The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is the ultimate 718 that knows no bounds when it comes to its serious performance and dynamics, and having won this car from the Ringer Tour until the final Thursday of March, Forza Motorsport allowed me to drive one.
So, what's it all about the ultimate 718? Unveiled at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is the ultimate version of Porsche's mid-engined sports car that pushes beyond its limits on the road and the track.
Using the same 4.0L flat-six naturally aspirated engine from the 992 911 GT3, the 718 GT4 RS produces 500PS of power output, and while mated exclusively with a 7-speed PDK, it does 0-100kph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 315km/h, faster than the normal 718 Cayman GT4.
Performance aside, the 718 GT4 RS features numerous chassis upgrades such as 30mm lower ride height, ball-jointed suspension mountings, stiffer springs, and anti-roll balls, as well as adaptive Bilstein dampers, 20-inch forged aluminum centre-locking wheels, and the available Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake carbon-ceramic discs.
Thanks to such improvements, it lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7:04.511, faster than the base 718 Cayman GT4, with river Jörg Bergmeister behind the wheel.
Because the Nordschleife made its appearance in Forza Motorsport, I decided to take on a merciless punishment with this car as I tried to match the real-world lap time set by this car on this track.
SPOILER ALERT: I failed.
Although I didn't beat the real-world lap time, I had fun trying out the ultimate 718 in the Green Hell. I am extremely grateful to experience the ultimate expression of Porsche's mid-engined masterpiece that tries hard to be the 911's anti-thesis.
Although nearly as good as a 911 GT3, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is unique and spartan as every Porsche should be. The more you know.
Although they both share the same four-liter vessel, the 911 GT3, and the 718 Cayman GT4 RS are two different sides of the same coin. Differences aside, these two are born to make bold statements on the road and the track.
Both the 911 GT3 and the 718 Cayman GT4 RS share the same 4.0L flat-six naturally aspirated engine as well as the seven-speed PDK but what separates them is the power output as the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is 10PS less compared to the 911 GT3. 500PS for the 718's vs. 510PS for the 911's. However, despite being less powerful than the 911 GT3, the 718 GT4 RS is 20kg lighter than the 911 GT3, 1415kg vs. 1435kg.
Both the 911 GT3 and the 718 GT4 RS lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife with the former at 6:59.927 and the latter at 7:04.511, meaning for Porsche fanatics, being RR is the way to go for a Porsche, not MR.
Since this is Forza Horizon 5, the 911 GT3 and the 718 Cayman GT4 RS deserved some quiet time on party grounds because, despite their sibling strife, they sure know how to entertain the festival goers with their unique race-inspired aerodynamics and performance that will keep them longing for more.
There are too many variables between them but it's time to find out which is the best. In genuine Porsche fashion, I went to the streets of Guanajuato to give the 911 GT3 and the 718 GT4 RS their every day "need for speed "they deserve while figuring out which of these hardcore versions is pure alpha. Let's roll the tape.
And now, the results...
992 911 GT3 - 1m33.994s
718 GT4 RS - 1m34.361s
It may be a one-sided brawl but in the end, the 911 GT3 is still Code Alpha compared to its mid-engined sibling by nearly half a second. Close shave but touche.
No doubt about it, the 911 GT3, and the 718 Cayman GT4 RS are two different sides of the same coin but when you experience them both, their unique race-inspired aerodynamics and performance make you drive faster and harder for longer. It's the new taste for peanuts, the Porsche way.
EPILOGUE
Having grown my interest in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, which is one of the DLC cars in Forza Horizon 5, it's time for me to give this hardcore 718 a much-needed makeover before setting off for its one-car showtime.
Yes, I know. If Dorothy gets my 911 GT3 like last time, my 718 GT4 RS gets Reona. Get it? It's the new meaning for Fortune Party, and good things happen when you light up their fortunes.
Anyway, it's showtime for our Reona-chan as my 718 GT4 RS takes on a re-enactment of the famous Sydney Opera House by a certain FH5 player named China4567690. Shoutout to the master of this creation. Anyway, let's get the show rolling.
Man, the race-tuned suspension wasn't built for this but at least it had fun exploring the underbelly of the Sydney Opera House re-enactment.
On the road and track, you will forever be thankful that the GT4 RS is the ultimate version of the 718 that knows all asphalt. With its 4.0L naturally-aspirated engine, 7-speed PDK, and race-inspired aerodynamics, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is "perfectly irrational" in every way. When you pair this car with the 911 GT3, this is what the Glänzende Nova & Frischer Himmel looks like to you, the speedo boy.
Having fought my way through Forza Motorsport's Update 5.0 Open Class Tour until the March 13th deadline, I got my hands on the 1974 Porsche #1 911 RSR, the second iteration of the racing version of the legendary Porsche 911.
Following the success of the 901-based 911 Carrera RSR that dominated Daytona and the Targa Florio, a 930-spec 911 RSR was unveiled in 1974 and it conquered Group 4 racing for the next 24 months at the hands of privateers.
Powering the 930 911 RSR is the same 2.8 flat-six engine that powered its 901 predecessor, producing 330hp of power and 231lb-ft of torque.
Apart from dominating Group 4 races, a 2.8/3.0 RSR hybrid version took part in the US IROC series during the 1973/74 winter season. A 2.1L turbo prototype took part in the 1974 24 Hours of Le Mans and finished 2nd.
I've selected the Nordschleife portion of the Nurburgring, which was included in the fifth Forza Motorsport series update, to demonstrate the legendary performance the 911 RSR possesses. Roll the tape.
Let's face it. The world's gone mad these days and so has the motoring world, where three superpowers clash for supremacy. America, Europe, and Asia are all locked in for a motoring world war.
Like I said in the past, the Chevrolet Corvette, the Porsche 911, and the Nissan GT-R are the most dominant names in the world of sports cars because of their heritage, performance, and racing pedigree that made them the global superpowers feared and respected the world over.
Here in Forza Horizon 5, I am already familiar with the motoring superpowers in their current state; the C8 Corvette Z06, the GT-R NISMO, and the 992 911 GT3.
The 911 GT3, in its 992 spec, is known for its race-inspired aerodynamics, performance, and the naturally-aspirated 4.0L flat-six engine that begs to be revved. The C8 Corvette Z06, meanwhile, is the Republican's answer to the 911 GT3 because of its naturally aspirated V8 engine, C8.R-inspired dynamics, and sleek aerodynamics. Lastly, the GT-R NISMO is no doubt the king of GT-Rs. Enough said.
To unleash their true worth in performance and dynamics, the three motoring superpowers have been gathered for a summit, a Summit Assault to the top of the caldera. Let's find out which of them is the real superpower here. Roll the tape.
And now the results...
C8 Z06 - 3m.04.101s
GT-R NISMO - 3m06.386s
992 GT3 - 3m03.333s
So, the Germans have won the battle, but the war continues because the motoring superpowers will keep improving and fighting until the endgame. The more you know.
EPILOGUE
Having satisfied with the motoring superpower trio, it's time to reward themselves for all the hard work they've done.
Our 992 911 GT3 had its tensions MAXED with Little Miss Dorothy West plastered over it. I still had the old 911 992 GT3 with Sala in it but for my Dorothy-fied 911 GT3, I've tinkered it to be mated with a 6-speed gearbox. Did you know that the 992 911 GT3 is offered with the choice of either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed PDK?
For the C8 Z06, well, you can't go wrong with it with a dash of Red Flash and Sophy Hojo in it. Fast and sexy, just like the car itself.
The Nissan GT-R NISMO is no doubt one of the most formidable 4WD supercars in ages but for now, it's got Sion Todo's name all over in the spirit of Let's ¡Go! Get it? Let's i-Go! That's Sion's line.
With their respective makeovers done, the legendary trio is setting off to EventLab re-enactments of fictional racetracks from famous racing games in history. Let's roll the tapes.
What a WonderPri World, they said.
Global superpowers are forever known for changing world history with influence, be it for better or worse, and it's the same thing for the world's best sportscars. The Corvette, the 911, and the GT-R fought themselves for true world domination but in the end, it was a stalemate because other global superpowers were trying to prove their worth just like them.
Yes, the United Nations of speed and power ain't really united just like the United Nations itself, and as long as the sources of power remain, the clash for world domination will continue.
Let's get to know about the legendary cars that are hard to get in Gran Turismo 7's Legend Cars not only because of their extreme rarity that appears once in a blue moon but also their outrageous price tag that takes almost forever to save one. Today, let's get to know about the Porsche 356A, the improved version of the first Porsche ever made.
The 356 is the first Porsche ever made when it was launched in 1948 and forever revolutionized the compact sports car genre. The 356A is the improved version of the said car. Debuted in 1955 and again in 1959, the 365A was offered with a four-cam Carrera engine only available on spyder race cars. Engine ranges vary from 1300 1.3L Type 506 engine up to the 1600 1.6L Type 616 engine with dual downdraft Zenith carburetors, producing 59hp of power and 110Nm of torque.
Seen here is the 1500 GS Carrera, a limited-edition model powered by the same 1.5L four-came engine as the 550 Spyder that produces less than a hundred horsepower. It was the first to don the Carrera name, which has now become synonymous with Porsche.
Let's drive the 356A around the Goodwood track to prove its worth. Roll the tape.
It did it in 1m50.834s.
This car says it all. It's the genesis of Porsche, redefined.
What other hard-to-get legendary cars should I drive next? Stay tuned for more.
The Chevrolet Corvette, the Porsche 911, and the Nissan GT-R are the most dominant names in the world of sports cars because of their heritage, performance, and racing pedigree that made them the global superpowers feared and respected the world over.
Here in Forza Motorsport, let's get to know the three kings of the sports car realm starting with America's finest, the Corvette C8 Z06.
By using most of its know-how from the C8.R racing machine, the Corvette C8 Z06 is a track weapon capable of slithering through the road and track with its race-inspired dynamics, available Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, and the Z07 Performance Package.
Powering the C8 Z06 is a smaller but more powerful 5.5L V8 naturally aspirated engine that produces 670HP of power and while mated to a standard 8-speed AT, it does 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds.
With its naturally aspirated V8 engine, C8.R-inspired dynamics, and sleek aerodynamics, the C8 Z06 has evolved from a typical Corvette into a proper purist's sports car.
Now, let's get to know the Nissan GT-R NISMO, the ultimate version of the soon-to-be-legendary Japanese sports car that was known to be the best Heisei-era JDM sports car.
The result of Nissan's trial and error struggle to create a supercar that can compete against the world's best supercars, the GT-R NISMO, first launched in 2014, features track-honed aerodynamics akin to its GT3 racer and an improved 3.8L V6 Twin Turbo engine producing 600PS of power output, capable of lapping the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7:08.679.
This is the 2020 Model Year GT-R and for this update, the GT-R NISMO features front fenders from the GT3 racecar, a new carbon-fiber roof, and improved dynamics.
It is said that the improved GT-R NISMO lapped Tsukuba in less than a minute.
Lastly, the Porsche 911 GT3 (992), which is the better version of the 992-spec Porsche 911.
The 992 911 GT3 is a real, no-nonsense sports car with real, no-nonsense performance drivers who can get hooked for more. Race-inspired aerodynamics aside, the 911 GT3 is powered by a 4.0L flat-6 engine that produces 510PS of power and 470Nm of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed PDK, which lets the GT3 accelerate from 0-100kph in 3.4 seconds, which is slightly quicker than the previous model.
It's got a double-wishbone front axle for the first time in a 911, a five-link rear axle, larger brakes, and extensive use of lightweight materials, among many others.
With such improvements, the new model lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6:59.927 minutes, which is an improvement from the previous GT3.
Now that we get to know about the three sports car kings, it's time to take them to the ideal playground to flex their muscles; the Yas Marina Circuit. It's been recently added to Forza Motorsport and I got the chance to bring them there, which is good timing for me because this weekend, the F1 23 season finale will be held there.
Yas Marina's changed since I let their predecessors loose in FM7 a couple of years ago. Although some of the familiar bits got changed, it's still the Yas Marina the world knows and enjoys. It's still the ideal playground for speedo boys to let their sports cars rip through the most technical corners in style.
Anyway, with the C8 Z06, GT-R NISMO, and the 992 911 GT3 gathered at what's known to be the final venue of the F1 season, it's time to settle which side of the globe is the best.
America, Europe, and Asia. Which one is the best? Let's find out with a one-lap time attack around the recently-added Yas Marina track in Forza Motorsport. Let battle commence.
And now the results...
C8 Corvette Z06 - 2m14.234s
GT-R (R35) NISMO - 2m19.394s
911 (992) GT3 - 2m20.282s
It looks like the Americans were the superior ones this time as the C8 Z06 trumps the GT-R NISMO and the 911 GT3 by a long shot in the revised Yas Marina track.
I guess the engineers behind the C8 Corvette were wise about transitioning to a mid-engine layout at the beginning and with the Z06, it's capable of tackling down the world's best, even though this isn't really its final form, if you catch my drift.
This Vette's got guts and it managed to show the world it's capable of taking all comers in the same way its C8.R equivalent crushed the final LMGTE AM Class title in style. GT3, here we go.
