Turbocharged Precision Meets Pure Driving Dynamics
Porsche is broadening the reach of its mid-engine lineup with the introduction of the new 718 Boxster GTS and 718 Cayman GTS. Following the established playbook of the Gran Turismo Sport badge, these two-seaters sit squarely above the standard and S variants, pulling together the sharpest chassis upgrades, exclusive visual treatments, and a meaningful step forward in powertrain performance. Rather than introducing a totally separate mechanical concept, the GTS badge extracts every ounce of dynamic capability already engineered into the 718 platform.
At the mechanical core of both cars sits a comprehensively retuned version of the 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engine. By designing a freshly developed intake tract and pairing it with an optimized turbocharger compressor, Porsche engineers coaxed 365 hp (269 kW) out of the horizontally opposed unit. That represents a 15 hp (11 kW) increase over the 718 S models and up to 35 hp (26 kW) over the previous naturally aspirated six-cylinder GTS generation. Torque output expands to a robust 430 Nm, pulling cleanly across a wide plateau from 1,900 to 5,000 rpm. This broad powerband delivers immediate punch out of tight apexes without forcing the driver to hunt relentlessly through the gears.
Engineering the 2.5-Litre Boxer: Pressure and Response
When Porsche moved the mid-engine 718 family to turbocharged flat-four engines, driving purists raised plenty of eyebrows. The GTS variants directly confront those reservations by optimizing throttle response and mechanical character. The redesigned intake plenum improves air volume delivery under sudden load shifts, while recalibrated wastegate controls ensure boost pressure builds rapidly without abrupt spikes. The result is linear, predictable torque distribution suited to high-commitment cornering.
Power transmission remains true to enthusiast preferences. A slick six-speed manual gearbox comes standard, giving traditional drivers the tactile engagement of a mechanical gear change and physical clutch pedal. For outright velocity on road or circuit, the optional seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) dual-clutch transmission executes lightning-quick gear swaps without interrupting power flow to the drive wheels.
Equipped with PDK and the Launch Control function included in the standard Sport Chrono Package, both the 718 Boxster GTS and 718 Cayman GTS sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.1 seconds. Given enough tarmac, both models push on to a claimed top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h). Despite the added horsepower and muscular low-end pull, thermal efficiency remains tightly controlled: Porsche quotes combined fuel economy of up to 34.4 mpg (Imperial) alongside 186 g/km CO2 emissions under the NEDC test cycle.
Chassis Hardware: The Best Handling Options Bundled as Standard
Historically, building the ultimate driver-focused Porsche meant ticking half a dozen costly boxes on the options sheet. The GTS formula flips that paradigm by bundling the factory’s finest chassis technology into the base specification. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is standard equipment, dropping the body by 10 millimetres compared to the standard model. The adaptive dampers constantly adjust damping forces at each corner according to road conditions and driving style, suppressing body roll during rapid direction changes without ruining everyday ride compliance.
Traction management is equally serious. Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) works in tandem with a mechanical rear-axle limited-slip differential. Through delicate braking interventions on the inside rear wheel during turn-in, the system induces a yaw moment that helps tuck the nose tidily into bends. Once past the apex, the mechanical differential locks under acceleration, ensuring both rear wheels deliver drive without wheelspin. Drivers can attack corners with immense precision, guided by crisp electromechanical power steering tuned specifically for mid-engine agility.
The standard Sport Chrono Package further sharpens the cars’ responses. Drivers can switch between Normal, Sport, Sport Plus, and Individual drive modes via a rotary dial on the steering wheel. Selecting Sport Plus firms up dynamic engine mounts, tightens damper rates, sharpens throttle maps, and loosens the stability management thresholds. For PDK models, the steering-wheel controller incorporates the Sport Response button, priming the gearbox and turbocharger for 20 seconds of maximum acceleration at the touch of a thumb.
Dark Accents and Aggressive Design Cues
A Porsche GTS is always recognized by its darker, purposeful visual character, and the 718 twins wear the treatment proudly. Up front, a newly designed Sport Design apron features enlarged air intakes framed by distinct black aerodynamic vanes, directing clean air into the cooling radiators and front brakes. The front light clusters and Bi-Xenon headlights receive a dark tint, giving the front fascia an imposing, focused gaze.
In profile, the cars ride on 20-inch alloy wheels finished in silk-gloss satin black, showing off massive ventilated brake discs and multi-piston calipers beneath. Matte black GTS lettering sits neatly along the lower edge of the doors, signaling the model’s intent. Moving toward the tail, the rear apron incorporates a prominent diffuser insert finished in satin black. The model badge on the rear decklid is blacked out, flanked by smoked tail lamp units. Emerging dead-center from the lower fascia are twin circular tailpipes, coated in high-gloss black and attached to the standard sports exhaust system.
Driver-Focused Cockpit: Alcantara and Telemetry Integration
Open the door, and the interior ambiance immediately reflects Porsche’s racing heritage. The cockpit makes generous use of lightweight Alcantara, covering the rim of the 360-millimetre GT sports steering wheel, the central armrest, the gear selector, and the lower console flanks. The tactile feel of the microfibre fabric provides exceptional grip during aggressive cornering while cutting cabin reflections on bright days.
Standard Sports Seats Plus feature Alcantara centre inserts and raised side bolsters, offering two-way electric adjustment to lock occupants firmly in position against lateral g-forces. Embroidered GTS lettering adorns the integrated headrests. The analogue stopwatch of the Sport Chrono Package sits prominently atop the centre dashboard fascia, providing real-time lap timing alongside the digital instrument cluster display.
For track day drivers and performance enthusiasts, the 718 GTS comes equipped with the Porsche Track Precision App. Connected directly to the car’s onboard telemetry systems, the smartphone app records detailed driving data including lap times, steering angle, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, braking force, and engine speed. Drivers can view real-time timing on the central PCM screen and subsequently analyze their circuit performance curve-by-curve on their mobile phone.
Market Context and Order Availability
Unveiled in October 2017 ahead of their public show stand premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, the 718 Boxster GTS and 718 Cayman GTS represent a finely tuned mid-engine recipe. For buyers seeking a roadster with wind-in-the-hair theater or an ultra-rigid closed coupe for track work, these GTS models bundle the most desirable performance hardware into a complete, factory-warranted package. In European and British markets, orders opened immediately upon announcement, with UK retail pricing starting at £59,866 for the Cayman GTS and £61,727 for the Boxster GTS. Deliveries to dealerships begin in early 2018, marking an exciting dynamic high-water mark for Porsche’s 718 generation.
Vehicle data
Porsche 718 Cayman GTS
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Make | Porsche |
| Model | 718 Cayman GTS |
| Generation / chassis code | 982 |
| Model year(s) covered | 2018 |
| Body style | Two-door mid-engine coupe |
| Powertrain / engine | 2.5-litre turbocharged flat-four boxer petrol |
| Power / torque | 365 hp (269 kW) @ 6,500 rpm / 430 Nm @ 1,900–5,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual standard; 7-speed PDK dual-clutch optional |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive (PTV with mechanical limited-slip differential) |
| Key performance figures | 0–62 mph in 4.1 s (PDK Sport Chrono Launch Control); top speed 180 mph (290 km/h) |
| Price (as stated) | £59,866 (UK OTR) / $173,100 AUD |
| On-sale / announcement period | October 2017 announcement; deliveries early 2018 |
| Market | Global / Europe / UK / Australia |
Porsche 718 Boxster GTS
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Make | Porsche |
| Model | 718 Boxster GTS |
| Generation / chassis code | 982 |
| Model year(s) covered | 2018 |
| Body style | Two-door mid-engine roadster / convertible |
| Powertrain / engine | 2.5-litre turbocharged flat-four boxer petrol |
| Power / torque | 365 hp (269 kW) @ 6,500 rpm / 430 Nm @ 1,900–5,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual standard; 7-speed PDK dual-clutch optional |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive (PTV with mechanical limited-slip differential) |
| Key performance figures | 0–62 mph in 4.1 s (PDK Sport Chrono Launch Control); top speed 180 mph (290 km/h) |
| Price (as stated) | £61,727 (UK OTR) / $175,900 AUD |
| On-sale / announcement period | October 2017 announcement; deliveries early 2018 |
| Market | Global / Europe / UK / Australia |