Discussion
I just read about this for the first time. Postings on other forums suggest it will be announced in Geneva 2015. Priced probably somewhere near or above a 911 C2S... 
and here is a random completely unofficial render i found online:
motortrend said:
All of which brings us to perhaps the most exciting new car Porsche will bring to market in the next three years, the GT4.
Based on the Cayman and probably destined to be called the Cayman GT4, the GT4 will be the big-power, mid-engine, reasonably priced Porsche every purist has been crowing about since forever. By reasonably priced we mean compared to a GT3.
Pricing will be about $125K and the GT4 will sit way above the recently created Cayman GTS. What makes a GT4? Expect a transmission similar to the modified PDK unit found in the GT3. What engine is still the big question mark, and interestingly might be settled this June in France. If the 919 Hybrid goes real big and wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans, expect Porsche to try and capitalize on that fact by pushing a turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain. If the 919’s teething problems continue, the GT4 could remain as a flat-six, but with hybrid assist. Expect to also see a Boxster version of the GT4, though it will most likely be called the RS Spyder. Either way, validation testing on the inline-4 turbo is taking place right now.
http://wot.motortrend.com/1405_porsches_plan_more_horsepower_more_hybrids.htmlBased on the Cayman and probably destined to be called the Cayman GT4, the GT4 will be the big-power, mid-engine, reasonably priced Porsche every purist has been crowing about since forever. By reasonably priced we mean compared to a GT3.
Pricing will be about $125K and the GT4 will sit way above the recently created Cayman GTS. What makes a GT4? Expect a transmission similar to the modified PDK unit found in the GT3. What engine is still the big question mark, and interestingly might be settled this June in France. If the 919 Hybrid goes real big and wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans, expect Porsche to try and capitalize on that fact by pushing a turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain. If the 919’s teething problems continue, the GT4 could remain as a flat-six, but with hybrid assist. Expect to also see a Boxster version of the GT4, though it will most likely be called the RS Spyder. Either way, validation testing on the inline-4 turbo is taking place right now.
and here is a random completely unofficial render i found online:
I agree with ORD but I would not be surprised to see some hybrid technology in there, although the 400 hp 4-cylinder would be the much more obvious choice. Hybrid drivetrains are here to stay and Porsche will sooner or later add them to every range, whether PH likes it or not. (see PDK in 991 GT3)
A hybrid GT4 would solve the issues that ORD mentioned and give Porsche the chance to establish some credibility with hybrid in (non super-) sports cars before touching the holy grail that is 911. Pricing and the fact that it would be sold as a semi-trackday version would make sure it doesn’t cannibalise into the 911 market. Like the old 914-6 which in my opinion was a superior car than the 911S of its time, yet it didn’t sell that well at all.
I’m in the market for a Spyder/Cayman R, so I *really* hope the Cayman GT4 will be either a 4-pot or a hybrid, preferably both.
A hybrid GT4 would solve the issues that ORD mentioned and give Porsche the chance to establish some credibility with hybrid in (non super-) sports cars before touching the holy grail that is 911. Pricing and the fact that it would be sold as a semi-trackday version would make sure it doesn’t cannibalise into the 911 market. Like the old 914-6 which in my opinion was a superior car than the 911S of its time, yet it didn’t sell that well at all.
I’m in the market for a Spyder/Cayman R, so I *really* hope the Cayman GT4 will be either a 4-pot or a hybrid, preferably both.
Edited by EricE on Friday 9th May 13:04
auto-motor-sport said:
Der Reifezustand des Porsche Cayman GT4-Erlkönigs lässt auf ein baldiges Debüt schließen. Denkbar wäre der Pariser Autosalon im Herbst.
autocar said:
Judging by the early-stage appearance of this prototype, it's unlikely that this model will be seen in final production form before the end of next year.
German site says it looks ready to launch in late 2014, Autocar says it is an early-stage appearance prototype. I think we will probably see it this year.I just received the latest copy of sport auto on my iPad and found this in the readers comments section...
he claims a coworker sent him the data for the latest GT4, recorded during ABS/ESP calibration runs.
371,6 PS on the dyno
404,3 Nm
1305 kg (without driver)
for a brief moment i hoped that would be power at the wheel.
According to some Cayman R dyno sheets the corrected power output after drive train loss would be ~452 PS. Rather unlikely.
Then I did some s
tty math (correct me if I am wrong) and the engine would have to hit peak power at 7900 rpm assuming the 404,3 Nm torque is correct.
The 991 GT3 has its peak power at 8250 rpm with 476 PS and 440 Nm. So in theory that would be possible.
But then a 1305kg GT4 with that kind of power — it would have to have a slightly detuned 991 GT3 engine — would have a far better power to weight ratio than the 991 GT3. That car would run circles around the 991 GT3 and would probably ruin its residuals too.
So the much more likely option is that these measurements are at the crank and the GT4 will be a rather lukewarm car (+30 PS and -40kg compared to the 981 GTS). IF the data is correct.
Can’t sleep, need to find a Spyder...
he claims a coworker sent him the data for the latest GT4, recorded during ABS/ESP calibration runs.
371,6 PS on the dyno
404,3 Nm
1305 kg (without driver)
for a brief moment i hoped that would be power at the wheel.
According to some Cayman R dyno sheets the corrected power output after drive train loss would be ~452 PS. Rather unlikely.
Then I did some s
tty math (correct me if I am wrong) and the engine would have to hit peak power at 7900 rpm assuming the 404,3 Nm torque is correct. The 991 GT3 has its peak power at 8250 rpm with 476 PS and 440 Nm. So in theory that would be possible.
But then a 1305kg GT4 with that kind of power — it would have to have a slightly detuned 991 GT3 engine — would have a far better power to weight ratio than the 991 GT3. That car would run circles around the 991 GT3 and would probably ruin its residuals too.
So the much more likely option is that these measurements are at the crank and the GT4 will be a rather lukewarm car (+30 PS and -40kg compared to the 981 GTS). IF the data is correct.
Can’t sleep, need to find a Spyder...
Edited by EricE on Thursday 14th August 01:05
mrdemon said:
seems to make sense to just drop in whatever the 2015 991.2 base engine will be.
then just tune the exhaust and map to make the new R/GT4.
Now that you mention that, I hope that isn’t the long rumored 6-cylinder twin turbo engine. then just tune the exhaust and map to make the new R/GT4.
I’d almost make sense for the base Carrera and GT4 to have a small twin turbo while the Carrera S gets the 3.8L NA version.
Of course it is too early to tell and I’m sure the car will be more than the sum of all its parts, but I hoped for more with the GT4.
If they price it similar to the 991 C2S then I don't think they will sell a lot of them (see Spyder/Cayman R) which should be good for residuals but I would look elsewhere.
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