2020 Cayman GTS: The Flat-Six We Needed Back
This car is for those who care about the soul of driving, not numbers on a tech-specs sheet.
When Porsche introduced the fourth generation 718 Boxster/Cayman, it was definitely a hit or miss between fans of the brand. The main issue of contention? The new four cylinder-turbo powerplants that were powering these new cars. All previous generations up until this point had been powered by 6-cylinder flat engines. As all of us know, it is this engine layout that made Porsche into the brand that it is today. While the power figures of the 4-banger were nothing to scoff at, it is the engine that makes a car special.
Some of us simply couldn’t get used to hearing the uninspiring sound of a 4-cylinder in the 718s. After all, these are sports cars, not economy vehicles. Thus, if you bought a Cayman, you would hope that it would come with a sports car soundtrack to match. Sadly, this wasn’t the case. Porsche quickly caught on to this animosity to new engines and this is their response: the 718 GTS. Rory Reid, a host of AutoTrader‘s YouTube channel, had some thoughts about this new vehicle. Is the new 4.0-liter flat-six engine enough to bring back the excitement into the Cayman?
Well, according to Reid, “a 6-cylinder in a Cayman, that’s just music to my ears.” Most of us would agree. There are somethings worth changing over time. Losing cylinders is definitely not one of them.
This new 4.0-liter engine revs up to 7,800 RPM, makes 400 HP and generates 310 ft/lbs of torque. Does any of that really matter? No. Why? Because the GTS is about how the driving experience makes you feel, not a jumble of numbers.
This is why Reid states, “it’s not about the numbers, it’s about the drama that comes with it.” We couldn’t agree more. You might be thinking, well, if I really wanted the full sports car experience out of a Cayman, I’d buy a GT4. You’d be correct on that assumption, but that assumption also comes at a premium. Reid makes a similar argument in relation to the GTS. Although its driving dynamics are stellar and are rewarding at every turn, it doesn’t exactly have the exterior to match.
His example was explained when he stated that the Carmine Red GTS he was given for the review was largely ignored by the Portuguese townspeople roaming around where this review was filmed. How could so many people ignore a bright red Porsche? Well, Reid states, “even though it feels like a GT4, it doesn’t look like one.”
The exterior styling is updated, but for the most is reserved in nature. There is a different set of wheels for the GTS variant and it sits a bit lower than the lower end models, but that’s about it. It doesn’t feature anything obvious like a GT4 with its large rear wing, front splitter, and rear diffuser. It is most likely that only the most fanatic of Porsche lovers will even be able to tell the difference from a 4-cylinder model.
However, maybe Porsche did this for a reason. To reward those select few that were willing to purchase this model regardless of its non-ostentatious display. They chose this not for the way it looked, but for the way it drove. Reid describes this clearly, “this is a car designed for people in the know, people who really know their cars will be well aware that the Cayman 718 GTS is phenomenal where it counts: on the open road.”
So if you’re looking to enjoy everything Porsche has to offer from a dynamic perspective and appearance aren’t really your thing, this might be the perfect car. Reid states, “it feels strong, it feels smooth, it just feels special” and “this chassis makes this one of the most lovely sports cars to drive you’ll ever come across.” That’s high praise for a sports car if I’ve ever heard one.
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