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Porsche 718 Cayman S Laps Nurburgring in 7:46.7, Second Fastest 4-Cylinder Car

It's no secret that aficionados from around the world were on their toes, waiting for Porsche's fresh 718 bouquet to set Nurburgring lap times. Well, here we are, talking about the Zuffenhausen turbo-four Nordschleife performance, with the 718 Cayman S having just completed the challenge.
Porsche 718 Cayman S Nurburgring lap 5 photos
Photo: YouTube screenshot
Porsche 718 Cayman S Nurburgring lapPorsche 718 Cayman S Nurburgring lapPorsche 718 Cayman S Nurburgring lapPorsche 718 Cayman S Nurburgring lap
The mid-engine coupe has managed to go round the Ring in 7:46.70. As for the relevance of the time, this gets the stamp of approval, since it comes from Sport Auto. The German publication is an authority when it comes to real world Green Hell lap times (read: without the otherworldly preparations many carmakers make).

In fact, when dropping the 7:42 Nordschleife time of the 911-engined Cayman GT4, we have to mention the same driver, namely Christian Gebhardt, is responsible for this.

And since we all love comparos, we'll continue down that path. Even though the 718 seen here comes in PDK form, comparing it to the manual GT4 isn't fair, with the latter's GT Division goodies, such as the 911 GT3 suspension, creating a massive gap between the two.

However, since we already listed the times of these mid-engined delights, we'll also mention that the predecessor of the Porscha we're here to discuss, namely the 981 Cayman S, was a 7:55 car (time signed off by Walter Rohrl).

It's worth noting that the output premium brought by the variable geometry turbo 2.5-liter flat-four (350 hp and 310 lb-ft/420 Nm vs. 325 hp and 273 lb-ft/370 Nm) has to share its improvement credit with other bits of the 718. And it's enough to mention that the rear wheels and tires are now 0.5 inches wider to understand why.

We'll quickly go past the generation gap one decade of car industry evolution makes by mentioning the 718 Cayman S almost ties the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera. You know, the one with a freaking V10 delivering 530 hp.

More importantly, the mid-engined sportscar is now arguably the fastest four-cylinder car on the infamous German track. Yes, we know we said it's the second fastest in the title, but while the KTM X-Bow might be powered by a two-liter turbo supplied by Audi (the irony), does that toy really qualify as a car in your book?

Returning to the boxer machine, it's interesting to see how, even with the PSM (Porsche Stability Management) electronic nanny in its sleep mode, the Cayman S is easy to drive at the limit. Just try to count the number of times the driver gets to adjust his seat belt during the hot lap and you'll understand how cooperative this Porsche is.

P.S.: Pay attention to the footage and you'll notice an Ultraviolet Blue 911 GT3 RS PDK sharing the track with the 718 Cayman.

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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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