987720

Looking awesome!!! Think I will be canceling my GTS order
http://www.autogespot.com/porsche-981-cayman-gt4/2015/01/04

GrantG

Nice to see they're still using 5-lug wheels!

987720

For the lazy

GreenLantern

Marine Blue

Interested too......

Would love to know exactly how far they will take this GT4. True lightweight with hopped up suspension (not just shocks and springs) and more power? That could be an absolute beast and incredibly fun to drive.

tcsracing1

Porsche, please build a GT4 Cup........

Nacelle

finally...

golfnutintib

I am told the following from my dealer GM in San Fran:

GT4 to be NA 3.8L @380 HP from the current 991

Stick shift ONLY, no PDK (to satisfy those purists pissed off about the PDK only 991 GT3)

No GT4 announcement with specs till a couple months AFTER the Geneva Auto Show where the 991 GT3 RS will be the new product headliner

Dunno if this is all true -- but that is what I hear...

Z356

I started this thread a while ago and have been fascinated reading the 9 pages and 127 postings so far. I just want to add a personal musing at this juncture. Early on I posted this about what I see as the 'achilles heel' of the 981 suspension:

Porsche has never (up to the present) made any significant investment in a competition suspension for the Boxster/Cayman chassis...have you ever wondered why? Porsche Motorsports doesn't race (or race support for clients) any Boxster or Cayman in professional racing anywhere in the world? The Interseries was a US dealer (Napleton) sponsored racing championship - and did you see Porsche Motorsport show any true interest & meaningful factory backing for that venture?

So...what is really the thinking of PAG at this moment by talking-up the gt4? Why would Porsche start this late in the game (in the context of the history of the Boxster/Cayman at Porsche) developing now a gt4 or a gt4 RS? Could they be getting ready for the possibility that new gt3 FIA/ACO regulations will make their 911-based racing platform obsolete? Because if that is the case, their response will be to introduce ASAP the Ferrari Fighter - the 960/988 - which is also a mid-engine platform but with lighter weight carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) tub and state-of-the-art suspension & engine at a price point north of $250K! So again I ask: what are they doing playing around NOW with a gt4 based on the current Cayman 981 platform which they have NEVER raced? IS PAG paving the way for the transition from a 911-based racing program to a mid engine-based racing program...and need to prepare both professional & amateur racing circles for that brave new world by first giving us this gt4! Is that where the gt4 comes in...to smooth the way for the 960/988 program and start associating Porsche racing with a mid-engine platform rather than the rear-biased 911 program? If so, can indeed the 'gt4 cup' model be far behind? If so, in what type of series are they negotiating with the sanctioning bodies for this gt4 cup to race with? Are they lining up teams to compete in this gt4 platform as we speak - both private & factory efforts? Is the gt4 'RSR' coming soon to a racetrack near you, perhaps with the Tudor United SportCar Championship Series? Brave new world indeed!

I am sure there is a connection among all of these 'themes' I have listed & interwoven for you above...but I just don't yet have proof if that is what is behind this rather 'unusual' gt4 model introduction by Porsche at this particular time. But I suspect something along those lines. And I think we will know how serious Porsche intends to be with the gt4 when they release the specifications on its rear suspension. If they are earnest in their intentions to compete at the race track with this model, I predict we will see a significant improvement to the rear suspension of this vehicle over the current 981 set-up. So keep an eye on this development as news of this model starts to be leaked to the automotive press in the near future. That will be something to celebrate...if they turn this model into a competitive racer! But if they do, at this late date, there is an ulterior motive behind it.

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

PS For more discussion on the upcoming 960/988, you can visit this thread at Rennlist 'Supercars' forum:

https://rennlist.com/forums/porsche-...m-porsche.html

Below is an artist's early conception of what the 960 model might look like!

.

JSF101

Eduardo,

always a pleasure to read your "musings"

As someone who I've always suspected is on PAG's payroll, I suspect your musings will be more or less factual points (instead of musings) in short order

regarding pricing on a potential 960/988, I think "north of $250k" is probably a polite way of saying $350-$400k

why at this late stage does the Cayman get some attention? perhaps it's the winning ways of folks like BGB in the GX class, or Eric Foss/Jeff Mosing as champions in the Continental Tire ST class or Jack Baldwin in the Pirelli World Challenge

Caymans are winning far more often than any other racing Porsches, and I'm not certain but I think it's all privately funded

and maybe Porsche saw the line growing at BGB for 987/981 conversions to 3.8l and figured, why not just do it ourselves...a no brainer

certainly hope you are right about the future of the GT4!
we'll know the validity of your musings soon enough

cheers,
Steve

GreenLantern

I'd argue it wouldn't be $350k/$400k solely based on the fact that Porsche has always priced their cars lower than their comparable competitors. I hope/expect them to maintain that trend as the most "affordable" choice in their competitor grouping (not counting the Nissan GT-R, which has actually increased dramatically in base price year after year since the intro of the R35).

tcsracing1

I would take a GT4 cup car.

The 991CUP is just too large a stepping stone from my D.E stripper 997RS
Even a 997 Cup is a strech..

987720

Reno Porsche is claiming that they got info today that Porsche will be making roughly only 200 GT4 Caymans and that they were informed that they were not getting any of them.
Not sure how accurate this info is.

GreenLantern

Porsche would be idiotic to do that. It's called "leaving money on the table."

987720

I'm sure it's bad info... But thought I would post it just in case.