Porsche Cayman

Introduction

Cayman got its name from “caiman” a reptile of alligators family. It is originally derived from one of the top selling Porsche Boxster. Hence it resembles much like a Boxster with a metal hardened roof. But its lighter and faster meaning it has better handling and fuel economy. An important thing to mention is that when it was first launched in 2006 it won car of the year award from various automobile magazines and organizations which proves it mettle and that its a hard one to ignore. In Sri Lanka it is available through Eurocars (Private) Limited which is the sole authorized importer and dealer for Porsche vehicles.

Engine, mileage & variants

Cayman comes in both PDK (automatic) as well as manual transmission. The PDK( Porsche Doppelkupplung) is a 7 speed dual-clutch transmission that is considered one of the best of its type. It allows the drivers to have option of selecting gears via either the paddle shifters, gear selector, or it does shifting on its own. Its faster than manual as can been seen from acceleration figures. Cayman gets its raw power from 2.7 liters V6 engine which produces power of 275 horses at 7400 rpm and maximum torque of 290 Nm with engine revving between 4500 to 6500 rpm. Among the two transmissions the 6 speed manual transmission is the fastest with top speed of 266 Kmph, while the 7 speed automatic PDK transmission is quicker in 0 to 100 mark with time of 5.6 seconds and has better fuel economy of 12.6 Kmpl compared to 11.9 Kmpl of manual version.

Exteriors

The Porsche Cayman is the coupe version of Boxster with its most of the features bought from the Boxster. Its metal hardened roof gives it stiffer and sportier look. The headlights at the front are part Porsche racing heritage. The large dynamic side air intakes not only cools engine by supplying air but also gives it aggressive look. Cayman looks stunning from the rear. Its curved tail light and the rear wing adds to its overall beauty. Porsche designers have cleverly integrated direction indicator into the rear wing. The new Cayman has longer wheelbase of 2475 mm which adds a little boot space and adds to its stability. Its other dimensions are 4380mm x 1801mm x 1294mm (L x W x H) .Porsche has provided large 18 inch to 20 inch alloy wheels with two different set of tyres for summer and winters .The summer tyres comes from 235/45 ZR 18 to 295/30 ZR 20 size while winter tyres are available in 235/45 R 18 to 275/30 R 20.

Interiors

Interiors of the Cayman are surprisingly relaxed and comfortable. The dashboard has traditional tail end design and the material used is of high quality. It houses plenty of features like cruise control, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Porsche Control Management(PCM), Blue-tooth, CDR audio system, and a telephone module. The seats are comfortable even when the car is at the pin point and electronically adjustable. To further enhance interiors Porsche has given option of leather package and a two zone automatic climate control which gives separate temperature control for driver and passenger. Considering its tight two seat layout the Cayman from inside is roomy and very practical, it has a large glove-box and decent-sized door bins. Its combined boot space of 425 liter, 150 liter at the front and 275 liter at the rear, makes it not only a track based sports car but a practical day to day use car too.

Safety, Braking and Miscellaneous

Similar to Boxster it is also not tested by safety body EURO NCAP but that is because its not built it sufficient numbers. But Porsche has left no stone unturned in safety department. Its a mid engine car that means at the time of accident from front, the luggage space act as crumple zone. Features like ABS(anti-lock braking system) ,traction control system, all the airbags for driver and passenger safety, adaptive cruise control (ACC),Porsche Stability Management (PSM) comes as standard. With its intelligent lightweight principle involving the composite construction of aluminum and steel not only reduces weight but also provide high degree of safety for the driver.

Verdict

The Porsche Cayman is a light, compact sports car with exceptional handling characteristics. Its strong under body and magnetic look makes it a desirable sports car. Its not the quickest on the track but surely its similar to its sibling Boxster when it comes to the fun drive quotient. Its for someone who isn't interested much in how fast the sports car goes but likes to enjoy the drive.