THE NEW PORSCHE 718 GT4 IN DEPTH LOOK

It has been a few weeks since you last heard from us, but we’re back with not just one, but a couple of exciting announcements and one or two interesting points of discussion that we want open up to you, our loyal followers.

Today’s entry is the first in this new line of blog entries and we start off with a car that has got many people excited (and frustrated) - the new 2019 Porsche Cayman 718 GT4. We at EVHIRE are always looking to add interesting cars to our fleet and although Porsche GT models are notoriously difficult to acquire, the GT4 still makes our list and with good reason.

The GT4 is a relatively new model at Porsche with only 1 previous model. It joins the GT fleet as the ‘junior’ model under the GT3 (with the GT3 RS and GT2 RS above). However, don’t let this ‘junior’ status fool you! Many who have driven the GT4 feel it is one of the best cars, not just from Porsche, but currently on sale. Following on from the very first and very impressive 981 Cayman GT4, the 718 GT4 takes the mid engined, naturally aspirated, manual gearbox driver’s car formula to the next level. The new 718 GT4 has had the benefit of a predecessor to improve on and comes with many upgrades that we will explore in this blog, but we will start with it’s body. The 718 maintains the flowing form known to Porsche, but with new aerodynamics. The new lip spoiler at the front ensures the car creates higher levels of front downforce and thanks to the direction the air is pushed in, higher levels of undisturbed tyre contact with the road for enhanced levels of traction and stability. Everything has been thought of and engineered to make the 718 a genuinely brilliant sports car and this can be seen with the underside of the front lip spoiler that has a dimpled design to reduce drag as much as possible. At the rear the car creates up to 40% more downforce than the 981 GT4 thanks to a larger diffuser and rear wing.

Now we can move to the car’s beating heart! The engine comes from the 911 line, just as the in the previous GT4 setup. The new 911 GT line brings in a naturally aspirated, straight 6 cylinder engine, with an increased displacement, from 3.8l to 4.0l. However, the engine is placed mid-rear in the Cayman, opposed to in the rear in the 911, which makes for a better balance. The engine comes in with 30bhp more than the 981 GT4 at 414bhp, while torque figures are around the same at 420nm. Despite the enhanced bhp the 718 has the same 0-62mph or 100kph time of 4.4s, but a new top speed of ‘above 188mph’, which is an increase of at least 5mph. The larger engine is joined by a new exhaust system that now exits in a way reminiscent of the 991 GT2 RS, so we are sure the car will sound great!

Just as in the 981, the glorious engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, which is the only transmission option (at least for now). It features improved ratios over the 981 and rev matching for more precise and emotive shifting. The 718 also comes with rear torque vectoring via brake steer for enhanced cornering accuracy.

All of these attributes are impressive, but what really makes the GT4 is it’s chassis. Porsche GT cars are known for being some of, if not the best sports cars around and the GT4 inherits the philosophies that underpin these, including the approach to chassis design. It is lowered by 30mm compared to the standard 718 for higher levels of stability. From the spring-strut front and rear axles, ball joints and dynamic transmission mounts, the 718 is focused on providing a stable, smooth, engaging and enjoyable chassis that can perform and adapt well, both on road and track and with Porsche active suspension management and Porsche stability controls the car can adjust and adapt each wheel independently and immediately.

Undoubtedly the new GT4 is going to be superb, but the question is, should we, EVHIRE, offer a 2019 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 for hire in London? Let us know your thoughts!