MID-ENGINE TRACK WEAPON
PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN GT4 RS
The most focused mid-engine Porsche ever made.
The most focused mid-engine Porsche ever made.
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is the car that Porsche enthusiasts have dreamed about for decades: the legendary 4.0-liter flat-six from the 911 GT3, transplanted into the lighter, more agile mid-engine Cayman chassis. The result is nothing short of extraordinary — a car that many believe offers a purer driving experience than even the GT3 itself.
That naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six — derived directly from the 911 GT3 — revs to a stratospheric 9,000 RPM, producing 493 horsepower. In the lighter Cayman body (1,415 kg dry), the power-to-weight ratio is spectacular. But numbers only tell part of the story. The real magic is in the chassis balance.
With the engine mounted behind the driver but ahead of the rear axle (true mid-engine), the GT4 RS has a near-perfect weight distribution that gives it otherworldly cornering ability. At the Nürburgring, it lapped in 7:04.511 — faster than the previous-generation 911 GT3 RS. A mid-engine Cayman, beating a 911 GT3 RS. That tells you everything about this car's capability.
4.0L Flat-6 NA (GT3 derived)
493 HP at 8,300 RPM — 9,000 RPM redline7-Speed PDK
Motorsport-calibrated for fastest shifts1,415 kg (3,120 lbs)
Lighter than GT3 — mid-engine advantage7:04.511
Faster than previous 911 GT3 RSSwan-Neck Rear Wing
NACA ducts replace rear windows for airflowSide Air Intakes Behind Glass
Rear windows replaced with intake vents — pure V6 scream
The GT4 RS's most striking visual feature is the replacement of the rear side windows with NACA duct air intakes. These feed air directly to the engine's intake, improving performance while channeling the flat-six's scream into the cabin at full volume. It's a design choice that prioritizes the auditory experience — Porsche knows that the engine sound is half the joy of a naturally aspirated sports car.
Weight savings are obsessive: carbon fiber hood, carbon bucket seats (saving 13 kg over standard sports seats), carbon fiber front fenders, lightweight carpet, and deletion of the rear storage compartment. Door pulls are fabric straps. The clock on the dashboard has been deleted. Every gram counts when you're chasing lap times.
The Manthey Performance Kit — developed with Porsche's motorsport partner Manthey Racing — adds additional aero elements including front dive planes, an adjusted rear wing, and stiffer suspension settings specifically calibrated for the Nürburgring.
