718 GTS models get 365hp, go-faster mechanicals, looks and equipment. Priced from $385k w/o COE

Singapore
Porsche announced the new top dogs of the 718 sports car range today, the 718 Boxster convertible and 718 Cayman GTS coupe models.

718 is of course, the latest designation for Porsche’s dedicated two-seaters that slot in below the 911 line-up in terms of size and price.

Currently, both models have the base ‘non S’ and S variants, which make 300hp and 350hp respectively, and achieve 0-100km/h in 4.9-seconds and 4.4-seconds respectively, an additional 0.2 seconds shaved off with the Sport Plus button option. We found the base Cayman a joy to drive and more than enough for Singapore’s roads, but hey, who doesn’t want more power in a mid-engined Porsche?

GTS models are a halfway house between the road-biased S (for example, 911 S) and more hardcore GT models (eg. 911 GT3, 911 GT2 RS, the latter of which is now the fastest road-legal car on the Nurb).

A new intake duct and ‘optimised turbocharger’, plus what we’re guessing is reprogrammed electronics and more boost pressure, results in 365hp and 430Nm for the 718 GTS models.

While we’ll never forget the whip-crack and howl of the previous, naturally-aspirated Cayman GTS and Boxster GTS models, which had 3.4-litre flat six engines, the new turbo models make 35hp more.

As a result, 0-100km/h is demolished in just 4.1-seconds, on to a 290km/h top speed, so the GTS models are significantly quicker than their S and standard brothers.

Like previous GTS models, the 718s come with a host of additional standard equipment that’s optional on the lesser models. This includes the Sport Chrono Package, Porsche Torque Vectoring with a mechanical rear differential (that should improve the cars’ already-impressive handling) and a sportier, active suspension lowered by 10mm (Porsche Active Suspension Management or PASM).

Also in GTS tradition the interior features large swathes of alcantara fabric, not least on the special GTS-badged sport seats, while the exterior cues include a more aggressive Sport Design front and rear apron/bodykit (with centrally-mounted sport exhaust), blacked out tail and headlamps, 20-inch wheels in satin black.

The 718 Boxster GTS is priced at $390,488 without COE, while the 718 Cayman GTS goes for slightly less, at $385,688 without COE.

As usual, Porsche already has the complete info for the 718 GTS models on its Singapore website, though you can’t fiddle with them on the super-fun Porsche configurator just yet.