It's been less than a year since Porsche introduced the GT4 version of the Cayman (in June 2019) and the German company is reportedly working on a more hardcore version of the sports car, to be called the GT4 RS. This version is rumored to arrive sometime in 2021 with a stiffer suspension, a more powerful engine, and a lighter curb weight. The big news is that the upcoming GT4 RS could generate close to 500 horsepower.

The 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS will be the most powerful 718 yet

This engine shares components with the old 911 GT3 and GT3 RS, which means that an increased output is more than doable. The latest 911.2-generation GT3 came with 493 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, while the GT3 RS versions was even more enticing at 513 horses and 347 pound-feet.

If this happens, the Cayman GT4 RS will arrive with an extra 79 horsepower and an additional 30 pound-feet compared to the standard GT4, which is rated at 414 horses and 309 pound-feet. This figure will make it the most powerful iteration of the 718 Cayman to date.

When it comes to performance, the extra oomph should enable the GT4 RS to hit 60 mph around two tenths quicker than the GT4. With the latter rated at 4.2 seconds, the GT4 RS should hit the benchmark in exactly four clicks. Unlike the GT4, the GT4 RS will be quicker than the turbocharged GTS model, which completes the sprint in 4.1 seconds.

It's the first GT4 RS, but not the first beefed-up Cayman

The 2022 GT4 RS will be the first 718 Cayman to feature an "RS" badge, but it won't be the first Cayman with a "GT4" emblem. The current Cayman GT4 is a second-gen version for this nameplate. It features a 4.0-liter flat-six rated at 414 horsepower and 309 pound-feet of torque.

Before that, Porsche rolled out a 981-generation GT4. Powered by a naturally aspirated, 3.8-liter flat-six, this coupe came with 380 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of twist. Porsche didn't offer a GT4 model for the 987 generation, but there was a Cayman R model with 325 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque coming from a 3.4-liter flat six. The first-generation Boxster, launched in 1996, didn't spawn a Cayman coupe model.