TECH: TOPICS
We make no secret of the fact we think the 981 GT4 is one of the Porsche scene’s best buys. This is a Cayman we never thought would see the light of day — a true challenger to the 911’s previously unfaltering status as the numero uno Stuttgart speed machine. There’s a 380bhp normally aspirated 3.8-litre flat-six derived from the 991 Carrera S, a thirty-millimetre drop in ride height, a reinforced chassis and a six-speed manual gearbox making the most of the 310lb-ft torque on offer. Chassis equipment (chiefly the brakes and suspension) is borrowed from the 991 GT3. 918 Spyder carbon buckets were an option. There’s a limitedslip differential as standard equipment. And, of course, the potent six-cylinder powerplant is mounted amidships, a layout celebrated for delivering superior chassis dynamics, so much so Porsche conceded the 991 RSR motorsport machine needed its flat-six pushed ahead of the rear axle in order to be competitive in the World Endurance Championship. Add to this the fact 981 GT4 asking prices start at below £50,000 (the cheapest same-age GT3 we could find is £90,000) and it’s easy to see why we rate the model so highly.
Here's the thing, though. Time and again, we’re reminded of the widespread lack of knowledge relating to how configurable the 981 GT4 is in standard trim. Buyers fail to understand they’re in command of three cars (track, road and a hybrid of the two) in one, and can configure the GT4 to suit their preferred driving style, as well as the environment the car is most likely to be used in. With this in mind, we paid a visit to theof chassis tuning specialist, Center Gravity (). A company famous for its expertise in optimising the handling abilities of Porsches, this family-run business provides marketleading suspension tuning and chassis services for road, track and race cars. It’s no coincidence many of the UK’s leading Porsche restoration and motorsport outfits call upon Center Gravity’s services — approximately eighty percent of the firm's work is concerned with configuring Stuttgart-crested sports cars.
