Cayman GT4: Where are we up 2 now? Déjà vu Edition

[Twinfan]

That's interesting. The Spyder looks finished to me, as does the GT4 that started this thread, and both have the 718 GTS front bumper. The GT4 a few posts ago covered in tape etc does not and I wonder if that one is actually an earlier version of the car and that more GT3-style bumper won't be on the actual car?

Can't be long until we find out now!

 

[Motorhead]

LA's certainly a possibility Ralph - but only a couple of weeks off - and Spring would be a better time to launch a rag-top, allowing time for some essential winter testing (and for addressing known problems with the roof too?). I still hope that rear diffuser is just a work in progress..!

I think it more likely that Porsche will be concentrating on the latest Cayenne and Panamera Sport Turismo variants at LA.

Jeff

 

[MrDemon]

I was shocked to see them this early on.

it's very ugly atm, I am not I intrested unless it has a short ratio box.

if it 400bhp then a remap/manifolds gets mine to 430 !

do we need more aero ? Nope Esp not ugly aero lol.

looks like no GT3 for me so thank goodness I did not give my dealer my GT4 !

if you think about cars you can go out and buy TODAY. The only new NA manual sports car is an MX5 , how did that happen !

 

[Twinfan]

if you think about cars you can go out and buy TODAY. The only new NA manual sports car is an MX5 , how did that happen !

GT86 and Mustang are also NA and manual. Only three cars you can actually walk into a dealership and order new with NA and a manual box. They'll all be gone by 2020...

 

[Motorhead]

The 3.0 V6 Jag F-Type's also available with a manual transmission. Also, the Mecedes SLC has a manual transmission option but very few people would choose it over the auto 'box. Lotuses..??

Manual 'boxes are becoming a rarity - how long before we're paying extra for them, if available? Plus, they may not be available when everything's hybrid.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

I think they'll ultimately go completely except on limited run cars e.g. GT3, exotica etc as a "special feature" to push via marketing. There's just not enough demand for them these days.

Oh, and the F-Type is supercharged not NASP I think?

 

[Motorhead]

Yes, you're right David - I missed the n/a qualification - and the Merc and Lotuses use forced induction too. But at least they all have manual options for the time being and, although not impossible, I'd have thought it would be trickier to integrate a manual 'box with a hybrid system. Most manual transmissions seem to come from specialist suppliers such as Getrag and ZF, so a lot depends also upon the economics of demand.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

Indeed. It's a very small list now isn't it? The MX-5 is convertible or targa only, as is the Spyder, so if you want a coupe:

GT4/GT3 - cannot walk into a dealership and order one

GT86 - 200bhp flat four, great handling but a rough engine that's hard work

Mustang - more GT than sports, absolutely massive and "lardy"

For me, the GT86 is the only option but having had one it's not a patch on a Cayman. Basically, you can't buy an excellent NASP manual sports car any more

 

[Motorhead]

A sign of the times I'm afraid David. And things are moving very rapidly in the vehicle industry, including the sports car manufacturers. Hybrids will be with us faster than you think..!

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

I know - I love NASP manuals so I think my CGTS is a keeper for life!

 

[Motorhead]

Although it's supercharged, we can add the latest Chevy Corvette ZR1 to the manual list (7-speed manual or 8-speed auto):

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/a13517850/2019-chevrolet-corvette-zr1-release-date-specs-photos/

What a monster..!

Jeff

 

[MrDemon]

SC don't count :-(

As we could start bigger lists , stuff like the V10 R8 RWS at least it is RWD and a V10 engine but auto only.

but with spec it's not a bad shout for £115k, that's the price of a 911 GTS so the R8 RWS gets my vote I think over a 911 GTS.

Although the 911GTS is the pick of the range now imo, a great all round car.

 

[ralphmusic]

.....which makes it worth them firing up the lines again.

Jeff

Jeff,

They'll be making GT3/RS/Turbo F6 NA engines for some time so I guess all on the same line, no firing up required with todays flexible work stations, tooling, and JIT parts delivery.

 

[Motorhead]

Ralph,

Yes, I'm sure that there's sufficient flexibility both on the manufacturing and assembly lines to achieve that. I presume that many engine components - such as castings - are out-sourced?

Jeff

 

[CarreraGTS]

in my humble opinion .... there is no way the new GT4 will be 4.0 Litre ... at best an X51 Flat 6 GTS engine ... at worse a 4 Cylinder Turbo - I think the Cayman will be used by Porsche as their first attempt at the 4 cylinder Turbo GT car - it will be quick and light and the future for Porsche, like it or not ?!!!!

 

[Motorhead]

Andrew,

We all have an opinion on this but I'm afraid that the betting is on the Mk2 GT4 being a 4.0L n/a flat-6. Next time around I'm sure we'll be looking at a flat-4 turbo hybrid.

As for a turbo car being lightweight, I think you'll find that the 718-series cars are about 90kg heavier than the 981-series owing to the turbo, ducting and intercooler components. Maybe Porsche will take the 911T route and strip out some mass from the GT4 using lightweight glass for the rear and side windows and reducing sound deadening treatment, but I doubt that there's sufficient money in the budget for custom glass.

Jeff

 

[Motorhead]

Looking again at the GT4 and Spyder pictures, although the centre rad and vent in the PU is apparent on the GT4 there's no sign of either on the alledged "production ready" Spyder.

Rather strange if they're supposedly using the same power unit..!

Jeff

 

[MrDemon]

GT4 4.0 Spyder 2.5 Turbo

they did say no turbo yet for GT cars.

but the Spyder is just a GTS with a poor roof and now the turbo can be remapped to crazy bhp, I cannot see a NA lump in it.

 

[Motorhead]

That's really what I was alluding to in my post D.

I guess that the GT and main production cars have separate development groups, so there's no reason why they shouldn't go different ways; remapping the turbo engine is a relatively straightforward exercise. Perhaps we are going to see something exceptional from the GT group re the engine then - a major effort on the last n/a Cayman? Mind you, it doesn't explain why both cars appear to be using the same rear diffuser arrangement, but most probably there's still a while to go in their respective development cycles.

With all these good quality pics flying around I'm surprised that no-one has posted a video so that we car hear the engine notes and so deduce the cylinder counts. Could it be that these are photos leaked by Porsche?

All fun speculation of course..!

Jeff

 

[Steve Brookes]

GT4 4.0 Spyder 2.5 Turbo

they did say no turbo yet for GT cars.

but the Spyder is just a GTS with a poor roof and now the turbo can be remapped to crazy bhp, I cannot see a NA lump in it.

Yep, I also think the spyder will be based on the standard boxster engine with a few more bhp, the humps, the manual roof and lighter weight. i.e. exactly the same ethos as the original 987 spyder. And I wouldn't be surprised to see a 718 Cayman R appear at the end of the 982 run just like they did with the 987 CR.