Porsche Bets on Old-School Thrills With the Cayman GT4 RS
Porsche has long been defined by its sports cars, but recent years have seen the German brand divert attention toward SUVs and a bold—but troubled—electric pivot. With tariffs eating into profits, EV adoption slowing, and stiff competition across Europe and Asia, the company may be rediscovering what put it on the map in the first place: high-revving, gas-powered machines.
[presto_player id=2938]
And at the center of that shift is the Cayman GT4 RS.
The RS badge is reserved for Porsche’s most uncompromising “track car for the road” models, and the Cayman, widely regarded as Porsche’s most balanced chassis, makes a natural candidate. In GT4 RS form, it gets the same 4.0-liter, naturally aspirated flat-six that powers the GT3 and the company’s Cup racing cars. For enthusiasts, it’s a dream setup: a real race-bred engine in a road-going package from a brand with 19 Le Mans victories.
The Porsche Cayman GT4 RS.
The Experience
We took the GT4 RS on a drive up to Watkins Glen, where endurance racing heritage runs deep. Visually, the car screams motorsport: an aggressive front splitter, cooling cutouts, optional carbon fiber with the Weissach package, and the dramatic “swan-neck” rear wing. Inside, the engine sits right behind the driver, with an intake system that amplifies its voice—raw, loud, and addictive. Open the sport exhaust, floor it, and the cabin practically vibrates with energy.
On the road, the GT4 RS feels alive. The optional carbon-fiber bucket seats lock you into place, transmitting every nuance of the chassis. Steering is razor sharp, turn-in immediate, and stability at speed confidence-inspiring. Power builds as revs climb, rewarding drivers who keep the throttle pinned.
The seven-speed PDK gearbox delivers lightning-fast shifts, whether you’re using paddles or letting the car’s adaptive automatic mode anticipate your next move. Brakes could be a touch more responsive, but in day-to-day driving, that balance is arguably a strength—after all, most owners won’t spend all their time at the track.
The Porsche Cayman GT4 RS.
The Dilemma
Of course, the GT4 RS isn’t cheap. The 2025 model started at $164,200, but with options, our tester came in around $210,000. For 2026, the base price jumps to $170,100, with tariffs pushing costs even higher. Porsche has been absorbing some of that hit, but it’s clearly creating strain in Stuttgart. A pending tariff deal between the U.S. and EU could ease the pressure, though not fast enough for Porsche executives.
That leaves buyers with a familiar question: do you splurge on a Cayman GT4 RS, or stretch to a 911 GT3?
The Porsche Cayman GT4 RS.
Porsche’s Crossroads
Beyond pricing, Porsche faces bigger strategic challenges. Its ambitious EV rollout hasn’t panned out as planned, and while SUVs like the Macan, Cayenne, and their electric versions remain vital to sales, the competition in those segments is fierce. The gas-powered Boxster and Cayman are winding down production this October, leaving only the Cayman GT4 RS, the Boxster Spyder RS, and the iconic 911 lineup to carry the torch for traditional enthusiasts.
An all-electric Cayman is on the horizon, but fans are already speculating: could a new gas-powered version sneak back into the mix?
The Porsche Cayman GT4 RS interior cabin
In 2023, Porsche delivered about 75,000 sports cars—nearly a quarter of its total global sales. That’s no small share, and it suggests that doubling down on emotional, driver-focused machines could be a smart counterweight to the SUV and EV headwinds.
For now, the GT4 RS represents that philosophy in its purest form. It’s fast, visceral, and unapologetically old school. And for Porsche devotees, the howl of that naturally aspirated flat-six might just be the best reminder of why they fell in love with the brand in the first place.
