There are plenty of reasons to love the Porsche 718 Cayman and the 718 Boxster. Their “S” variants pack 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, good enough to get them to run at speeds that approach 180 mph. But in the event that those performance numbers aren’t enough to satisfy your thirst for speed, Porsche has a solution in the new 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster GTS models. The two units made their debuts at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, and they come packing more power to go along with the three-letter nomenclature that has come to define many Porsche models in the past.

The Porsche 718 Cayman GTS has arrived. So has the 718 Boxster GTS. Together, they now take up the top spots in their respective lineups, supplanting the 350-horsepower S versions on their way to the top. There’s a lot to like about the new GTS trim for both the 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster. Visually, we’re treated to a suite of upgrades that include updated panels, black badging, black exhaust tips, and 20-inch black wheels. The interior of both models also gets a healthy dose of Alcantara and embroidered GTS logos.

None of them compares to the updates on their 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four units. This is where the party’s at because both 718 units receive 15 more horsepower to play with. That adds up to an output of 365 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, enough separation from the “S” versions to fully entrench the new GTS units as the range-topping versions of both the Cayman and Boxster lineups. The increased output is a result of tweaks made to the turbochargers and the addition of a new intake system. Altogether, the new GTS models can now sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, 0.3 seconds quicker than the “S” models. Top speed also reaches 180 mph, up from the 177-mph top speed of the previous range-topping units.

Both models also get plenty of performance enhancements, including Porsche’s six-speed manual that comes standard on both the 718 Cayman GTS and its Boxster counterpart. A seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox is also available as an option. Likewise, the German automaker’s Active Suspension System and Porsche Torque Vectoring with a mechanical rear differential are also now of standard variety.

All these updates are exciting on the surface, but they do come at a price —literally. According to Porsche, pricing for the 718 Cayman GTS starts at $79,800, while the 718 Boxster GTS checks in a tad higher at $81,900. The prices represent extra costs of around $10,000 for each model.

References

Porsche 718

Read our full review on the 2018 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS.

Read our full review on the 2018 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS.

Read more 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show news.