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Where there are Porsche models, there too must be Porsche model variants. And out of all of those, the ones that resonate with us most readily are the GTS versions. The idea is that these gran turismo sport models give us more power and a bunch of performance-oriented add-ons, but they aren’t so hardcore that you can’t enjoy them on an afternoon drive.

The just-announced 2018 718 Boxster GTS and Cayman GTS follow the established formula we saw in play most recently on the 2017 911 GTS: You get more power, plus the Sport Chrono package, Porsche Active Suspension Management (which drops ride height by 0.39 inch) and Porsche Torque Vectoring are all standard. The interior is done over in Alcantara, and if you order a navigation system, you get Porsche’s Track Precision App, which lets you record and analyze on-circuit performance on your smartphone.

2018 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS front 3-4 on road

The 718 Boxster GTS. The trim makes options like the Sport Chrono package standard-issue.

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Par for the GTS course, a manual transmission is standard (a six-speed in this case; the 911 GTS gets seven gears), but a PDK is available.

Output from the turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four is, as we mentioned, increased, which drops 0-60 times to 3.9 seconds and yields a 180-mph top speed. Power is up 35 horses, to 365 hp, and torque is boosted to 309 lb-ft for manual cars and 317 lb-ft for PDK-equipped ones. Porsche attributes the extra power to a redesigned engine intake plenum and an “optimized” turbocharger. Are all other 718 turbos non-optimized, then? We can’t help but wonder.

2018 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS interior.

Lots of alcantara inside these things.

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The GTS goodies don’t come cheap: Base price for the Cayman GTS is $80,850, and $82,950 for the Boxster. Yes, that is a lot of money to spend on one of Porsche’s supposed entry-level sports cars — no getting around that. On the other hand, while Caymans and Boxsters start at $56,350 and $58,450, you can just about double those prices once you start adding options, while the GTS cars seem good to go in standard trim.

If you order one now, you should be able to pick it up from the dealership in March 2018. Get configurating!

2018 Porsche Cayman GTS rear 3-4 driving

The 718 Cayman GTS is like a Boxster GTS but with a roof. Or is a Boxster just a Cayman without a roof? Think about it.

Graham Kozak

Graham Kozak – Graham Kozak drove a 1951 Packard 200 sedan in high school because he wanted something that would be easy to find in a parking lot. He thinks all the things they’re doing with fuel injection and seatbelts these days are pretty nifty too.
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