The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 fitted with a Akrapovic custom exhaust. Image: Supplied/ Akrapovic
Listen up! A Porsche Cayman like you’ve never heard before…
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 fitted with an Akrapovic custom exhaust has put the growl where its grunt is. You might want to turn up the volume for this one.
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 fitted with a Akrapovic custom exhaust. Image: Supplied/ Akrapovic
This one is just not for the neighbours. It’s exhaust-related and could change the way people hear cars forever. More importantly, it’s because you can now hear almost exactly how it feels to pilot a high-performance Porsche.
And its a spine-thrilling, part street racer, part FI circuit “automotive anthem” for the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 that may cause drivers to chuck out the car’s audio system just to listen to it over and over again.
Get an earful of this:
Now, with an enthusiastic nod to its 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six engine, the standard Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 already sounds pitch-perfect — but like just about everything — there’s nearly always room for improvement.
Make a noise: Akrapovic’s thundering entrance
And that’s where Akrapovic makes a thundering entrance. As a Slovenian exhaust specialist, Akrapovic has developed a lightweight, all-titanium system directed at significantly boosting the coupe’s sporty presence.
The equally significant increase in in driving enjoyment, best experienced in revs, acceleration and gear shifts, almost goes without saying.
It’s not just the sound…Improved performance for Porsche 718 Cayman GT4
According to the manufacturer, the Slip-on Race Line with Link pipe set will cut roughly 8.2kg off the vehicle’s total weight while also boosting its power output by nearly 12kW and 43Nm of torque. There’s no word about what impact that will have on the Porsche’s 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, but expect it to be positive, albeit not that impressive.
But is it street legal?
According to the exhaust specialist, the Akrapovic system will soon be available for aftermarket fitment on the Cayman — but that glee-inducing news comes with an important disclaimer. Outlined in the company’s video description, Akrapovic says the system package “does not meet emission compliance requirements for street or highway use.”
This, media reports suggest, explains why the footage depicts a 718 Cayman GT4 thundering through a racetrack, rather than a public road. While this will surely come as an extreme disappointment to many, there will certainly be many an appreciative neighbour out there.
Constructed of titanium, Akrapovic’s Slip-On Race Line and Link pipe set takes about two hours to install. The video posted by Akrapovic on YouTube provided the sample of the Cayman GT4’s grunt-packed new growl and you are going to want to turn the volume right up, before you consider saving it as your phone’s ringtone.
What’s on the road ahead for Porsche
For those looking for even more performance, Porsche is currently developing a new hardcore, track-focused RS version of the 718 Cayman GT4.
The upcoming GT4 RS was recently seen testing alongside the new 911 GT3, sporting wider fenders and more aggressive air intakes than the regular GT4. This, along with a prominent rear wing.
The new GT4 RS is expected to debut this year. But for those who may feel a little underwhelmed by the the standard car’s acoustics, Akrapovic’s sounds like a great alternative.
