Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS makes official debut in Malaysia – from RM1.55m



Are you a trackday fanatic? Prepare your wallets (and liver), because what is arguably the best track day weapon, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, is now here in Malaysia.

Shown off today at the launch of the new Porsche Centre Johor Bahru, the GT4 RS is the first ever 718 Cayman model to get the RS treatment, and is said to be designed as a completely uncompromising driver’s car, thanks to an uprated engine, better aerodynamics, reduced weight, and reworked chassis tuning.

The 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six engine in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS has been reworked to now make a massive 500 hp and 450 Nm, with the engine screaming all the way up to 9,000 rpm. For context, the horsepower output is just a mere 10 hp lesser than that of the 911 GT3.

In order to feed the engine with enough air, Porsche also had to add extra intake ducts behind the side windows, while the exhaust gases escape from the new twin titanium tailpipe exits, with a design that mimics that of the Porsche 935.

Just like the majority of Porsche RS models these days, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is also only available exclusively with a PDK gearbox. Thanks to a retuned gear ratio, along with the more powerful engine, the GT4 RS now accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds – 0.5 seconds faster than the regular GT4.

We all like to row our own gears, but the fact of the matter is that a dual-clutch automatic is just plain faster. And on a track weapon where every millisecond counts, a PDK gearbox just makes the most sense.

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To complement the increased performance, Porsche has also given the 718 Cayman GT4 RS an extensive aerodynamic package, consisting of new front fender vents, adjustable front diffuser, a new front spoiler lip with flow-around side blades, and over at the back, a larger underbody diffuser, and – of course – the massive swan neck rear wing.

Altogether, the new aerodynamic appendages give the GT4 RS in the track-only ‘Performance Mode’ up to 25% extra in downforce levels compared to the regular GT4.

The rear wing, alongside the front bonnet and fender are also made out of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), which together with the thinner carpets, reduced insulation material, and simpler door panels, help save a total of 35 kg in weight.

Final weight tally for the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS stands at just 1,415 kg, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of an incredible 353 hp/tonne.

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All of that, together with the reworked chassis consisting of modified spring rates, anti-roll bars, as well as a set of adjustable “circuit-ready” shock absorbers (which lowers the ride height by 30 mm), means that the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is able to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife in just 7:04.511, some 23.6 seconds faster than the regular GT4 variant.

To be able to enjoy all that, you’ll have to be prepared to fork out at least RM1,550,000, or about half a million more than the regular GT4 here in Malaysia. A small price to pay for salvation, eh?


GALLERY