Porsche set to go performance crazy in LA

Porsche has locked in an LA Auto Show debut for its fiery new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS and simultaneously confirmed yet another expansion of the Taycan EV portfolio in the form of sporty GTS and practical wagon versions.

Sitting at the very top of the ‘entry-level’ 718 sports car range, the 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS will be the fastest mid-engined production car the German car-maker has produced to date.

Indeed, the piping-hot rear-drive coupe has already lapped the infamous Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in just 7:04.511 minutes – 23.6 seconds faster than the standard GT4 PDK.

The GT4 RS will debut on November 18 alongside the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport racer in an added show of track performance and prowess.

While the GT4 RS flies the flag for internal combustion, the all-electric Porsche Taycan range is also primed to gain another body style, and it appears almost certain to be a wagon in the same vein as the larger Panamera Sport Turismo (and the Taycan Cross Turismo, but without the crossover elements).

A new “incredibly dynamic, drive variant positioned between the Taycan 4S and the Taycan Turbo” will also be revealed, which if we stick with the Panamera-matching theme, points to the emergence of the first Taycan GTS variant.

Porsche’s GTS variants typically have some of the most aggressive styling and chassis set-ups this side of the fully-fledged track-oriented GT hero cars (GT2, GT3, GT4, etc), without necessarily offering the straightline performance of flagship Turbo and Turbo S variants.

Expect the Taycan GTS to bridge the gaping 100kW/210Nm performance gap (and the $72,600 price difference) between the Taycan 4S and Taycan Turbo.

Loosely connecting the dots, final power outputs of around 460kW/950Nm and a starting price of about $240,000 plus on-road costs – when it arrives Down Under – would be far from unreasonable.

Starting this Wednesday (November 17), the LA Auto Show will also be the first public appearance of the limited-run 2022 Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition range comprising three decked-out variants – Panamera Platinum Edition, Panamera 4 Platinum Edition and Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Platinum Edition – all of which have been locked in for the Australian market.