Thursday 16th January 2020

Porsche 718 4.0 GTS - the flat-six is back!

You read right: the latest Cayman and Boxster are here, with a detuned GT4 4.0-litre...

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The rumours were true, then. While we all secretly hoped that Porsche's new 4.0-litre flat-six, the 911-derived engine found in the GT4 and Spyder, would see service in other 718s, the fear was always that the four-cylinder turbo would continue to power everything non-Motorsport. Not so. Despite the fact that there's already been a 718 GTS with the flat-four, there's now a new one - the 718 GTS 4.0, since you're asking - and it gets six horizontally opposed cylinders powering its rear wheels. Tremendous.

The important numbers: 400hp, or just 20 less than the flagship models, a redline at 7,800rpm, 182mph and 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds. For now, the six-speed manual, presumably as found in the GT4 and Spyder, is the only transmission on offer. Also tremendous. Porsche rates the fuel economy by WLTP standards at 25.9mpg, aided by cylinder deactivation, piezo injection and a variable intake system, with a CO2 figure of 246g/km.

Like all the other GTS models, these new 718 4.0s cherry pick the very best options from the extras catalogue, here to create "characteristically emotive power delivery and a focused driving experience." So, the sports exhaust is standard, as is PASM Sport with a 20mm lower ride height, Porsche Torque Vectoring with the mechanical limited-slip diff, active drivetrain mounts, Sport Chrono and the Porsche Track Precision App. Also tremen... You get the idea.

Standard wheels are 20-inch and black, with 235-section front and 265-section rear tyres; ceramic brakes are optional. While the yellow calipers of that added extra will mark it out, all of these new 4.0-litres get the usual GTS makeover: tinted lenses, black accents, sports seats, Alcantara everything.

Sound good? Course it does. Even with the reservations that have emerged about the aural quality of this latest 718 engine - never stops, does it? - the news of more flat-six Porsches in the world can only and wholly be considered a good thing. Both the 718 GTS 4.0 models are on sale today, the Cayman from £64,088 and the Boxster from £65,949, or respectively £11,260 and £7,456 less than their GT4 and Spyder siblings. Deliveries begin in March, and the configurator is live right now - get speccing!

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Search for a Porsche Cayman here

[anonymous-user]

[redacted]

[Lexington59]

Or was it part of the plan all along?

If NA and ‘sound’ are worth an additional 30 grand to you than fill your boots...

[Sport220]

How much!?

[Carl_Manchester]

Whomever in Porsche made this decision has my permission for the law to be changed and to be knighted by the Queen.

These two cars could be two of the best cars Porsche has ever made, roll on the reviews.

[DoubleD]

I bet it sounds good though

[Butter Face]

I'm sure this will please the purists!

Still amazes me that you have to add bits like LED headlights, £1300+!

[DaveTheRave87]

Future classic.

[tim-jxv5n]

What sort of impact on depreciation will this have on the 4 cylinder models? I'm fancying a 2 litre as a daily driver so might wait a little longer yet!!

[Ray_Aber]

Any chance of having non black wheels? That is an absolute deal breaker for me. They are hideous and leave gaping wheelarches where there should be.

Otherwise it seems like a good deal. 400hp? Yum!

[AJB88]

Tuners will love this... remap to gain the GT4 power plus a little more!

Same with the 981 S and GTS, the S could be mapped to achieve the GTS power plus the extra headroom.

[anonymous-user]

Butter Face said:

I'm sure this will please the purists!

Still amazes me that you have to add bits like LED headlights, £1300+!

Playing devils advocate, I quite like how Porsche has done the whole option thing.

You can have a really basic one, or overload it. It's your choice. Plus Porsche rake in the cash.

[browngt3]

Excellent! Full marks for Porsche for persevering with the NA and manual combination. Love that they've only made the manual version available at this stage

[andrewparker]

Is that Python Green on the Boxster?

[Butter Face]

andrewparker said:

Is that Python Green on the Boxster?

Yes it's on the configurator

[shalmaneser]

Ray_Aber said:

Any chance of having non black wheels? That is an absolute deal breaker for me. They are hideous and leave gaping wheelarches where there should be.

Otherwise it seems like a good deal. 400hp? Yum!

I've had a fiddle with the configurator and yes, you can get silver wheels. Phew! Now to just find that £60k...

[swanny71]

YouTalkinToMe said:

Butter Face said:

I'm sure this will please the purists!

Still amazes me that you have to add bits like LED headlights, £1300+!

Playing devils advocate, I quite like how Porsche has done the whole option thing.

You can have a really basic one, or overload it. It's your choice. Plus Porsche rake in the cash.

Been playing on the configurator, just under £66k for one I'd be very happy with (very basic by Porsche spec standards)
Would love one, almost certainly not gonna happen but I can daydream...

[Butter Face]

shalmaneser said:

Ray_Aber said:

Any chance of having non black wheels? That is an absolute deal breaker for me. They are hideous and leave gaping wheelarches where there should be.

Otherwise it seems like a good deal. 400hp? Yum!

I've had a fiddle with the configurator and yes, you can get silver wheels. Phew! Now to just find that £60k...

For a cost obvs

£809 for 20-inch Carrera Sport wheels
or
£1566 for 20-inch 911 Turbo wheels

[SidewaysSi]

Love it. Porsche are legends.

[swanny71]

Butter Face said:

For a cost obvs

£809 for 20-inch Carrera Sport wheels
or
£1566 for 20-inch 911 Turbo wheels

£0 to have standard wheels painted silver

[Butter Face]

swanny71 said:

Butter Face said:

For a cost obvs

£809 for 20-inch Carrera Sport wheels
or
£1566 for 20-inch 911 Turbo wheels

£0 to have standard wheels painted silver

Yeah or that

Soooo many options on the configurator. I'm virtually spending a fortune