Stuffing a throaty six-cylinder in the back of a mid-tier Cayman or Boxster isn't ever going to be met with much opposition. While many have grown accustomed to the shove and impressive mid-range of the latest 2.5-liter turbo motors, the screaming 4.0-liter atmospheric engines will always be welcome betwixt the haunches of a 718.

Of course, this motor has to help the latest 718 GTS fit in nicely within the Porsche pecking order, so it's been softened slightly. It makes 394 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque; just shy of the 718 Cayman GT4 and Spyder's output, but offers very similar performance.

It's enough for a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 182 miles per hour (when fitted with the sports exhaust). The latest, screamiest version of the 718 GTS still retains all of the GTS goodies: the standard 20mm lower ride height than the standard 718, active drivetrain mounts, sport chrono, and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with mechanical limited slip rear differential all come stock. Sharpened turn-in and improved poise from the 235-section front , plus a little playfulness from the appropriately matched 265-section rear tires should keep the owners of these cars smiling on any stretch of road or circuit. .

It's a wonderful choice for someone who wants that wonderful flat-six wail back in their lives, but isn't interested in the pricier, more purposeful GT4 or Spyder. They mustn't be set on a PDK, either, as the new 718 GTS is manual-only. Again, this is an exercise in injecting a little more sense of occasion into the 718 lineup, and based on the figures Porsche have presented us—and their tendency to be exceptionally conservative with these figures—we likely have one of the most involving and visceral sports cars for the money on the market today.