2020 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder flaunt 4.0 flat-six

A new Porsche is invariably something special, and purists are likely to be mighty curious about the new 2020 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder. Arriving with the biggest horsepower numbers of any 718 series to-date, the coupe and convertible each use a new 4.0-liter flat-six engine.

It's naturally-aspirated, as you'd imaging, and not short on power or torque, either. 414 horsepower and 309 lb-ft are nothing to be ashamed of, while the flat-six can rev all the way up to 8,000 rpm.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and has an "Auto Blip" option that can automatically match the gearbox and engine speeds when you downshift. If you'd prefer otherwise, you can turn that off instead. Top speed is 188 mph in the GT4, with the Spyder dipping just 1 mph from that figure by virtue of its soft-top hood.

Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is included, with the automaker's clever adaptive dampers. There are also helper springs on the rear axle, and ride height has been dropped by 1.18 inches over the standard 718 Boxster and Cayman. If you really want to get involved, you can manually adjust the camber, toe, ride height, and anti-roll bar settings.

Porsche has cherry-picked some of the new 718 duo's parts from elsewhere in its line-up, too. The front axle, for example, has been borrowed from the 2018 911 GT3, and paired with a custom designed rear axle. The 911 GT3 also donates its brakes, with cast iron rotors clocking in at 380mm at both the front and the rear.

Go wild with the options list, however, and you can upgrade to the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system. That adds larger rotors – 410mm at the front, and 390mm at the rear – but also switches to a ceramic composite material. They're roughly half the weight of the standard brakes.

A mechanical limited-slip differential with Porsche Torque Vectoring is standard at the rear, and the ESC and traction control can be switched off in two stages if you're feeling brave. 20-inch wheels with unique designs are standard, with 245/35 ZR 20 rubber at the front and 295/30 ZR 20 at the rear. The 718 Spyder has silver finish wheels and the GT4 has Satin Platinum as standard.

Other exterior changes include a front spoiler lip with recessed model designation, a central air outlet ahead of the front luggage compartment lid, and tinted taillights. There's a new diffuser around the new sport exhaust system, and a new, manually adjustable rear wing on the GT4. The GT4 also gets side intakes with extra side blades. The 718 Spyder's top is manually operated.

Inside, there's a 14.1-inch diameter sports steering wheel, with a black center marker added in the GT4. Porsche has trimmed the gear shifter, too, making it 0.39-inches shorter than in the regular 718. Sport Seats Plus – with extra side bolstering and Alcantara trim in the middle – are standard.

Air conditioning and the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system – with Sound Package Plus – are standard, though you'll have to pay extra for navigation, Porsche Connect, or Apple CarPlay. The 718 Cayman GT4 gets Brushed Aluminum interior trim, while the 718 Spyder has exterior color-matching trim. Full bucket seats and 18-way electrically adjustable Adaptive Sport Seats Plus are options.

Porsche says the 2020 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder should arrive in US dealerships in Spring 2020. They're available to order now, though, priced from $96,300 for the 718 Spyder and from $99,200 for the 718 Cayman GT4, both before $1,250 destination.