When the 718 Cayman moved to four cylinder engines people were not happy. However, they also moved to turbochargers and lower weight, so that was a plus. Another benefit was that turbochargers made these engines far more versatile when it comes to tuning.
This made us happy. It also made one of our regular customers happy. He finally had the option of enjoying the wonderful balance of the Cayman and at the same time the benefits of our tuning he previously experienced with his old Audi S4 without spending thousands for a new turbo and elaborate upgrades.
We have developed two stages of tuning for the Cayman 718 and they include just software adjustments for the stage 1 and some minor parts upgrades for the stage 2. The power gains are significant and they make the wonderful sports car far better than stock.
Porsche Cayman 718 Stage 1 Tuning
The stage 1 includes only software changes, but it results in a significant increase in power. The reason for this is the inclusion of a turbo on the latest version of the Cayman. That lets us adjust the software to produce significantly more power without adding any new parts. This is the stage 1.
The adjustments start with increasing turbo pressure and adding more fuel. They are separate adjustments, but both done on the OEM ECU. Moreover, they need to be coordinated, so as to keep the perfect air-fuel ratio for all situations. These two adjustments bring the most of the newfound power and torque.
However, even though there is more air and more fuel and more power and torque, we carefully measure each of the adjustments and their effects to make sure the Cayman is completely safe and no part is overstressed.
This measuring and data logging is especially important for the next step of stage 1 tuning for the Porsche Cayman 718 GTS.
It is an advancement in ignition timing. This part of tuning does not bring much in terms of power rating, but it makes a huge difference in the way any car drives. Advancing ignition timing results in better combustion, but what you notice behind the wheel is a serious improvement in throttle response.
The 2.5 flat-four in the Cayman 718 GTS is already a wonderfully responsive engine, but advancing ignition timing makes it react to every pedal push with noticeably more readiness. Combine this with the added power and the feeling behind the wheel is a lot different.
Data logging and expertise are especially important here since advancing ignition too much can cause serious damage to the engine. We make sure our tunings are as safe as they are effective.
After our stage 1 tuning, the Cayman 718 GTS has 403 hp and 532 Nm of torque, which is a healthy, completely safe and very cost efficient upgrade coming from OEM parts alone.
Porsche Cayman 718 Stage 2 Tuning
Stage 2 introduces intake and exhaust parts that let the engine breathe in and out faster. This means that cylinders get more cold air faster and that exhaust gases leave the cylinders more quickly.
These improvements make some room for another software adjustment that adds a bit more power. One of our measurements for the 718 GTS stage 2 tuning showed 424 hp and 554 Nm of torque.
This is not a huge increase over the stage 1, but it is a very significant one for two reasons. First of all, after these new parts are installed, the engine has an easier job of providing more power. Secondly, this gives more room for higher tuning stages. If you want more power, we can move on with stage 3 that includes more elaborate hardware changes for serious power upgrades.
We’ve loved the Cayman from its first generation. It’s lovely balance, mid-placed boxer engines and sufficient power always put a smile on our faces even easier than some more powerful cars. However, with the latest generation of the Cayman, the power is more than sufficient, although not really stunning.
If it is stunning you are after, we are here for you.