Cayman/Boxster GTS Spring 2014
Discussion
AutoExpress says as follows:-
"As well as this, we can also expect higher-performance GTS versions of the Boxster and Cayman.
The GTS models, due in April, will get 15bhp more power than the Boxster S and Cayman S, at 326bhp and 335bhp respectively. They also have a unique bodykit, 20-inch wheels and GTS badging."
I think this is a very credible rumour. It would be about the same as the Cayman R was relative to the 987.2.
A few thoughts:-
(1) I bet Porsche will have sorted out the electronic steering in time for the GTS to feel a lot more like a hydraulic system. Could it just take the GT3 set up and tweak that a little given it is already not that bad?
(2) 20 inch wheels?
19 will do, thanks. Nutters.
(3) "Unique bodykit" does not sound very exciting. The key dynamic change should be a reduction in weight. Given that the 981 is already substantially lighter than the 987.2, though, how much can realistically be trimmed off? 50kg? If that is right, it will be a fairly insubstantial change in the power to weight ratio.
(4) What do we think on pricing? An extra 5k? It will probably come with about that much worth of options as standard (but I wouldnt expect as much haggle room as you would have if adding loads to a Cayman S).
If this rumour is right, will there be much interest? I know loads of us would sell our homes, wives and families for a "proper" Cayman/Boxster GTS with more like 375-400hp and/or sensible gearing, but a 15hp tweak is all that we are likely to get.
"As well as this, we can also expect higher-performance GTS versions of the Boxster and Cayman.
The GTS models, due in April, will get 15bhp more power than the Boxster S and Cayman S, at 326bhp and 335bhp respectively. They also have a unique bodykit, 20-inch wheels and GTS badging."
I think this is a very credible rumour. It would be about the same as the Cayman R was relative to the 987.2.
A few thoughts:-
(1) I bet Porsche will have sorted out the electronic steering in time for the GTS to feel a lot more like a hydraulic system. Could it just take the GT3 set up and tweak that a little given it is already not that bad?
(2) 20 inch wheels?
19 will do, thanks. Nutters.(3) "Unique bodykit" does not sound very exciting. The key dynamic change should be a reduction in weight. Given that the 981 is already substantially lighter than the 987.2, though, how much can realistically be trimmed off? 50kg? If that is right, it will be a fairly insubstantial change in the power to weight ratio.
(4) What do we think on pricing? An extra 5k? It will probably come with about that much worth of options as standard (but I wouldnt expect as much haggle room as you would have if adding loads to a Cayman S).
If this rumour is right, will there be much interest? I know loads of us would sell our homes, wives and families for a "proper" Cayman/Boxster GTS with more like 375-400hp and/or sensible gearing, but a 15hp tweak is all that we are likely to get.
Thanks.
I cannot find any source for this rumour other than that fake slide, unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately given that it is uninspiring).
I spotted another rumour of a 370hp version, but that seems unlikely to me. Could that be obtained without a turbo/supercharger? I dont think Porsche would do anything more than a re-map and a few minor fiddles.
You'll be glad to see that all rumours suggest that it will be manual as standard
I cannot find any source for this rumour other than that fake slide, unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately given that it is uninspiring).
I spotted another rumour of a 370hp version, but that seems unlikely to me. Could that be obtained without a turbo/supercharger? I dont think Porsche would do anything more than a re-map and a few minor fiddles.
You'll be glad to see that all rumours suggest that it will be manual as standard
I agree. Porsche will avoid that lie the plague. Imagine the headlines; imagine the loss of model hierarchy and false distinctions!
'The 911 has to be faster than the Cayman/Bixster because IT'S THE 911!'
Utter nonesense, but Porsche knows that the car press and unsophisticated buyers would start blabbing about the death of the 911. And the 911 is key, or so porsche thinks, in differentiating porsche from other brands. It must not be undermined.
A rational market strategy (assuming buyers to be sensible) would include fast Caymans and 'slow' 911s, but I don't see it happening.
'The 911 has to be faster than the Cayman/Bixster because IT'S THE 911!'
Utter nonesense, but Porsche knows that the car press and unsophisticated buyers would start blabbing about the death of the 911. And the 911 is key, or so porsche thinks, in differentiating porsche from other brands. It must not be undermined.
A rational market strategy (assuming buyers to be sensible) would include fast Caymans and 'slow' 911s, but I don't see it happening.
What you will also see in Q2 '14 will be 2 i4 boosted variants of the Boxster & Cayman.
Cir. 250 & 290PS
Various reasons for these entrants.....vehicle line US compliance, revised entry pricing, 'justifiable performance' reduced cost-of-ownership and a segment stretch towards the like of the Audi TT etc.
Interestingly and as you might expect, availability will be limited (dealership mix management) ....
Cir. 250 & 290PS
Various reasons for these entrants.....vehicle line US compliance, revised entry pricing, 'justifiable performance' reduced cost-of-ownership and a segment stretch towards the like of the Audi TT etc.
Interestingly and as you might expect, availability will be limited (dealership mix management) ....
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I thought Porsche had said recently we won't see any 4 cylinders until 2016?If they're going to put turbos on small engines, they should make them small flat 6's to at least give them a chance if sounding good. I assume the smaller cylinder capacity would be as efficient?
Very roughly, how much lighter would a 4 cylinder turbo (say 2l) be than the current engines? I assume other parts could in theory be lighter as under less stress, but it might not be economical to design new ones (although I suppose borrowing from Audi is more likely).
Unless it is way way lighter, a puny Boxster/Cayman made with Audi parts will hurt the brand, IMO. Better to build a new car than confuse the offering. The Boxster will become a hairdresser's car.
(I hope they at least put 16 inch wheels on them and go for the BRZ thing.)
Unless it is way way lighter, a puny Boxster/Cayman made with Audi parts will hurt the brand, IMO. Better to build a new car than confuse the offering. The Boxster will become a hairdresser's car.
(I hope they at least put 16 inch wheels on them and go for the BRZ thing.)
When are we going to get a new Cayman R on the lines of the old one or the Cayman Sport Limited addition.
That looks the part and is a drivers car with bucket seats and sports exhausts you get the picture.
Lets have some decent colours please Porsche for these limited addition models be brave and not play safe.
That looks the part and is a drivers car with bucket seats and sports exhausts you get the picture.
Lets have some decent colours please Porsche for these limited addition models be brave and not play safe.
Thanks for the response.
A 250hp turbo (so not even real power) Cayman of roughly the same weight as the current car would be fairly underpowered and underwhelming. A Porsche with notably worse performance than a hot hatch would be fairly sad.
I really hope Porsche does not do that.
No matter how much we say we love our cars for their performance and feel (which we do), perception does matter. I do not want a car that will come to be seen as just a bigger-engined version of a budget offering. To me, that isnt Porsche - Porsche make sports cars (and SUVs...), not specced up standard cars.
Before I get accused of being obsessed with power, I should make clear that a responsive little 1100kg 4-pot Porsche would be a proper sports car (irrespective of being slower than a hot hatch in a straight line, etc). The point is not power but being credible as something more than (or just different from) a standard street car with a fancy badge. The Cayman is not a light or very small car. It needs a fairly powerful engine to be "sporty", IMO.
People will go on about how weak the 911 engines were back in the day but that the cars were still amazing fun. I am sure they were. 911s also used to be absolutely tiny compared to the current model - I think they were about 250kgs lighter back in the day, too, which is pretty amazing given how much work is done to keep down the weight of the modern car. A bigger car needs more help to be a sports car, and neither the Cayman nor the Boxster is a small car. It is about the same size as a standard 4-seater was when I was a kid.
A 250hp turbo (so not even real power
) Cayman of roughly the same weight as the current car would be fairly underpowered and underwhelming. A Porsche with notably worse performance than a hot hatch would be fairly sad.I really hope Porsche does not do that.
No matter how much we say we love our cars for their performance and feel (which we do), perception does matter. I do not want a car that will come to be seen as just a bigger-engined version of a budget offering. To me, that isnt Porsche - Porsche make sports cars (and SUVs...), not specced up standard cars.
Before I get accused of being obsessed with power, I should make clear that a responsive little 1100kg 4-pot Porsche would be a proper sports car (irrespective of being slower than a hot hatch in a straight line, etc). The point is not power but being credible as something more than (or just different from) a standard street car with a fancy badge. The Cayman is not a light or very small car. It needs a fairly powerful engine to be "sporty", IMO.
People will go on about how weak the 911 engines were back in the day but that the cars were still amazing fun. I am sure they were. 911s also used to be absolutely tiny compared to the current model - I think they were about 250kgs lighter back in the day, too, which is pretty amazing given how much work is done to keep down the weight of the modern car. A bigger car needs more help to be a sports car, and neither the Cayman nor the Boxster is a small car. It is about the same size as a standard 4-seater was when I was a kid.
Painful to contemplate.
May as well give it paddles (rather than a manual) if it has a silly turbo engine, anyway. Everyone will say "It is very driveable", by which they mean that it has flattish hp and torque curves so constantly feels good to go but never actually delivers... See Audi for how to make a car like this.
The problem is that the low down power feel is becoming the way in which we measure a car's ooomph, rather than how well it responds to wringing it out. I remember whining a few weeks back about my car not pulling fast enough from mid-range revs (i.e. behaving like a proper sports car rather than a turbo diesel). The error of my ways! But I am a child of our times.
May as well give it paddles (rather than a manual) if it has a silly turbo engine, anyway. Everyone will say "It is very driveable", by which they mean that it has flattish hp and torque curves so constantly feels good to go but never actually delivers... See Audi for how to make a car like this.
The problem is that the low down power feel is becoming the way in which we measure a car's ooomph, rather than how well it responds to wringing it out. I remember whining a few weeks back about my car not pulling fast enough from mid-range revs (i.e. behaving like a proper sports car rather than a turbo diesel). The error of my ways! But I am a child of our times.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
It wouldn't have to do much to feel faster than the current 2.7 Cayman, my OPC leant me one while my Cayenne Diesel was in for a service.No low down torque, unnecessarily noisy (and not that nice sounding) engine, and strange noises made by the PDK when changing down whilst coming to a stand.
The steering and handling were world class, but the Cayman defo needs the S engine. I was glad to get back in the Cayenne.
Edited by Cobnapint on Wednesday 20th November 10:18
TBH, I have never fully understood the argument that the 2.7 is the better car. Aside from being able to put the foot to the floor (marginally) more often, it is obviously going to suffer a bit from being relatively underpowered in a fairly heavy car.
For example, I had a fantastic couple of minutes driving up Fish Hill this weekend in my 987.2 S loaded with options (100k?), me (80kg), a passenger(50kg) and luggage (30kg). It was a blast, but I needed the power towards the top of 2nd and in the middle of 3rd to make it that much fun.
For example, I had a fantastic couple of minutes driving up Fish Hill this weekend in my 987.2 S loaded with options (100k?), me (80kg), a passenger(50kg) and luggage (30kg). It was a blast, but I needed the power towards the top of 2nd and in the middle of 3rd to make it that much fun.
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