The Porsche Cayman has previously been regarded – unjustly – as a poor man’s 911. Not that you were particularly poor if you could spend over €60,000 on a sports car, but perhaps not rich enough to get the iconic Porsche.
In fact, the Cayman isn’t some value deal brought out in the last decade simply to bolster the brand’s presence in the car parks of five-star hotels. Porsche first introduced a two-seater, mid-engined sports coupe back in 1953, with the launch of the Porsche 550. They’ve proved the capability of this engine and chassis configuration, with 15 of their 16 Le Mans 24-hour race wins coming from mid-engined cars.
Ever since the original mid-engined coupe debuted in 2005, it’s had an unrivalled reputation as a driver’s car, so the new Cayman has been eagerly awaited.
While it has a similar profile, it’s lower and wider with more muscular proportions and sharper detailing. Like the Boxster, the slender rear spoiler runs neatly into the tail-lamps, and our entry-level Cayman looks just as good as the Cayman S.
The new generation of the two-seat mid-engine sports car is debuting in two classic Porsche versions: the Cayman and the Cayman S. The base model is powered by a 2.7-liter flat six-cylinder engine with 275 hp (202 kW). It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, depending on the equipment, and reaches a top speed of 266 km/h. Its NEDC fuel consumption lies between 7.7 l/100 km and 8.2 l/100 km, depending on the selected transmission.
Performance isn’t as instant as in the 3.4-litre S, but the 2.7 has more than enough pace and, unlike more powerful cars, lets you savour the full rev range within the confines of UK roads. Throttle response is superb and becomes keener if you press the standard Sport button, but it’s in corners that this car really shines.
With a 40mm wider track and bigger wheels, there’s more grip, so traction is near-unbreakable. Plus, the beautifully weighted electric steering lets you place the car accurately, while the controls deliver a stream of feedback.
Improved appearance
The Cayman now has the purposeful appearance and equipment it somewhat lacked in previous generations; most importantly, this two-seater, mid-engined sports coupe exudes driver appeal.
Both models demonstrate immense all-round grip. Driving on some of Scotland’s highest roads in freezing conditions on our test route, the Cayman never once felt anything other than surefooted. The cornering ability of the car never fails to impress, with neck-jerking front-end grip on turn-in. The steering is accurately weighted on the heavy side; this provides you with instant feel and a connection with the road wheels.
From the front end, the new Cayman is marked by its dominant cooling air inlets, which increase in size towards the sides of the car. Just as unique to the new generation of the sport coupé are the large, low rear lid made of aluminium and the rear section with its wrap-around edges. Mounted directly to the rear lid is the thin blade of the rear spoiler, which – in contrast to that of the Boxster – is higher and deploys at a steeper angle. The overall appearance of the Cayman is more independent than before, and it is well-differentiated from the previous model.
The market launch of the new Cayman generation in Europe is scheduled for March 2, 2013. Base prices in Germany are 51,385 euros for the Cayman and 64,118 euros for the Cayman S, each including 19 % VAT.
0 comments:
Post a Comment