PH bumped into straight-talking Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger walking between halls at the Frankfurt show and got a chance to talk about our recent comparison
against the Lotus Exige Cup
. He was interested to hear about our back to back test, if characteristically bullish about the conclusion it was the Porsche and not the Lotus that was better on the viciously bumpy test roads. "I could have told you that!" he grinned.
"We need to make our cars simpler"
If that sounds dismissive of the Exige he was fast to admit the Cayman could learn from Lotus yet, not least when it comes to weight. "We need to make our cars simpler," he said, "take some of the ****ing weight out, this would be good!" See, told you he was straight talking!
Putting two and two together would this equate to GT4 RS? Over the months since the Geneva unveiling of the GT4 Preuninger has been varyingly quoted as saying it's something they'd like to do to flat denials they'd even consider it. You get the sense the GT4 was a cautious toe in the water by Porsche to see if demand was there for a more traditional and back to basics approach now the GT3 range has gone PDK, four-wheel steer and high tech.
The response to the GT4 would indicate there emphatically is, our story last week suggesting GT4 production may yet be stepped up to satisfy those initially denied cars due to Porsche underestimating demand. And when fiercely loyal German media like Sport Auto award a Lotus Exige a narrow points victory over the GT4 and beg for a properly pared back Cayman with a basic interior and significant weight savings it's clear there are many craving such a thing.
Will Porsche give it a green light? Let's hope so...