First a reflection on what the GT4 represents. Because this could be the first time a mainstream manufacturer has made us face the question of what we really want out of our cars. That Porsche chose to launch the hot Cayman alongside its most outrageously fast and focused 911 ever only highlights it.
And the question is this. Is speed just about technology enabling ever more impressive numbers, relevant or not to how people will use their cars? Or is it about sensation? Ends or means? In the case of the Cayman GT4 power and performance stats are among the less interesting things on the spec sheet. Its 991 GT3 big brother is an epic car and the RS promises to be more so. But when Porsche admits the GT4 'counters criticism the GT3 came up short on being purist' you know there's a disturbance in the force.
Enough philosophical musing though. What's it actually like? Immediately the optional fixed 918 Spyder seats force you into a racer-style upright position, pushing the wheel into your chest. A wheel that is - shocker! - round in shape, covered in nice Alcantara and completely bereft of any buttons for phone, nav, cruise control or any of the other crap found on most modern steering wheels. It's also 10mm slimmer in diameter than the GTS's wheel - details, details! A stubby Alcantara covered gearshifter sits high in the tall centre console, the only mode buttons to choose from being self-blipping Sport, exhaust noise, dampers, ESC off and ESC + TC off. You could easily drive it without pressing any of them and never suffer any sort of 'mode anxiety' about whether or not the car was in its optimum setting. It's there when you turn the key, the rest garnish on an already tasty dish.
In conclusion then this is the car we all knew lurked in the Cayman all along. The fact optioned-up Carreras can easily nudge against six-figures cars has finally let the Cayman off the leash. And while Preuninger doesn't like 'ring lap times, describing them as a measure of individual driver bravery as much as a car's overall ability, it's interesting to note a Carrera S needs a full suite of optional gizmos like active anti-roll bars and a torque-vectoring diff to match the GT4's Nordschleife time. In putting the driver back in control - for better or worse - and for reclaiming performance from the statisticians the GT4 is a significant crossroads moment.
