Harris drives the GT4 ePerformance - Page 3 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

A taster of what’s to come…

If there was ever a need for a sound to drive you insane within 30 seconds, that is it.

Love it, if the future really is going to be electric, it's nice to see Porsche quickly re-orient itself so they will continue to be relevant

Just me that couldn't watch the video for more than 20 seconds due to the whine noise (no, I don't mean Harris!)? Looks (from what we can see) - 10/10 Noise - 0/10 I'm sure the road going version will be a great steer, but us old fogeys want soul & an emotional connection to a car, and at the ripe old age of 44 this just leaves me cold, no matter how much HP or grunt it may have.

What an irritating noise... Like a high pitched air raid siren. But... For kids brought up on electric, such noises will be their drama and theatre, in the same way as a 12,10 8...etc high revving race engine is for this generation.

Not my cup of tea at all, e-vehicles, but you can't deny this is a stunning piece of kit. Porsche appear to be making their future racing cars Cayman shaped and I can see this taking over from the 911 Cup. Stunning.

These wide body aesthetics and design, the revised suspension concept (RSR derived) with 4RS drivetrain…. would have been Game Over. Completed it. Can we hope?

I doubt it'll happen T, you'd lose the diffuser for starters and Porsche are really pushing electric and will be ahead of the game.

So the future is when driving a car sounds like sitting in a dentist's chair. Or being trapped in some ancient low-budget scifi movie, like THX 1138.

Reminds me of an airplane taxing on the runway...

kmpowell said: Just me that couldn't watch the video for more than 20 seconds due to the whine noise (no, I don't mean Harris!)? Looks (from what we can see) - 10/10 Noise - 0/10 I'm sure the road going version will be a great steer, but us old fogeys want soul & an emotional connection to a car, and at the ripe old age of 44 this just leaves me cold, no matter how much HP or grunt it may have. +1. Horrid!

Vile noise. I had to switch it off.

I like the noise, If it's anything like the Formula E cars, it's transmission noise you can hear rather than the electric motors themselves. I much prefer a genuine mechanical sound to a fake engine noise pumped through the speakers, so I'm not against it at all. Slightly tired of seeing all these EV race cars though. How are they relevant? Of course its easy to make a one off stripped out race car, but arguably the 'sportiest' EV you can buy today is Porsche's own Taycan. Why have we not seen a small 2 seater EV yet?

resolve10 said: I like the noise, If it's anything like the Formula E cars, it's transmission noise you can hear rather than the electric motors themselves. I don't care what's making it, it's still enormously irritating.

Hmmmm looks like an epic car but that noise plays havoc with my tinnitus! In fact, it sounds like tinnitus!

resolve10 said: I like the noise, If it's anything like the Formula E cars, it's transmission noise you can hear rather than the electric motors themselves. I much prefer a genuine mechanical sound to a fake engine noise pumped through the speakers, so I'm not against it at all. Slightly tired of seeing all these EV race cars though. How are they relevant? Of course its easy to make a one off stripped out race car, but arguably the 'sportiest' EV you can buy today is Porsche's own Taycan. Why have we not seen a small 2 seater EV yet? The noise did remind me of a straight cut box, only being driven at three times the normal rpm. The batteries are the limiting factor at the moment for small cars, as range is determined mostly by the battery capacity and drag it is difficult to make a small ev that many people will buy. At the moment the focus for most manufacturers is towards the larger and more premium market. If you were happy to accept a 100-120 mile range and modest power output you could probably have one, a cut down Honda E for example. People have electrified older sports cars without gaming much if any weight so it is possible. The market will be small, particularly as many on here would expect it to be cheap, which it wouldn't be. Instead we have the Taycan.

Thats the transmission noise I think not the motors. Still cannot get excited at all. I am fairly sure the new caymen will be very fast though and 'capable'. Not sure it will be fun though. I do however have hope that Porsche in years to come will make some cracking sports cars (if legalisation doesn't kill it) as battery tech gets lighter and smaller as there are some true petrol heads in their GT depts.

Noise, simply awful. Would be optioning the upgraded speakers! Point of the higher power being available on road cars seems somewhat moot with speed limiters coming in the next few years. Fastest to 30 maybe?

Zumbruk said: Vile noise. I had to switch it off. +1 They will have to do something about that if they are serious about selling them. I am off to Italy in my car in a few weeks, I could not listen to that whine for a day, it would take the whole enjoyment out of the drive.

981Boxess said: Zumbruk said: Vile noise. I had to switch it off. +1 They will have to do something about that if they are serious about selling them. I am off to Italy in my car in a few weeks, I could not listen to that whine for a day, it would take the whole enjoyment out of the drive. +1. I am a hardcore petrolhead and love racing. Could not bear the noise for more than 20 minutes. What a pain...

The noise is horrid, but it's an extremely poor recording with a mic in the cabin and CH in a helmet. So they've had to pump up the volume to hear CH's wittering which is what makes it unwatchable.

Zumbruk said: resolve10 said: I like the noise, If it's anything like the Formula E cars, it's transmission noise you can hear rather than the electric motors themselves. I don't care what's making it, it's still enormously irritating. It's like a milkfloat having an emotional crisis.

I wonder how long before we start seeing EV track cars ? Can’t be that long.

Am optimistic that they'll do something about the noise before producing them in reality. It'll never be the same as an ICE car, but it'll be OK. Will still keep something petrol powered as a weekend toy for as long as it's feasible, but for day to day am not too fearful of the future holds.

For me it just confirms how horrid / pointless the future is going to be , really not interested

BertBert said: The noise is horrid, but it's an extremely poor recording with a mic in the cabin and CH in a helmet. So they've had to pump up the volume to hear CH's wittering which is what makes it unwatchable. Still not sure why it makes that noise though. In its 'normal' mode it's producing about the same power as a current Taycan or Tesla and they're pretty much silent

BobM said: Still not sure why it makes that noise though. In its 'normal' mode it's producing about the same power as a current Taycan or Tesla and they're pretty much silent Sound deadening, or lack thereof...

Twinfan said: Sound deadening, or lack thereof... It didn't can't be explained by lack of sound deadening surely? It must be a different drivetrain in some way. It's the same nose as formula E.

True, but all the interior fittings of a road car really dampen the type and volume of noises you hear in the cabin don't they? I think it's a combination of that and the type of motors being used.

Charlie_1 said: For me it just confirms how horrid / pointless the future is going to be , really not interested agreed. Of absolutely no interest at all

First Sea Lord said: Am optimistic that they'll do something about the noise before producing them in reality. It'll never be the same as an ICE car, but it'll be OK. They might be pulling the same stroke as our illustrious leaders often do, eg. leak petrol will be £2.00 per litre, everyone goes nuts, when it is £1.65 the same people think result, they forget it was £1.20. Let someone road test it sounding like shid, everyone goes nuts, tidy it up a bit before releasing it then everyone thinks it isn't that bad, they forget what a F6 sounds like.

Guys, a Taycan doesn't sound anything at all like that so no reason whatsoever to think that a road-going Cayster will sound even remotely like that. I don't think that the Formula E cars sounds like that either so this is likely a complete overreaction. In Sport and Sport + modes, the Taycan (at least, the Turbo and Turbo S; only two I have driven) pumps both inside & outside a sound similar to a V8 engine. I would expect an electric Cayster to do similar (Flat 6) and while this is nowhere near as nice as having a true Flat 6 behind your head, it's nothing like what you see on that video - and, let's face it, many people have already complained about the sound of the turbo-four engine (and even the sound in the GT4 & Spyder ...) so this will just be a further removal from the older Flat 6 sound. While I will always have (and want) an ICE car or two in my garage, there will always be other dynamics (and some fun ones at that) which an electric vehicle can bring ... [and I am someone who was originally very set against electric vehicles, until I was able to drive some]

Why so much hate? I think it’s amazing and is Porsche yet again leading the charge, (forgive the pun). The noise is from a race car without sound deadening. I’m a petrolhead and I love EV’s, (although I am a convert). As it stands, they are different but if this is the face of things to come, than that can only be a good thing can’t it? Our Taycan has soul, so I’ll bet that GT4e has it in spades.

findtomdotcom said: Why so much hate? I think it’s amazing and is Porsche yet again leading the charge, (forgive the pun). The noise is from a race car without sound deadening. I’m a petrolhead and I love EV’s, (although I am a convert). As it stands, they are different but if this is the face of things to come, than that can only be a good thing can’t it? Our Taycan has soul, so I’ll bet that GT4e has it in spades. At the end of the day we’re all different… you’re happy with your Taycan and love EV’s doesn’t mean everyone else should too. My osteopath got a Model 3 last year, loved it. This year realised he couldn’t get his dogs in it and now has a Discovery. He did take me for a short spin in the 3. The acceleration in isolation is omg quick but the car as a whole did nothing for me. Now my neighbour swapped his Panamera for Taycan. Around the same time I got my GT4. The Taycan is serious impressive to look at and sit in imo. Again serious performance, you can’t help but be impressed but how it goes about it’s business but I like the sound of an engine working away, adding drama and soul that the n/a F6 does. He liked it too when I took him for a spin. I have driven an EV myself, as a daily I’d be happy with one I think… for something to get up and drive at 5am on a Sunday morning or on a road with enthusiast friends I prefer my GT4 which even a only 6yrs old (or even the 718) is in todays reality is rapidly becoming, if not already considered, old school.

SRT Hellcat said: Charlie_1 said: For me it just confirms how horrid / pointless the future is going to be , really not interested agreed. Of absolutely no interest at all Fortunately.... https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a39643783/porsch...

BertBert said: Twinfan said: Sound deadening, or lack thereof... It didn't can't be explained by lack of sound deadening surely? It must be a different drivetrain in some way. It's the same nose as formula E. Straight-cut gears.

My thought was straight cut gears at very high speed .... Our Kia e-Niro has VESS ... a vehicle sci-fi sound to alert pedestrians that can be turned off ... It is very quiet even so. I think an electric Cayman could be great !

dxg said: Straight-cut gears. Particularly when he comes off the power, that chunter from the backlash.

sparta6 said: SRT Hellcat said: Charlie_1 said: For me it just confirms how horrid / pointless the future is going to be , really not interested agreed. Of absolutely no interest at all Fortunately.... https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a39643783/porsch... I couldn't hear what he was saying due to that godawful noise, but I did notice they'd fitted it with some kind of matrix flux capacitor...

Greta is still a teenager, but will find new anxieties to campaign about soon enough.

I know race cars have very little sound deadening for weight saving but that car is too loud. Had to turn off the vid was doing my head.

BertBert said: It didn't can't be explained by lack of sound deadening surely? It must be a different drivetrain in some way. It's the same nose as formula E. I don't think so either. I think it must be a combination of transmission whine and maybe some resonance in the chassis that the mic was picking up. Coupled with them having to up the volume on the vid to pick up Harris's voice through helmet and balaclava.

Mutton said: If there was ever a need for a sound to drive you insane within 30 seconds, that is it. Agreed. I very nearly turned it off within the first 30seconds because of the noise. If that’s the future I’d motorsport then count me out. F that.

I for one will not be in the line for an electric Cayman or Boxster as the soul of the car is ripped out. If I ever buy an electric car it will be a utility car and in which case something like a Tesla model 3 will do fine at a much better price point, though the case for climate impact would have to be much clearer first. Watched an interview with Polestar CEO and the conclusion that the additional CO2 emitted in construction of an EV over an ICE engine takes on average 5 - 7 years of average driving to pay back the carbon deficit of manufacture. At this point you maybe have another 5 years and then battery pack needs replacing putting the case for emission savings firmly in the bin. I genuinely wanted to believe in the case for EV's but am very much unconvinced both in driving experience and the tenuous case for climate impact.

The crazy push to EV is going to turn out to be a far far bigger scandal than dieselgate ever was. The ridiculous push for zero carbon and 100% renewable targets by governments essentially just resulted in them shifting their carbon load to the other side of the planet in order to just meet the numbers without actually solving issues or thinking of real sustainability and then creating gapping flaws in the energy security strategy. All of a sudden… wind backs in policy… Edited by TDT on Sunday 22 May 10:11

Haribo Lecter said: Mutton said: If there was ever a need for a sound to drive you insane within 30 seconds, that is it. Agreed. I very nearly turned it off within the first 30seconds because of the noise. If that’s the future I’d motorsport then count me out. F that. Jesus f king Christ that screeching sound is annoying.

T2TC said: I for one will not be in the line for an electric Cayman or Boxster as the soul of the car is ripped out. If I ever buy an electric car it will be a utility car and in which case something like a Tesla model 3 will do fine at a much better price point, though the case for climate impact would have to be much clearer first. Watched an interview with Polestar CEO and the conclusion that the additional CO2 emitted in construction of an EV over an ICE engine takes on average 5 - 7 years of average driving to pay back the carbon deficit of manufacture. At this point you maybe have another 5 years and then battery pack needs replacing putting the case for emission savings firmly in the bin. I genuinely wanted to believe in the case for EV's but am very much unconvinced both in driving experience and the tenuous case for climate impact. Whilst the likes of China, USA and Russia keep going at it like they are what is the point of the UK trying to save the planet, we produce nothing compared to them. Whilst I accept every little helps, in reality the hoops we are all being forced to jump through, at great expense to ourselves I might add, are effectively a complete waste of time. We have had clean cars for years now, pushing for this last bit is just pointless until the rest catch up.

981Boxess said: Zumbruk said: Vile noise. I had to switch it off. +1 They will have to do something about that if they are serious about selling them. I am off to Italy in my car in a few weeks, I could not listen to that whine for a day, it would take the whole enjoyment out of the drive. You wouldn't be driving a racing car with straight cut gears to Italy without going absolutely mental, either - not exactly a fair compromise.

Jakg said: You wouldn't be driving a racing car with straight cut gears to Italy without going absolutely mental, either - not exactly a fair compromise. Correct - so neither vehicle would suit my needs or give me any enjoyment, which is the whole point of driving. If you want to track/race have a race car and do it properly, if you want to drive on the roads in some comfort have a road car.

Only recent Chris Harris vid I cut short,the noise! ...WTF I'm gonna drive my old Boxster until they stop making Super unleaded rather than do a drive down to Italy with a white goods motor in the back!

TDT said: The crazy push to EV is going to turn out to be a far far bigger scandal than dieselgate ever was. The ridiculous push for zero carbon and 100% renewable targets by governments essentially just resulted in them shifting their carbon load to the other side of the planet in order to just meet the numbers without actually solving issues or thinking of real sustainability and then creating gapping flaws in the energy security strategy. All of a sudden… wind backs in policy… Edited by TDT on Sunday 22 May 10:11 100% Central London air quality that still has fleets of Mayor Khans diesel buses running around: https://www.londonair.org.uk/londonair/nowcast.asp...

HighwayStar said: A taster of what’s to come… Another taster of whats. to come. Not Porsche, but mightily impressive don't you think.

Not sure how I feel about fast electric cars. The instant power delivery and the fact every wheel can be individually controlled makes me wonder how much is talent in the car versus talent programming the car Also saw the first driverless hill climb. Again, computer should be (eventually) capable of going faster Then you see one of the old race cars being thrown around, unstable as hell, no aero, no driving aids… and think that’s far more entertaining to watch Electric has its place. Just assuming it is better for the environment, I’d happily have electric cars for getting from A to B But when it comes to “driving” as a sport or skill, I don’t see how it’ll be quite the same. Of course, it’s possible to remove all of the aids, but then it feels a bit like we are trying too hard

The electric GT4 was second quickest up the hill........45.5 so a way off the winner, but then it doesn't have 2 tons of downforce when it's stationary either.

Cheib said: I wonder how long before we start seeing EV track cars ? Can’t be that long. If you haven't already, watch then Youtube video of the top 10 cars up the Hill at Goodwood - there's your answer!

GTSjohn said: Cheib said: I wonder how long before we start seeing EV track cars ? Can’t be that long. If you haven't already, watch then Youtube video of the top 10 cars up the Hill at Goodwood - there's your answer! EV's are great for quick blast hill climbs. Long race distances will be another matter.

As a GT4 owner, I will be keeping my current Porsche. I don't want one of those, and I'm certainly not going to pay money for it. Robot cars going up a hillclimb course in 45 seconds is all very well - lets see them do the Nurburgring 24 hours. I doubt if they would finish two laps. The noise of that thing was horrendous. Furthermore, I watched it as long as I could stand it, but the one thing I noticed, was that Chris Harris wasn't doing his usual wild opposite lock stuff. Maybe he didn't have sufficient confidence in the vehicle. It is time that the sensible people in the centre ground, allied with some of the large automotive companies, stood up and told the politicians to sling their ridiculous and meaningless political initiative. This is not technological progress and its not going to work. It is not the future, whatever these bumptious windbags say.

cardigankid said: As a GT4 owner, I will be keeping my current Porsche. I don't want one of those, and I'm certainly not going to pay money for it. Robot cars going up a hillclimb course in 45 seconds is all very well - lets see them do the Nurburgring 24 hours. I doubt if they would finish two laps. The noise of that thing was horrendous. Furthermore, I watched it as long as I could stand it, but the one thing I noticed, was that Chris Harris wasn't doing his usual wild opposite lock stuff. Maybe he didn't have sufficient confidence in the vehicle. It is time that the sensible people in the centre ground, allied with some of the large automotive companies, stood up and told the politicians to sling their ridiculous and meaningless political initiative. This is not technological progress and its not going to work. It is not the future, whatever these bumptious windbags say. +1 stocked up on GT3s to carry me through to the point when I'm too old to drive

On that hillclimb course, it proved less than nothing about electric cars, if that was their intention. I would suggest in all seriousness that Blue Peter could organise a challenge to do the same thing with rubber bands. 37 seconds?