YOU & YOURS
Progress is a funny thing. The human race is hellbent on advancing every facet of its existence, seemingly striving for absolute perfection in every aspect of our lives. While this drive to improve and refine applies to what we eat, when we sleep and how we exercise, it's even more prevalent in the realm of developing technology. Yesterday's rooms full of computing hardware, for example, were nowhere near as powerful as today's tiny smartphone. In the world of cars, the pace of development has also been blisteringly quick, a trend encouraged by manufacturers working hard to ensure their new models are better equipped and safer than vehicles previously rolling off production lines. There's also the drive to produce a more attractive proposition than what's being assembled and marketed by the competition. In general, car makers deliver on these goals, but it's all too easy for them to lose sight of maintaining an engaging driving experience, especially when it comes to sports machines. Even our beloved Porsche gets caught up in the need to further technological prowess, but at what cost?
With the introduction of the 718 in 2016 came what looked like the death knell for normally aspirated engines in the Boxster/Cayman line-up. Charismatic-sounding six-cylinder boxers free of forced induction were replaced by a duo of less-than-melodic turbocharged four-cylinder powerplants. Sure, they kick much harder in the mid-range and are, theoretically at least, more efficient, but as outlined across previous pages, it's fair to say they weren't met with widespread acceptance. Thankfully, Porsche hasn't forgotten how to listen. Reacting swiftly, the company set about getting normally aspirated, six-cylinder power back into the mid-engined juniors of its product range. The result was the launch of the 718 Spyder and 718 Cayman GT4.
Success was assured, although thisGT4, a 3.8-litre normally aspirated pocket rocket presenting sharp looks and rapid pace. The Cayman, so it seemed, was finally allowed to take the fight to the 911. And in the eyes of many true driving enthusiasts, the evergreen flagship was being beaten at its own game.
