Fast becoming one of Austria’s major automotive events, the GP Ice Race in Zell am See played host to the European premiere of the new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS and the track-only GT4 RS Clubsport recently.
Not satisfied with a static debut, the high-performance sports cars were sent around the ice track to show their capabilities in the frigid Alpine weather with the help of Porsche ambassador and racing legend Walter Röhrl.
First unveiled in Los Angeles late last year, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is powered by a mid-mounted, naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six that revs up to 9,000 rpm and makes 493 hp (368 kW/500 PS) and 331 lb-ft (449 Nm) just a few hp less than the 911 GT3.
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Available with a manual transmission or a PDK, it’s capable of hitting 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.2 seconds and can continue on to 196 mph (315 km/h). It also gets a track-tuned adjustable suspension that we suspect was in its most comfortable setting for its debut on ice.
The track-only GT4 RS Clubsport, meanwhile, also gets a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six but it makes 500 hp (373 kW/507 PS) and 343 lb-ft (465 Nm) of torque. It’s only available with a PDK transmission and its suspension is considerably more track-focused than the road-going version.
Both were powered by Porsche’s new synthetic fuel that’s produced in southern Chile. First used in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, the fuel is considerably greener than gas drilled from the ground thanks, in part, to its production at a facility that is supplied by renewable energy.
The 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is expected to reach U.S. dealerships this summer with a base price of $141,700 (plus a $1,350 delivery fee) while pricing starts at £108,370 RRP in the U.K. The 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, meanwhile, starts at $229,000 before tax.