June President Letter

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By Tom Iervolino

First they brought us the GT4 then the GT4 Clubsport. Ah yes, those Porsche executives are always thinking of ways to thrill us and of course, helping us part with our money. Hey, if you can afford it, why not, as life is meant to be enjoyed.
So how great would a GT4 RS look sitting in your garage and more importantly, how much fun would an RS be on the track or at an AutoX? I am going to make a guess; FANTASTIC!!
But will they launch a GT4 RS? According to various experts/bloggers, there seems to be a growing belief that it will happen. According to Noah Joseph on AutoBlog.com, “We’re not sure what kind of person would look at the new Porsche Cayman GT4 and say “that’s not enough,” but we’re sure they’re out there. And to satisfy just such a customer, Porsche could very well offer a GT4 RS version in the future.
“This is just the beginning of the era. I would be interested in doing a Cayman GT4 RS version, but at the moment we didn’t even talk about such a thing. If the customers call for something like this we could think about it.”
These are the words of Andreas Preuninger, speaking with Evo at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. As head of Porsche’s GT line, Preuninger and his team are responsible for creating hardcore track models like the 911 GT3, the new 911 GT3 RS and – for the first time – the new Cayman GT4.
Clearly buoyed by the early success of the GT4, Prenuninger is already looking towards the next step. Considering that the existing model already packs a 3.8-liter flat six with 385 horsepower and the manual transmissions so many GT3 fans miss, we’re not sure how much more they could get out of the Cayman – but we’ll sure enjoy watching them try.”
Well that sounds positive. Why do we even need a GT4 RS? According to Ciprian Floria on TopSpeed.com, “As a full-fledged GT in the Porsche lineup, it would be weird for the GT4 not to receive an RS version. Even the turbocharged 911 GT2 got it at some point, so why skip the Cayman GT4? I’m not looking for reasons against it, but I’m sure some might argue that the RS badge is restricted to the 911. Fortunately, this isn’t true, as Porsche already used it (to some extent) on the 718 race car of the late 1950s. So using it for the Cayman wouldn’t hurt Porsche’s heritage.
Also the GT4 could be both lighter and more powerful. Porsche could use even more carbon fiber to shed more pounds and I bet it could squeeze up to 400 horsepower from the 3.8-liter flat-six with ease. I mean, the 911 GT3’s 3.8-liter unit cranks out 475 horses, so 400 horsepower from a similar mill would be a walk in the park.
Finally, imagine all the fun you could have with a lighter and more powerful Porsche that benefits from all the advantages of a mid-ship layout.

So let’s dream a little bit and try to imagine what it would look like and what goodies would be beneath the skin.
Exterior: The relation between the Cayman GT4 and the GT4 RS will likely be similar to that between the 911 GT3 and the GT3 RS. So it is not too hard to imagine what kind of features the Cayman GT4 would receive in order to become an RS. If the new GT3 RS is any indication, the Cayman GT4 RS should receive louvered front fenders and maybe reshaped rear-fender intakes for improved cooling.
To further enhance aerodynamics, Porsche could add a larger front splitter and a bigger rear wing. However, do not expect the wing to be as big as the GT3’s. Other than that and the mandatory “GT4 RS” badge below the wing, the GT4 RS should be identical to the GT4. The Germans might also throw in a couple of cool colors exclusive to this model.
Interior: The interior of the GT4 RS should not change much compared to the GT4. Expect standard equipment to include racing bucket seats made from carbon fiber and the custom Sport Chrono Package with a Track Precision App. The Alcantara wrapped sports steering wheel and the overall cabin layout of the GT4, including the aluminum trim, should carry over unchanged.
Much like the 911 GT3 RS, the Cayman GT4 RS will include a range of race specific features, such as a roll cage behind the front seats (Europe only??) a six-point safety harness for the driver, a fire extinguisher and lightweight door handles.
Drivetrain: For the GT4 RS to make sense in the lineup, it would need an output of at least 400 horses to go with a slightly lowered curb weight. Given the 3.8 liter in the 911 GT3 generates 475 horsepower, a GT4 RS with up to 410 horses is definitely doable.
The beefed-up flat-six will mate to the same six-speed manual transmission, making the Cayman GT4 the only RS model with a clutch pedal. The 911 GT3 RS is a PDK exclusive machine.
The chassis of the GT4 RS will also consist almost entirely of components from the 911 GT3, but I expect it to come with a more track focused setup.
Performance wise, the GT4 RS should be slightly quicker than the GT4. I am betting on a four-second sprint from 0 to 60 mph (the GT4 can do it in 4.2 ticks) and a top speed of around 186 mph (the GT4 sits at 183 mph).
Price: Anybody’s guess but I am speculating slightly north of $100K?
Well, let us keep our fingers crossed and see what Porsche has in store for us. I want to officially go on record that all new model cars need to go through a safety check by the President of NNJR before they are allowed on track. You know we say that it is not the cars but the people, so I want to do my duty to keep you safe.
See you out there and let us have a great summer enjoying all the wonderful NNJR-PCA events.
Tom Iervolino