‘Pinnacle’ Porsche 718 models now in PHL
As electrification looms, these top-tier Boxster and Cayman variants make a last ICE stand
ACROSS THE AUTO industry, the full electrification of mobility is not only seemingly inevitable, but is actually just around the corner. Stuttgart-headquartered Porsche is one of the brands that has declared a push toward electric mobility, saying on its website that it is “planning for more than 80% of the vehicles it delivers in 2030 to be fully electric — depending on customer demand and the development of electric mobility in individual regions of the world.” Most recently, Porsche unveiled the all-electric Macan SUV. Decarbonization is the overarching goal, it declared on its website.
You can very well say that the clock is ticking on Porsche’s production line for ICE (internal combustion engine)-powered vehicles — making each ICE (or at least pure-ICE, anyway) release a valuable one as far as purists are concerned. For the so-called 718 models, the Cayman and the Boxster convertible, the current iterations are projected to be the last ones before the aforementioned impending electrification. “It will be the last, because Porsche announced that the next 718 will be all-electric already,” underscored Porsche Philippines Brand Ambassador Bryan Ellamil during a recent preview for a handful of media practitioners at the PGA Cars Studio on EDSA.
And to end the ICE age on a high note, Porsche Philippines has brought in what are called the “pinnacle models” of the storied 718 line. These are no longer a “poor man’s 911,” opined Mr. Ellamil, but are actually performance standouts — in addition to looking the part.
PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN GT4 RS
Located amidships (for both, actually) is a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine generating 500ps and 450Nm (at 6,750rpm), and can roar to a maximum of 9,000rpm. This power plant is what also powers the 911 (yes, 911) GT3 Cup car, and the 718 GT2 RS Clubsport racer.
An unladen weight of 1,415kg helps to guarantee sprightly performance. Indeed, the new powertrain allowed the new Cayman GT4 RS to obliterate the Nürburgring Nordschleife mark of the 420ps 718 Cayman GT4 (which is also 35kg heavier) by more than 23 seconds. The GT4 RS managed the feat in seven minutes, nine seconds.
Meanwhile, acceleration is made “breathtaking” through a standard Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK) — allowing the vehicle to accelerate from zero to 100kph in a scant 3.4 seconds — onto a top speed is 315kph. Porsche said that “those who wish to shift manually can not only use the gearshift paddles on the steering wheel, but also the newly designed manual selector lever in the center console.”
Porsche Philippines pulled all the stops to secure the best-possible version of the vehicle. A Weissach Package throws in a roll-over bar and sports exhaust system made of titanium, multiple components with a carbon-weave finish, plus forged magnesium wheels.
The 718 Cayman GT4’s “racetrack-ready chassis” gets an enhanced, RS-specific damper setup, as well as modified spring and anti-roll bar rates, among others. To better rein in the increased performance, lightweight brake discs on the front axle are bigger at 408 millimeters — with an option for a PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake) which is even larger at 410mm in the front.
PORSCHE 718 SPYDER RS
Arguably even more visceral — certainly in pure looks alone — is the Porsche 718 Spyder RS. Porsche nixes the Boxster nomenclature altogether in this version, which comes 30 years after the presentation of the Boxster concept car. The most powerful iteration of the mid-engined roadster is more than just the open-top equivalent of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS.
“It is an enthusiast’s car,” insisted Mr. Ellamil, and added that its value, for obvious reasons, is expected to appreciate in the future. As it is, this vehicle is actually harder to source, owing to allocation limitations.
Like in the Cayman, the normal-breathing straight-six of the 911 GT3 appears here — marking the first time the mill has been conscripted for duty in an open-topped mid-engined sports car. This enables the same sprightliness in the Spyder — taking the same 3.4 seconds from a standstill to 100kph.
With regard to its stowable soft top, the task is entirely manual. There’s bit of a learning curve, but it’s pretty straightforward once you know what to do. The assembly consists of a sun sail and a weather deflector — both “completely removable and can be stowed together or singly in the vehicle.” The sun sail can be installed by itself as a “Bimini top,” to protect the driver and front passenger from intense sunlight. The manual experience is “purist-pleasing” function, Porsche submitted.
Porsche Philippines also options the Spyder with a Weissach Package. The exhaust system tailpipes are rendered in titanium, and get a look inspired by the limited-edition 935 from 2018. Within, the upper part of the dashboard is wrapped in anti-glare Race-Tex.
The Porsche dual clutch transmission (PDK) shifts through seven gears “at lightning speed and guarantees maximum performance.” Gearshift paddles behind the steering wheel allow drivers to keep their hands on the wheel even when shifting gears manually. The driver can opt to use the ergonomically designed selector lever on the center console.
The Spyder and Cayman get carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) hoods for lower weight.
The front end of the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS is almost identical to the front end of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. Two NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) air intakes aid to cool the brakes “without adversely affecting the drag coefficient.” A ducktail-shaped tear-off edge facilitates aerodynamics and maximum driving stability even at high speed.
Check out the two models currently on display at the Porsche Philippines showroom on EDSA, Greenhills, San Juan City.
