Porsche 718 GTS Range Gets Naturally Aspirated 4.0-liter Flat-6

By Zachary Mayne - January 22, 2020

Porsche just announced specs for new 718 Cayman GTS and Boxster GTS. A manual 6-speed is the only gearbox available.

The 4.0-liter designation is an evocative one when it comes to Porsches. The first sports car from the Stuttgart manufacturer to use a 4.0-liter engine was the 2011 GT3 RS 4.0, a very limited production GT model that had 500 horsepower. At the time it was the largest displacement engine ever used on a production 911. The 4.0-liter displacement was seen in other 911 variants since then as well. It’s also used in the 718 Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder. Now Porsche is slotting the same size motor into its latest mid-engine wonders, the new 718 Cayman GTS and Boxster GTS. And praise be to the car gods! Porsche is offering both models not only with a naturally aspirated 6-cylinder but also one transmission option: the company’s brilliant 6-speed manual. No turbo four-cylinders or PDK transmissions in sight.

The new mid-engine GTS variants aren’t short on power either. The 4.0-liter flat-6 pumps out a healthy 394 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque. Porsche says that the engine is closely related to the 414 horsepower unit that powers the 718 Spyder and 718 Cayman GT4. The engine in the two GTS models come standard with a factory Sport Exhaust. We’d be willing to bet money that the engine is going to sound the biz when taken to the 7,800 rpm redline. Both cars take an identical 4.3-seconds to hit 60-mph and given enough straight road can reach a blistering 182-mph.

Underneath the 718’s bodywork is standard Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) that provides a 20 mm lower ride height over the standard Boxster and Cayman. Buyers can also opt for the regular PASM suspension that is 10 mm lower. There is also Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) and power is sent to the rear wheels through a limited slip differential. The Sport Chrono package is also standard and comes loaded with an upgraded Porsche Track Precision app. The app allows lap times to be analyzed even more closely than by GPS and helps the driver analyze and improve their driving.

GTS-specific wheels are 20-inches in diameter and painted satin black. Tires will be sized 235/35-ZR 20 up front and 265/35-ZR 20 at the rear. Along with the larger engine Porsche has also upgraded the brakes on the GTS. Cross-drilled rotors now measure 13.8-inches at the front and 13-inches at the rear. Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) are optional.

The Cayman and Boxster GTS feature a unique front spoiler and blacked-out air intakes on the Sport Design front bumper. The lower rear bumper is blacked out while the running lights and taillights are tinted. The driver and passenger will be greeted with plenty of black Alcantara in the interior. The plush material is found on the centers of the standard sport seats, on the wheel, the center console, shift lever and the door armrests. Buyers can further upgrade their cars with the GTS Interior Package that adds Carmine Red or Chalk colored stitching to a handful of interior components. The 718 GTS will be available to order sometime this summer. At this point in time Porsche does not have further details regarding pricing and when the cars will actually be arriving in dealerships.