We thought that we would take a break from our coverage of the Macan to talk about one of our other favorite sons these days, the Cayman GTS.
GTS is what Porsche does to all of its models, so there’s a tendency to say, “Yeah, yeah, it’s the ‘super-sporty one,’ but does it really make a difference?”
Yes. Yes it does.
Carbuzz claims that its writer was the first auto journalist to drive the Cayman GTS though one of the last to upload video, which would make them either very good or very bad at what they do. In their video, they take the vehicle through the “surprisingly good” roads of Black Forest and let us hear the comforting scream of the Porsche flat-six engine.
It’s this sound in particular that the video’s makers are impressed by. The Cayman itself is not new, having been introduced in 2006. Nor did the mid-engined, rear-wheel drive sports car get a significant model upgrade for this year. The video’s host noted that the new GTS didn’t receive an astounding bump in horsepower or torque, instead receiving only modest increases in both.
So what makes the six-cylinder engine reward your ears as well as it does? It’s hard to say exactly. Ever since Porsche made the switch from air- to water-cooled engines with the Boxster in 1997, fans have worried that liquid would muffle the raspy note that makes the old 911s such a pleasure to listen to. Porsche was meticulous about tuning those early Boxsters to ensure that not only would they hold up as true sports cars in the corners and flat-out—they also had to sound like a Porsche.
It’s this guarded note that the automaker so meticulously refines with every iteration of its vehicles. Somehow, for some reason, everything managed to come together in this new Cayman GTS to create one of the most self-actualizing vocalizations that we’ve heard in recent decades. (Side note: it also might be that only the Cayman GTS is allowed to sound like the Porsches of yore…)
In any case, we hope you enjoy the footage and are inspired to come try a Cayman for yourself.
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