2020 Porsche 718 Cayman Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The latest generation of Porsche’s Cayman debuted for 2017. In 2019, the company designated it “718,” in reference to Porsche’s nimble...

The latest generation of Porsche’s Cayman debuted for 2017. In 2019, the company designated it “718,” in reference to Porsche’s nimble racers of the late 1950s and early 1960s. For 2020, Porsche releases a new Cayman GT4, the first since the original 2016 version. The rest of the lineup doesn't see any changes.

The 718 Cayman GT4 is a high-performance, track-capable version of the Cayman with numerous performance and cosmetic changes that put it a cut above the rest of the range. Compared to the standard car, the 718 Cayman GT4 sets itself apart with side intakes that have additional side blades, a new rear diffuser, a manually adjustable rear wing, a front spoiler lip, and tinted taillights.

The base 718 Cayman, the Cayman S, and the Cayman GTS get either a 2.0- or 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-4 engine. The 2.0-liter flat-4 returns 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The 2.5-liter engine found in the Cayman S makes 350 hp and 309 lb-ft. The 2.5-liter found in the Cayman GTS returns 365 hp and the same 309 lb-ft.

The Cayman GT4 goes back to its roots with a flat-6. It’s a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated unit that makes 414 hp and 309 lb-ft of torque. The 0-60 mph sprint takes 4.2 seconds. The GT4 can hit a top speed of 187 mph. The standard gearbox is a 6-speed manual. It comes with an active rev-matching feature, but purists can turn it off with the push of a button.

The Cayman GT4 sits nearly 1.2 inches lower to the ground than the standard car and rides on special 20-inch wheels with wider tires. It also comes standard with torque vectoring and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with adaptive dampers and manually adjustable camber, toe, ride height, and anti-roll bar settings. The large adjustable rear wing makes up to 330 pounds of downforce. Ceramic-composite brakes are an optional extra.

The 718 Cayman GT4 features a shorter shifter, more heavily bolstered one-piece sport seats, pull straps instead of door handles, and Alcantara detailing. Power 18-way-adjustable sport seats are optional.

The original Cayman GT4, still just a few years old, was an instant smash hit that received universal praise from automotive pundits and hardcore Porsche enthusiasts alike. The latest one appears to stick with the theme of the original and offers small but significant improvements.