This morning’s Porsche press release announced that the new 718 GT4 and 718 Spyder have been unveiled with a 4.0L naturally aspirated engine. My husband quickly summarized the key points he’s excited about, so I’d like to share them below.

New 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder

This morning, the long-awaited press release arrived.
The new 718 GT4 and 718 Spyder have been announced. Let me quickly outline the points that caught my attention.

420PS! The Long-Awaited 6-Cylinder Naturally Aspirated Engine

Both the 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder are equipped with a 4.0-liter flat-six naturally aspirated engine.

The power output is an impressive 420PS. This engine is reportedly based on the same engine as the current 911 Carrera model series’ turbo engine, making it somewhat different from the existing GT3 engines.

It’s quite rare these days to see a naturally aspirated engine producing over 100PS per liter. Plus, the redline is 8,000 rpm! Despite this performance, it’s also environmentally conscious, boasting a combined European fuel consumption of 10.9 l/100 km (about 9.17 km/L), which is impressive.

First, let’s listen to the intriguing exhaust notes in the videos released.

Compared to the 981-era GTS, Spyder, and GT4, the sound tone seems a bit different—it sounds closer to the GT3 with a thicker, more powerful sound pressure. This definitely raises expectations.

Purely Manual Transmission Only

For the new GT4 and Spyder, there appears to be no PDK option at this time. Like the previous generation, they come with a 6-speed manual transmission. The top speed is 304 km/h for the GT4 and 301 km/h for the Spyder, marking the first time the Cayman and Boxster series have exceeded 300 km/h. Both cars accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds.

Not long ago, this would have firmly placed them in supercar territory, and achieving this with a manual transmission sets them apart from their rivals.

Personally, I’d like to see a PDK version as well, but Porsche is probably targeting purist manual enthusiasts. Also, if a PDK version were offered, it might outperform the bigger brother 911, potentially disrupting the hierarchy.

Aerodynamics of the 718 Cayman GT4

Compared to the previous model, downforce has increased by 50%, with about 30% of that generated near the rear single-chamber arch rear silencer area (rear diffuser). The new rear wing produces 20% more downforce than its predecessor at 200 km/h, adding an extra 12 kg.

718 Spyder’s Soft Top

The soft top basically follows the previous generation’s design. Continuing the tradition of the 550 Spyder and 718 RS 60 Spyder, it features a lightweight soft top. The electromagnetic lock is released manually, and the top is opened and closed by hand, just like before. Needless to say, this soft top can be used safely even at the top speed of 301 km/h.

Chassis Performance of the 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder

Both models have their ride height lowered by about 30mm, are equipped with PASM and PTV (Porsche Torque Vectoring), and feature newly designed ‘GT brakes’. PCCB is available as an option. The GT4 also offers a Club Sport Package option that includes a rear steel roll bar, fire extinguisher, and a 6-point seatbelt on the driver’s side. Additionally, the 718 Spyder is available with Porsche’s exclusive Ultra High Performance (UHP) tires.

The GT4 is sold with a setup optimized for running the Nürburgring Nordschleife, and it’s said to be about 10 seconds faster than the previous model, which is astonishing.

That sums up the key features of the new 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder. For more details, the official flyers below provide a clear overview.

As a side note, I have reserved a 718 Spyder but am still debating whether to replace my 981 Boxster GTS. The reason is that I’m reluctant to part with the beautiful exhaust note of the 981 GTS, and the manual soft top raises some concerns about convenience for my long-distance touring preferences.