German Car Tuning: Porsche Cayman S & VW Golf GTI

By Motoring Channel Staff - 14/July/2006

Germany — They may have missed out on the 2006 World Cup, but the Germans still have their world class engineering that has produced iconic vehicles like the BMW M5, Porsche 911 and Volkswagen Golf GTI. As the popularity of these high performance vehicles increases, more and more buyers are finding that even these once-rare performance vehicles are becoming more commonplace, and this is where the hundreds of often long established tuning groups and companies dotted around the Western European country come into the picture.

One thing we've noticed here at the Motoring Channel when covering these aftermarket tuned vehicles is the alloy wheel style, which is often the first thing the eye is attracted to, and important way of giving the car a sporty grounding. Just for the record, we'd like to point out that something like 8 out of 10 of these 'tuner' cars are fitted with 5-spoke alloy rims. Both cars featured in this article are, for an example.

We're looking at two very different German vehicles today, from either end of the performance car spectrum. One on side we have the incredibly popular and reasonably affordable Volkswagen Golf GTI, and on the other side the more exclusive and expensive Porsche Boxster S.

Abt Sportline GTI VS4-R
TechArt GTsport Porsche Cayman S

Abt Sportline GTI VS4-R

Abt Sportline specialises in Volkswagen and - by extension - Audi tuning, transforming the factory standard vehicles in more exciting, individual and often quicker car. Now the Bavarian company has released the GTI VS4-R, which pumps out 198kW, or about 270hp.

Abt Sportline explains that the new front-wheel drive VS4-R is the most powerful GTI its created, which is also communicated by the abbreviation »R« that stands for Racing. Therefore, it does not come as a surprise that the visual features of the latest GTI model express pure motor sport feeling. 

The Bavarian tuning group reveals the aerodynamic kit comprises an aggressive front apron (with a super-thin, weight-optimised carbon lip), broad side skirts, a low rear apron and a marked rear spoiler. The rear muffler with four end pipes also highlights the rear of the car as being something far from an ordinary Golf, and gives the GTI VS4-R an more stirring battle cry.

Abt Sportline explains that its latest GTI creation is a lot more powerful than the standard 147kW model. The car's improved power development is due mainly to the addition of a more effective Abt turbocharger, in conjunction with modifications made to the motor management (ECU) to change the injection mapping and fuel mix to better deal with the increased levels of turbo boost. So now, hidden underneath the Golf GTI VS4-R's not-so-conservative bodywork, is a stronger engine, producing 350Nm of torque, an increase of 70 Newton over the 280Nm of the standard GTI, while power rises from 147kW to 198kW, an increase of some 51kW.

With the increases in power development, top speed becomes 244km/h (up from 235km/h), but the more telling data comes from the zero to 100km/h race, which is down from 7.2 seconds to just 6.4 - making Abt Sportline's VS4-R a whopping eight tenths of a second quicker than the factory standard VW Golf GTI.

The specialist VW tuning group has left its mark on the chassis as well as the body work and propulsion system, adding tailor made Abt sport suspension springs to improve the vehicles cornering grip even more. Abt Sportline says that along with increasing speed, the sport springs show tighter spring characteristics and keep the vehicle firmly on the asphalt, brashly adding that tight corners and sudden shifts in direction may cause danger of addiction [very amusing - Ed]. 

The wheels have been beefed up, replacing the 17-inch stockers with big 19-inch rims shod with Dunlop SP SportMaxx tyres in 225/35 R19 profile, and the company is quick to point out that its SP1 five spoke light alloy wheel design has been awarded by trade journals several times. The company says that customers can also have the car lowered by another 40mm if they desire.

The interior isn't forgotten either, but unlike some tuners such as Hamann, Abt Sportline decided that only a few changes were needed to make the interior look and feel sportier, so the steering wheel, gear shift knob and floor mats are new, replacing the Volkswagen bits with Abt components that carry the company's logo. The tune up is only currently available to German customers, but such designs stoke the imagination, and if you're one of the many Golf GTI owners who wants something with a touch of individuality, this is a great place formulate ideas.

TechArt GTsport Porsche Cayman S

There are a few staffers at the Web Wombat offices who are of the firm belief that the Cayman is a more handsome Porsche than the 997-type 911, and if they thought the standard model was an eyeful, they'll flip out over this creation. 

Based on the Porsche Cayman S, which is powered by a 3.4-litre 6-cylinder boxer engine generating 217kW or 295hp, this TechArt modified Porsche gets some serious engine work. Instead of just fiddling with the ECU or adding a straight-through stainless steel exhaust system, the TechArt GTsport gets a 3.8-litre engine - and it's not donated from the larger Porsche 911 Carrera S. TechArt actually bores out the cylinder walls to increase displacement from 3,387cc to 3,824cc, which results in the need for larger pistons to fill out the wider cylinders and a new crankshaft to deal with the increased twisting forces.

TechArt, a German tuner based in Stuttgart and who focusses mainly on Porsche product, also adds new camshafts with sportier lobe profiles, a modified intake manifold with special air filter system and an aluminum header to provide ample combustion air for the Cayman's comprehensively refurbished engine. To top it all off, there's a stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with high-performance exhaust manifold/extractor system, which is tailor made to suit the cars re jigged engine electronics mapping.

The end results of this serious engine tune up is a 0.3 second increase in its 0-100km/h sprinting capability for the rear wheel drive vehicle, which may not sound like a great deal, yet because the factory standard Cayman S completes it in just 5.2 seconds, getting any more acceleration at such speeds is increasingly difficult. The overall 0-100km/h time is reduced to 4.9 seconds, and power rises from 217kW to 283kW @ 6600rpm. Torque is upped from 339Nm to 407Nm @ 4600rpm, and top speed has risen by 10 kays to 285km/h. And all this for only €100,000? The factory standard Cayman fetches $148,500 in Australia, and the conversion rate of the bored and boosted TechArt model equates to about $170,000. 

Like all good tuners, TechArt doesn't just mess with the engine. As the aftermarket specialist explains the GTsport Porsche Cayman S gets a redesigned front apron that completely replaces the production bumper, and with its large air inlets and four auxiliary headlights it lends the 2-seater a more dynamic appearance (with fang-like front flanks) while reducing lift on the front axle at high speeds. There's an extendable carbon air splitter that can further minimise aerodynamic lift, and together with the new front apron lend the Cayman front end even more visual strength than before.

TechArt has sculpted the side skirts to match the new front and rear designs, and also to calm the air stream between front and rear wheel houses claims the company, while carbon mirror moldings will be visible to only the true Porsche aficionado. The rear end of the stirred-up Cayman is a real humdinger, combining the Cayman's already wide haunches with a large rear wing (with an extendable carbon gurney flap) and a new-look rear apron and carbon diffuser, and when combined with the big black/silver wheels, it provides the car with a very appealing rump.

If you thought Abt Sportline's 19-inch alloy wheels were big, the TechArt rims go a step further adding 20-inch wheels to the unfamiliar Cayman. The wheels are perhaps the piece de resistance of the vehicle, and like was mentioned early in the article, they have a five spoke pattern, giving the GTsport Porsche Cayman S a supremely powerful stance. TechArt says its one-piece, light-weight, five spoke wheels are mounted on the front axle with ContiSportContact 3 tyres in size 235/30 ZR20 profile, and the rear axle features 305/25 ZR20 tyres.

TechArt explains that it has even recalibrated Porsche's advanced VarioPlus coil-over suspension for vehicles that are factory-equipped with the electronically adjustable PASM damper system. Therefore, the GTsport Porsche Cayman S allows adjustable ride-height lowering by up to 25mm, and manual selection of damper settings (normal or sport) via a push-button on the dashboard. Like most of Germany's larger car tuning companies, TechArt can also modify the inside of the Porsche Cayman S, offering a near-unlimited range of upholsteries and leathers with which to coat the interior.It also makes mention of ergonomically shaped airbag sport steering wheels, aluminum pedals, stainless-steel door sills and much more.

If only we lived in Germany...