Porsche just unveiled the new generation Boxster which means the next to arrive will be the Cayman. From the looks of these spy shots, the sports car is just about ready, but this prototype has a few secrets to tell before its official debut.
These images of the future Cayman were shot in a city in Germany while the vehicle was testing, and not only reveal some of the exterior, but a first closeup of the interior as well. As expected, the interior will be very similar to that of the recently revealed Boxster, but it was covered up enough to hide the perks that we’re sure are there. Maybe we’ll even see the high-resolution 4.6-inch TFT color screen the Boxster just received to display its on-board computer, communication, audio settings, and navigation system.
As for the exterior changes, they will be minimal and will include an updated front fascia and new headlamps. What Porsche will really be focusing on is what’s found under the hood. The Cayman’s dimensions will grow and it will be offered with the same engine lineup as that of the Boxster: a 265 HP 2.7 liter engine for the base version and a 315 HP 3.4 liter engine for the S version. Both will be offered with either a manual six-speed gearbox as standard or a PDK available as an option.
Facebook’s popularity has skyrocketed so it only makes sense for companies to take full advantage of the reach social media has to gain some attention for themselves. Porsche is diving into that headfirst with a special edition dedicated to the growing number of "fans" for their Facebook page. These images show a unique Cayman S decorated with the faces of Porsche’s first two million "fans."
Porsche sent out requests to their fans, asking permission to use their profile pictures as part of the design of the Cayman. Following this fan-based mosaic, the company went on to have their fans vote for their favorite historic racing livery. When the fans spoke, they chose the iconic Porsche 917 K with the red-white Salzburg livery, known best for delivering Porsche’s first overall victory in Le Mans with Richard Attwood and Hans Herrmann behind the wheel.
Porsche’s Cayman S tribute to their first two million Facebook fans will be on display at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart until January 27, 2012. If you look real close, maybe you’ll be able to find your picture!
Remember Porsche announced a few days ago it will bring a new mid-engined sports car in LA? Here it is! It is called Cayman R, and not CS as we expected; with R standing for responsive and refined, and of course racing. The name pays tribute to the first Porsche with the "R" designation, the 911 R of 1967. It will go on sale in February 2011, at a price of $66,300.
What makes the difference between a standard Cayman and the R version? First the engine. The Cayman R is powered by a tuned-up 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine that develops an impressive 330 HP. The the sprint from 0 to 60 mph, now made in 4.9 seconds (or 4,7 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono packages) and the top speed of 175 mph with manual gearbox, or 174 mph with PDK.
But that’s not all. With the new Cayman R, Porsche also focused on reducing the car’s weight. For that the company used only lightweight components and renounced to any convenience equipment. There is also a new set 19 inch light wheels. The result is a total weight of 2855 lb and a power-to-weight ration of 8.6 lb per horsepower.
Also for the exterior the Cayman R gets distinctive fixed rear spoiler, high-quality silver-painted wheels and numerous sporting highlights, black-framed headlights, black exterior mirrors and the "PORSCHE" lettering on the side – in contrasting black or silver, depending on the body color.
UPDATE 12/23/2011: It’s been a while since Porsche revealed any details on the spicy Cayman R, but they have now unveiled a new video in which Porsche’s Chief Driving Consultant Gordon Robertson explains the benefits of the Porsche Cayman’s layout as he explores the nuances of the car’s handling and balance. Hit the jump for the video!
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The Porsche Cayman hasn’t been getting a lot of love from tuning companies recently so the work done by French tuner Delavilla not only gives the Cayman some due recognition, but it also succeeded in blowing us away. We didn’t know that the Cayman R could be this sexy, so a lot of props go out to the small French tuning house for making it work. Saucy, indeed!
Putting aside our bulging eyes and salivating mouths, the Porsche-exclusive tuning company outfitted the Cayman R with a comprehensive exterior make-over, to go with a number of performance upgrades customers can choose from.
First off, the wide bodykit that was added to the Cayman R has turned the Porsche sports car into a real head-turner. The front and rear bumpers added some dimension to the sports car, as did the new fenders and side panels. In addition to that, LED daytime running lights were also installed to keep it up to the times, while a new set of multi-spoke wheels and bespoke quad tail pipes were fitted to provide some extra steam to what is already looking like a smokin’ hot ride. As for the interior, Delavilla added a new pair of sport bucket seats and plenty of Alcantara trim on both the steering wheel and the gear lever.
And then there’s the power upgrades. Not content with just one program for the Cayman R, Delavilla is offering three different power kits that can spike up the output of the Cayman R’s 3.4-liter flat-six engine from its standard 330-horsepower output to either 340 horsepower, 385 horsepower, or 420 horsepower.
Now that Porsche has officially uncovered the new generation 911, the time has come to direct our attention towards the next two models the German automaker is scheduled to be reveal: the Boxster and the Cayman. While the Boxster has garnered its fair share of attention, the time has come to talk about the Cayman.
Like with the new 911, exterior and interior changes will be minimal, with the biggest change being made under the hood. As you might know by now, the next Boxster will grow in dimensions, with the same treatment expected to be applied to the Cayman. Thanks to a longer wheelbase, the next Cayman will also feature longer rear-quarter windows, a longer roofline and a roomier interior.
As for the engine, the Cayman will get a new four-cylinder engine, just like the Boxster. The final output hasn’t been revealed just yet, but it should deliver an output similar to the current one: around 265 HP for a standard model and 315 HP for the S version. The engine will be mated to a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic.
An official debut is expected for early 2012.
Updated 02/02/2012: The new Porsche Cayman has been caught testing somewhere in a German city and this time is shows some of its interior. And as expected it will be similar to the recently announced Boxtser.
