Service Cars

2007 Porsche Cayman Preview

The new Cayman (minus the S) is not the lightest, cheapest, or cutest, Porsche, but it may be the smartest one to buy. What the 245-hp, 2.7-liter flat six lacks in low-end vim it more than makes up in 7300-rpm vigor; lighter engine internals and electric throttle response hurl a heavy-footed operator to 60 mph in less than six seconds on the way to 160 mph.






The stout coupe body and mid-engine layout are the ideal serving tray for the chassis engineers most inspired work. And a base price thats barely over $50,000 means that "value" and "Porsche" can share a sentence. Upgrades--such as a six-speed manual, sport seats, eighteen- or nineteen-inch wheels, a navigation system, active dampers, and the Sport Chrono Package--are dear, so dont linger too long over the options list.

Inside, the Cayman has most of the fittings of the S. While it is a base model, standard equipment includes air conditioning, a CD player, black-faced gauges, and sports seats trimmed in grippy Alcantara. For those wanting a few additional creature comforts, a two-tone interior color scheme, DVD-based navigation with 5.8-inch wide-screen display, on-board telephone, Bose Surround Sound audio system, and parking sensors can be equipped. A choice of aluminum, carbon fiber, and surprisingly, wood, are all available for decorative trim. Safety equipment on the Cayman consists of standard front airbags as well as curtain and side thorax airbags. As with any Porsche - even the entry level models such as this - there was a huge demand for it when it arrived in dealerships earlier this summer. Officially, the car went on sale on July 29, with a price tag of $49,400.

The Cayman is powered by the same 2.7-liter flat-six engine that can be found in the standard Boxster, although, its VarioCam Plus system has been tuned to produce slightly more horsepower and torque. Instead of the standard 240 horsepower, it now makes 245, while torque has been boosted from 199 lb-ft to 201 lb-ft. Nevertheless, the Cayman is still a quick machine; its capable of hitting 60 mph from a standstill in 6.0 seconds, and has a top speed of 160 mph, which is quicker and faster than the entry-level BMW Z4 3.0i Coupe and Audis new TT 2.0 FSI.

Even in its most basic form, the Cayman isnt robbed of some of Porsches performance enhancing features. Standard equipment includes a five-speed manual gearbox, PSM stability control and 205/55 R 17 inch tires in front and 235/50 R 17 inch tires in back.

Optional equipment includes Porsches active damping system (PASM), which is capable of lowering the cars ride height by 0.4 inches, and increasing the stiffness for improved response in high-performance driving situations. As with other applications, this is controlled through a two-mode button which consists of "normal" and "sport" settings.

As with any Porsche - even the entry level models such as this - there was a huge demand for it when it arrived in dealerships earlier this summer. Officially, the car went on sale on July 29, with a price tag of $49,400.


Preliminary Specifications:

Price Range (base MSRP): $69,600

Body Type: 2-door coupe

Layout: mid-engine, RWD

Engine: 245-hp, 201 lb-ft of torque, 2.7L, 24-valve, DOHC H-6
Transmission: 5-spd manual (optional 5-spd auto with manual mode)
Acceleration (0 - 100 km/h): 6.1 seconds

Top Speed: 257 km/h (160 mph)
Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS
Exterior Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 4,372 / 1,801 / 1,305 / 2,415 mm (172.1 / 70.9 / 51.4 / 95.1 in)

Track (est. frt/rr): 1,486 / 1,528 mm (58.5 / 60.2 in)

Tires (frt/rr): 205/55 R 17 / 235/50 R 17

Curb Weight (est.): 1,298 kg (2,855 lbs)

Seating Capacity: 2

Cargo Volume: 410 L (14.5 cu-ft)

Fuel Economy (estimated city/hwy): N/A

Warranty (mo/km): 48/80,000 comprehensive
Direct Competitors: Audi TT Coupe, BMW Z4 Coupe, Chrysler Crossfire, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Nissan 350Z

Web Site: www.porsche.com