbo then Brian, but I suppose you'd need to test the 981 under WLTP conditions in order to obtain a truly valid comparison between the 981 and 718? And I suspect that the 718 emissions will be lower, even without the GPF, which is probably more important in the long-run.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

There are whispers around that the 718-6 will be launched late this year, as a limited run a la Spyder/GT4 by the sound of it rather than as a new 718 GTS.

Not long to wait now until we find out for sure what it'll be called and how available it will be.

 

[Motorhead]

Dave,

Making it a limited run would be understandable but disappointing - Porsche creating yet another "limited availability list"..! I suppose that Porsche having nailed their colours to the F-4 Turbo mast for the 718 we couldn't really expect anything different.

Maybe those on the GT4 list but with little or no chance of getting one will get a priority option to buy a 718-6?

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

A poster on PistonHeads claims these cars are coming in November and will be called a 718 GTS 4, or 718 GTS 4.0...

 

[Motorhead]

Dave, I would have thought 718 GTS 4 and 718 GTS 6 would be more appropriate names for the turbo and n/a cars?

If they're due to be announced in a couple of months I'm surprised they haven't been spotted out and about more recently than those shots at the 'Ring in July.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

I agree that he naming seems weird, but that's what the poster said they'd been told. I guess we'll found out soon.

They'd been spotted for at least 6 months prior to those July 'ring shot, and given that they'll have the same chassis as the current 718 range they only needed to test the final engine spec. Given that the engine is shared with the GT4/Spyder their work is probably done!

 

[Motorhead]

Yes Dave, I'm sure that most of the engine installation groundwork will have been done on the GT4 to ensure sufficient engine and engine bay cooling, etc., but I'm sure that the Cayman in the 'Ring clip is running with a PDK 'box which I would have thought would require some additional development time on the road, along with verification of the engine tune for both transmissions.

Jeff

 

[ralphmusic]

There are differences between manual and PDK installations, mainly around cooling and gearbox dimensions so the route for PDK into F6 718 shell will be 718 F4 to 718 F6 manual to 718 F6 PDK with consequential but small changes to suspension.

 

[Motorhead]

Quite so Ralph; the PDK transmission being a fair bit heavier too.

As with the GT4, perhaps the 6-pot 718 will be manual initially with the PDK option to follow in 2020 (MY2021?).

Jeff

 

[gronk1967]

I've owned both F6 NA & F4T and TBH don't have an issue with the newer engine, mine after 20k miles has actually mellowed, the noise at initial start still sounds lumpy until it warms up.....but lets not reopen that argument....

Isn't the key point about the F4T is to lower the consumption and emissions across the 'RANGE'. For that reason alone I cant see the new F6 being used widely within the 718 range...its probably also worthwhile to remember that the vast majority of 718's are likely purchased on PCP type schemes (& straight lease in US) if it replaced the F4T in anything other than limited form there would be potential for Porsche (VWFS) to have a huge hit on future values of cars currently in the system.

I can maybe see the engine maybe turning up in the Macan for example which also uses the F4T (although it does have a F6 option too) to help cover development costs.

 

[Twinfan]

The Macan is going all electric soon, as will the Cayster range if it continues post-718 according to some rumours. That, combined with the Taycan, may mean there's still some scope for internal combustion engine cars, including the NASP six, for a little while yet...

 

[Motorhead]

I can maybe see the engine maybe turning up in the Macan for example which also uses the F4T (although it does have a F6 option too) to help cover development costs.

Simon,

The Macan uses a version of the ubiquitous VAG in-line 4T, not Porsche's F4T. My understanding is that Porsche plan to keep the existing IC-engined Macan running in parallel with the BEV version for a few years after the latter's introduction.

As Dave says, there's still scope for the n/a F6 for a few years yet as Porsche have done a lot of development work to ensure that it's emissions compliant. It looks as though it's going to make its way into the 718 Cayman and Boxster quite soon, and there's always the possibility that we could see it in a 992 where it would be an easy fit because it's basically a 9A2 Evo engine without the turbos and inter-cooler, etc. I doubt that any of these cars will be mainstream products though.

Jeff