Porsche Cayman GT4: Ignition Drives the 2016 Model

Ignition host Jason Cammisa takes us on a test drive of the 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4, and we find out if this sports car is worthy enough to wear Porsche’s famed “GT” badge.

I was at my local tuner shop this week talking about upgrades for my new Focus RS when a car rolled into the shop that immediately caught my attention. The car was a bright yellow, 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4, and let me tell you that this car is beautiful!

I am a big fan of the Porsche GT family, especially the 911 GT3, but never really paid much attention to the Porsche Cayman lineup. For me, whenever I think of Porsche’s Cayman series, I immediately think back to the Porsche Boxster. I was never interested in owning a Boxster, even the new 718, for the simple fact that I couldn’t get passed the “Volkswagen Beetle” sound that the engine makes!

When Porsche announced the release of the Cayman back in 2006, I didn’t consider it a real “game-changer” either and continued focusing on my dreams on owning (or at least driving) a Porsche 911.

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After checking out the new Porsche Cayman this week, I think my mind has finally been changed! This car has got it all. For starters, the Cayman GT4 looks like it has just moved out of its parent’s basement (Mr. and Mrs. Boxster, maybe?), and is off on its own, ready to conquer the world.

The beautiful lines, the aggressive stance, and more importantly, the fact it only comes with a 6-speed manual. You see, I am still a fan of “experiencing” the shifting joy that a manual transmission brings.

When I pull my RS out of the garage, I actually like the fact that I need to put on a pair of my favorite driving shoes (right now I am feeling the Jordan Illusion Low’s) in order to get that clutch-to-pedal feel.

Making the Cayman GT4 and the RS manual-only shows that both Porsche and Ford Performance care about the driver experience and enjoyment of these two vehicles. But I am also aware that having a manual transmission is not ideal for every situation. (I do have dreams about that Seven-Speed PDK Dual-Clutch Gearbox thou…) For cars like the RS and the GT4, it just works.

I think the two 6-speed manuals look good next to each other! (Photo Kelly G.) /

The new engine in the GT4 is no slouch, either. Long gone is the “Volkswagen Beetle” type sound, and is instead replaced with a straight-up aggressive tone! The 3.8-liter N/A flat-six engine makes 385HP and 309 ft-lb Torque. It has a 0-60 in 4.2 seconds.

It redlines at 7600-rpm. And that sound the flat-six puts out is music to my ears! Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to drive this vehicle, but I did get to spend some time and enjoy it, and really appreciate how far this sports car has evolved. While doing my research on the GT4,

I came across a pretty cool YouTube video from Jason Cammisa over at Ignition. He does a really good job explaining how this car drives, both on the track and through the twisties, and if you have a good set of speakers hooked up to your laptop or computer, the video captures the amazing sound coming out of this mid-engine sports car. Enjoy:

Porsche Cayman GT4 – Technical Specs

(Courtesy of

Porshe.com

)

Wheelbase: 97.8 in.
Length: 174.7 in.
Height: 49.9 in.
Transmission: 6-speed Manual
Horsepower: 385 hp at 7400 rpm
0 – 60 mph: 4.2 sec
Top Track Speed: 183 mph
Fuel Consumption City (estimate): 18 mpg
Highway (estimate): 23 mpg
Price from MSRP: $ 84,600.00

Although I didn’t get a chance to drive the 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4, it really caught my attention. (Did I forget to mention the GT4 is currently sold out!)

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But for a mere $84,600, you get a chance to own a piece of the Porsche legacy that in my opinion is worthy of wearing Porsche’s famous “GT” badge. For more information on the new Cayman GT4, check out the official website by clicking here.

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