David Khoo finds out that the Porsche Cayman GT4 has seriously sharp teeth

Faro, Portugal – There’s been quite a lot of anticipation around the Cayman GT4 since its announcement, because this seemed to tick all the right boxes as far as the driving enthusiasts were concerned: six-speed stick-shift, mid-engine balance, decent poke and all the Alcantara and carbonfibre you can wave a helmet at, all in the compact body of about the same proportions as the 997 mk2 GT3.

People like to talk bhp/litre, but we’re more intrigued by the bhp/tonne, which in this case translates to quite a nippy 287bhp/tonne, which is well exploited by the GT4’s nimble chassis.

What’s this all about then?
At the launch, Porsche is quick to tell us this is meant to be an ‘entry-level’ GT model (the first time a non-911 has been touched with the label), which to date comprises the 911 GT3 and GT3 RS. Due to its mid-engined configuration, it’s also easier to drive fast, versus the ‘hard work’ (we prefer to think of it as commitment, though, but different strokes for different folks) needed to drive one of the 911 GTx models hard.

Looks just like any other Cayman, except for that big wing around the back…
The GT4 is the first Cayman to receive a fixed wing that is made of carbonfibre on aluminium stands, which is also adjustable to vary the level of downforce. A lot of the other technical differences are found under its skin and the GT4 is actually longer and lower than normal Caymans: the front end suspension and braking systems are derived from the GT3, including the 20-inch footwear although the GT4 features a more conventional (and easy to change) five-bolt pattern versus the GT3’s centrelock wheels; only the rear had to be re-engineered to take the model’s mid-engined set-up into consideration, especially since the 911 Carrera S’s 3.8-litre lurks at the heart of this 1.35-tonne car (to put this in perspective, the 911 Carrera S in stick-shift is 150-odd kilogrammes heavier). Naturally, the GT4 also gets bigger nostrils up front and there are even inlets on each flank to make sure breathing and cooling are always optimised.

What about the cabin? 
There’s extensive use of Alcantara and carbonfibre to make you feel like a racer – if that’s not enough, you can even opt for the Clubsport Package, which must be spec’d with the sports bucket seats and includes fire extinguisher, six-point harness and half-rollcage. Have you seen how tight it is behind the Cayman’s two seats? Best to leave the rollcage to the experts!

Naturally all the touchy-feely bits like the shifter and steering wheel are in Alcantara, while the sports buckets (from the 918 Spyder, if you’re wondering) keep you snugly in place, with even bright red door-pulls for an even more intense motorsport ambience. Like the 911 GT3, the centre-console is modified for the GT4’s more sporting application, especially with regards to the traction control settings.

The ‘Sport’ button only engages the auto-blip function, because there are dedicated buttons for the suspension and sports exhaust.

Is it all show and no go?
Not at all. You can see how Porsche has intended this to be a fun and challenging-enough car for amateur drivers to exploit readily. Bear in mind, it’s not easy-peasy to drive and fling around in a ham-fisted manner, but the mid-engined setup makes for more balanced and predictable handling compared to its rear-engined brethren.

Although the GT4 is available with the brand’s PCCB carbon-ceramic brakes, the standard items acquitted themselves well on both track and fast-road use. The Auto-Blip function can be disabled for those who prefer to do-it-themselves, but novices will be glad for the feature especially since it helps avoid unsettling the car during downshifts for those who haven’t mastered heel-toe/rev-matching.

With the new GT3/GT3 RS available as PDK-only, the GT4 lets well-heeled driving purists savour its back-to-basics driving thrills (a ‘decent’ spec with the Clubsport package and PCCB nudges its price to close to S$535k by our reckoning) at a price point that sits below that of its bigger brothers, which start from approximately S$750k and up… however, as far as Singapore is concerned, we’re pretty sure a good number of GT4s will find homes with owners who will already have a garage of other sportscars.

NEED TO KNOW – Porsche Cayman GT4
Engine: 3,800cc, 24V, horizontally-opposed 6
Power: 385bhp at 7400rpm
Torque: 420Nm at 4750-6000rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed manual
Top Speed: 295km/h
0-100kmh: 4.4 seconds
Fuel efficiency: 10.3L/100km
CO2: 238g/km
Price: $432,688 w/o COE
Availability: Q3 2015