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2021 Porsche Cayman

GTS 4.0 FIRST DRIVE

50 former, the Buick

ike GTS versions of other Porsche of the cylinder banks to help save fuel. It Skylark beat the
models, the Cayman GTS is a cleverly alternates between either cylinder bank AMC Rebel, Pontiac
MAY 1970 T-37, and Plymouth
Lconcocted mix of performance- every 20 seconds, and apart from a slight
PRICE: $0.50 Satellite, as it was
enhancing hardware and value-added change in engine note the whole process is Our cover 50 years the best all-around
standard equipment wrapped in signa- imperceptible to the driver. It’s a very easy ago was dedicated driver despite its
ture black-themed visuals. But what has engine to live with day to day. to the four-cylinder, slightly higher price
everyone talking is one thing only—the The six-speed manual transmission twin-cam, 16-valve tag. In the latter,
engine. It displaces 4.0 liters. It has six has a lovely mechanical action. Second Indy Car engine. This the Porsche 911
issue also featured a just edged out the
cylinders. And there’s not a turbo to be gear is still way too long, able to take you
cheap-car test and Corvette due to
found. Hallelujah! to at least 80 mph, but the 4.0-liter engine a Chevrolet Corvette higher build quality
The Cayman GTS is powered by what is seems to cope better with it. LT-1 vs. Porsche 911E and future-proof
essentially a bored and stroked 992-series The standard Cayman is a sweet, comparison. In the driving dynamics.
engine, minus the turbochargers. Peak beautifully balanced car, but the GTS’
power is 394 hp at 7,000 rpm, with peak standard PASM sport suspension endows
torque of 309 lb-ft available between 5,000 it with more grip and precision. Espe-
and 6,500 rpm. cially midcorner, where the car with the
There’s more to the Cayman GTS than standard suspension simply couldn’t
the spec sheet suggests. The 4.0-liter hang with the sport suspension version,
naturally aspirated engine gives the GTS the front end pushing wide if you got on
a deliciously nuanced top-end fluency the power too soon.
the turbo-powered Caymans simply can’t The naturally aspirated flat-six might
match. Redlined at 7,800 rpm, it doesn’t not have the charismatic air-cooled clatter
have the unworldly top-end zing of the of an old-school 911 engine, but it delivers 30 10
GT3 engine, which spins to 9,000 rpm, the same easy, elastic surge of power.
but from 5,000 rpm up it feels joyously Pricing wasn’t available at press time, MAY 1990 MAY 2010
exuberant, a driver’s delight. but we think $87,000 to $90,000 to start is PRICE: $3.25 PRICE: $4.99
For all that, the engine will pull crisply likely. Worth it? Well, if you want to drive Our May 1990 cover The revolutionary
from 35 mph in sixth gear—about 1,400 a modern Porsche with the emotional went to the new Hyundai Sonata led
rpm. And on light throttle between 1,600 quotient of a pre-turbo 911 and can’t Lamborghini Diablo. our cover a decade
The successor to ago. A sign of things
and 2,500 rpm, with torque demands of 75 afford a GT3 or a GT4, the Cayman GTS is
the Countach, the to come, Hyundai
lb-ft or less, the computer shuts down one an absolute steal. Angus MacKenzie
Diablo marked was among the first
Lambo’s move to forgo naturally
into the ’90s with a aspirated V-6
5.2-liter naturally engines in its family
aspirated V-12 sedans in favor of a
churning out 485 more efficient yet still
hp and 428 lb-ft of powerful turbo-fours
torque, and more in top trims.
important, it had a
202-mph claimed
top speed that
posed a direct chal-
lenge to the Ferrari
F40 and Porsche 959.
20 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020