The Cayman has won two awards from journalists recently: “Best Driver’s Car” and “Best Sports Car.”

A recent issue of Motor Trend pitted the Cayman S (with PDK) against the Nissan NISMO 370Z, Cadillac CTS-V, Audi R8, Chevrolet Camaro SS, Ford Shelby GT500, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Mazda MX-5 Miata, BMW 135i, and Jaguar XJR. The test team, including racing drivers Max Angelelli and Randy Probst, tested all the cars at Laguna Seca, looking for the best balance of useable performance, accessible handling, and driver-friendly design. The Cayman S ended up blowing them away, inspiring quotes such as “(p)robably more than any other car here, including the R8, this one feels like an extension of your neural synapses.” You can read the full article here.

The best-selling car magazine in Great Britain, Auto Express, also heaped praise on the Cayman, naming it the “Best Sports Car” of the year. The magazine said the Cayman is the ultimate blend of traction, balance, and agility, and also loved the practicality of the two trunks.

Full press release from Porsche after the jump.

[source: Porsche]

Porsche Cayman Acknowledged as “Best Driver’s Car” and “Best Sports Car”

Contrary to other competitors in the “Best Driver’s Car” competition, the Cayman S also remains below the fuel consumption limit for Gas Guzzler Tax in the USA and is therefore exempted from the special tax imposed on cars with particularly high fuel consumption.

Holy crap, is Porsche working on a shooting brake version of the Cayman? A Top Gear fan sent a video to TopGear.com of a test mule that makes a strong case that they are.

Or… is this a test mule for the rumored Cayman Turbo and the extra bodywork is just to provide easy access to the engine for testing purposes?

Let the rumors begin!

Click here to see the video.

[source: Top Gear]

The Truth About Cars spent some time with a Cayman S with the PDK. Their verdict? Stick with the stick.

My sentiments exactly.

Click here to read the review.

[source: TTAC]

Motor Authority has a whole heap of spy photos of the next generation Cayman being tested, sporting a 987 body stretched over the next generation platform.

The pictures clearly show the next generation Cayman will have a wider track as evidenced by the wheel arch add-ons. But not much else can be gathered from the shots, as could be expected.

To see all the spy shots, click on over to Motor Authority’s gallery.

[source: Motor Authority]

Porsche has unveiled the newest versions of the Boxster and Cayman at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and the styling and specs are spot-on to what we reported back in August.

Both cars feature all new front- and rear-styling, along with new LED tail lights and new headlights. Inside, the new CDR-30 radio features a five-inch monochromatic display and the ability to play MP3 audio CDs. The optional PCM system has also been upgraded.

But the real news is under the skin. Both cars get all-new flat-6 engines with more power and better efficiency. The base Boxster and Cayman receive a 2.9L flat-6 which produces 255 hp in the Boxster and 265 hp in the Cayman. The Boxster S and Cayman S receive a 3.4L flat-6 with direct fuel injection, and produce 310 hp and 320 hp, respectively. The base Boxster with 6-speed manual will get from 0 to 62 in 5.9 seconds, while the Cayman S with PDK and launch control will get from 0 to 62 in 4.9 seconds. And, yes, I did say PDK. The double-clutch gearbox (Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe) is available in all models.

The suspension and brakes are also improved. The suspension is a new set-up; the steering transmission has been modified for “more agile and spontaneous steering behaviour”; the new wheel designs are half an inch wider on the base models; and the base models also get the “S” brakes on the front.

PSM has also been updated, and includes two new functions: Brake Pre-Loading and Brake Assistant. According to Porsche, whenever the driver “lets go of the gas pedal very quickly – which is typical of an upcoming emergency braking manoeuvre – the PSM hydraulic control unit builds up an appropriate level of pressure on the wheel brakes before the driver even presses down the brake pedal, moving the brake pads slightly towards the discs for immediate action. This significantly improves brake response and shortens stopping distances accordingly. When recognising that the driver is braking in an emergency due to very fast operation of the brake pedal and a defined brake force, the PSM hydraulic control unit actively delivers the brake pressure required for maximum stopping power.”

The new Boxster and Cayman will be available in February 2009.

Check out a ton more pictures and the full press release after the jump.

[source: Porsche]

Porsche’s Mid-Engined Sports Cars with New, Even More Fuel-Efficient Engines

Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is presenting the second generation of the mid-engined Boxster and Cayman sports cars for the first time at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The highlight of the new generation is of course the new flat-six boxer engines developed with new technical features from the ground up, providing not only more power, but also significantly greater fuel efficiency than their predecessors. A further improvement of both fuel economy and performance is guaranteed by the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe or PDK for short, the new double-clutch gearbox.

Newly developed Boxer engines with even more power on even less fuel
Displacing 2.9 litres, the “basic“ engine develops 255 bhp (188 kW) in the Boxster and 265 bhp (195 kW) in the Cayman, an increase by 10 and, respectively, 20 horsepower over the preceding models. The 3.4-litre power unit in the S-versions, benefiting from Direct Fuel Injection, now delivers 310 bhp (228 kW) in the Boxster S and 320 bhp (235 kW) in the Cayman S, up by 15 and, respectively, 25 bhp. An outstanding power-to-weight ratio ranging from 4.2 kg (9.3 lb)/bhp on the Cayman S to 5.2 kg (11.5 lb)/bhp on the Boxster offers the driver maximum driving dynamics on minimum fuel. As a result, the Cayman S with PDK and Launch Control featured in the optional Sports Chrono Package accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, setting the benchmark in the range, while the Boxster with its six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard completes the same exercise in 5.9 seconds.

Featuring PDK, both the Boxster and the Cayman for the first time outperform the nine-litre consumption mark: Both models with the new 2.9-litre Boxer engine make do with 8.9 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 26.4 mpg US) according to the EU4 standard – 11 per cent less than the former models with Tiptronic S. Reducing fuel consumption by an even more significant 16 per cent to 9.2 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 25.5 mpg US), the 3.4-litre versions with PDK offer an even greater saving over their predecessors with Tiptronic S.

Roadster and Coupé with even more signs of distinction
The new two-seaters are clearly distinguishable from outside through their newly designed front and rear ends. The new halogen headlights with their integrated direction indicators are reminiscent of the lights on the Carrera GT, the new LED rear lights tapering out to the outside and integrated elegantly in the modified rear end of the car.

From the front the Roadster and Coupé differ clearly from one another through the distinctive design of their air intakes, from the rear through the new rear panels with diffuser inserts on the Boxster and a wind deflector plate on the Cayman.

The rod-shaped positioning lights in LED light conductor technology add a particular touch of class in terms of the cars’ looks, also through their horizontal arrangement in the outer air intakes. Yet a further highlight is provided by the foglamps featured as standard – rectangular in shape on the Boxster, round on the Cayman. For the first time both models are available with a Lights Package featuring bi-xenon headlights, dynamic curve lights and LED daytime driving lights. Replacing the foglamps, these light units are made up on the Boxster of four LEDs positioned next to one another, while on the Cayman four LEDs are arranged in round light units like the eyes of a dice.

PDK: shifting gears even more quickly, reducing fuel consumption by up to 16 per cent
All four sports cars are available for the first time with the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe or PDK carried over directly from motorsport and replacing the former Tiptronic S. Equipped with the PDK double-clutch gearbox, the Roadster and Coupé accelerate to 100 km/h or 62 mph 0.1 seconds faster than with the manual six-speed gearbox now also featured on the “basic” models.
Acceleration is particularly fast and dynamic with one of the optional Sports Chrono Packages featuring Launch Control for maximum acceleration from a standing start and the Race Track Gearshift Strategy for the fastest conceivable gearshift as an exclusive highlight on the PDK models. Benefiting from Launch Control, the respective models accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h or 62 mph yet another 2/10ths of a second faster.

The progress offered by PDK is even more impressive when it comes to fuel economy reduced by up to 16 per cent from the former figure on the first generation: According to the EU4 consumption standard, the Boxster and Cayman equipped with PDK consume just 8.9 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 26.3 mpg US, with the S-models offering almost the same level of economy at just 9.2 litres or 25.5 mpg US.

Dynamic suspension and supreme brakes
The suspension with its new set-up gives the new models a combination of even greater driving dynamics and enhanced comfort all in one. Modification of the valve control map on the steering transmission serves furthermore to reduce steering forces, giving the Boxster and Cayman even more agile and spontaneous steering behaviour.
The wheels come in new design and are half an inch wider on the “basic” models than in the past in order to accommodate the larger brake system of the S-models on the front axle. Both the Boxster and Cayman feature the latest generation of PSM Porsche Stability Management now offering two new functions: Brake Pre-Loading and the Brake Assistant. Whenever the driver lets go of the gas pedal very quickly – which is typical of an upcoming emergency braking manoeuvre – the PSM hydraulic control unit builds up an appropriate level of pressure on the wheel brakes before the driver even presses down the brake pedal, moving the brake pads slightly towards the discs for immediate action. This significantly improves brake response and shortens stopping distances accordingly. When recognising that the driver is braking in an emergency due to very fast operation of the brake pedal and a defined brake force, the PSM hydraulic control unit actively delivers the brake pressure required for maximum stopping power.

New audio and communication systems
Both the Boxster and the Cayman come as standard with the new CDR-30 CD radio boasting an easy-to-read five-inch monochromatic display and the ability to play MP3 CDs. New PCM Porsche Communication Management available as an option complete with hard disc navigation serves as the central control unit for all audio, communication and navigation features.

PCM is now even more versatile, efficient and a lot easier to use than before, standing out in particular through its control monitor enabling the driver to select specific functions simply by tipping the appropriate key and increased in size from 5.8 to 6.5 inches.

As an option PCM is available with highly convenient voice control and, in conjunction with the optional, universal audio interface, can now be used also to control external audio sources such as an iPod® or USB stick.
Last but not least, Porsche’s new two-seaters are available as an option with seat ventilation combined with seat heating on both the standard seats and the comfort seats with full or partial leather.

The new models are entering the market in February 2009. The base price of the Boxster in the Euro countries is Euro 38,600, the base price of the Cayman Euro 41,700. The corresponding prices of the Boxster S are Euro 46,700, of the Cayman S Euro 51,500. Including VAT and national specifications, the Boxster retails in Germany at Euro 46,142, the Cayman at Euro 49,831. The Boxster S, in turn, comes at a retail price of Euro 55,781, the Cayman S at Euro 61,493.

Recent spy shots of a Boxster and Cayman suggest Porsche is working on RS variants of each car.

The spy shots of the Boxster reveal a ceramic brake package, an oversized rear wing, and a full roll cage. In addition, the tester is sporting a hard top with what appears to be a plastic rear window, to save weight.

The Cayman caught testing seems to be one of the upcoming Cayman S Sport special editions, but a closer look also reveals a ceramic brake package.

The RS variants would likely feature a higher-output version of the Boxster S/Cayman S 3.4 liter flat-six, and would probably appear as yet another special edition before the next generation Boxster/Cayman is released in 2011.

See a lot more pictures after the jump.

[source: Motor Authority 1 2]

Canadian Driver has done a review of the Cayman from the inside… umm… well, mainly just from the inside.

Reviewer Michael Clark took the Cayman on a road trip with his daughter and loved it. His review, however, mostly focuses on the interior of the car. Still, not a bad read.

Read it here.

[source: Canadian Driver]

Porsche has announced two new special edition cars: the Boxster S Porsche Design Edition 2 and the Cayman S Sport.

The Boxster S Porsche Design Edition 2 harkens back to last year’s Cayman Porsche Design Edition, but features a Carrera White paint scheme with grey racing stripes. THe 19″ SportDesign wheels, center console, and instrument faces are also finished in Carrera White. The top is grey and the interior is black. The engine gets an 8 hp boost. 500 examples will be built, with only 50 coming to the U.S.

The Cayman S Sport is the more interesting of the two, as it adopts a 911 GT3-like paint scheme in either orange or bright green. A black stripe on the side of the car features the Cayman S script, and the wheels and mirrors are also finished in black. Insider, the blacked-out interior features Alcantara grip trim and sports seats. Other standard features include PASM, sports exhaust, bi-xenon headlamps, the Sports Chrono Package, and a ride height that is lowered by 15 mm. Other exterior colors available are black, red, yellow, white and silver. 700 units will be built, with 200 coming to the U.S.

Both cars should be available in October. More pictures after the jump.

[source: Autoblog]

A bunch of renderings of the 2010 Cayman and Boxster have been posted on CaymanClub.net and, if they are accurate, they look awesome.

In addition to the renderings, the specs have also been released. All models receive a power boost, but it is interesting to note that the Cayman and Cayman S will now have more horsepower than their Boxster siblings. The base Boxster’s engine increases from 2.7 liters to 2.9 liters and power is up from 245 hp to 255 hp; the Cayman also gets the 2.9 liter engine but it will produce 265 hp. The Boxster S and Cayman S engines stay at 3.4 liters, with the Boxster S getting a bump from 295 hp to 310 hp, while the Cayman S gets 320 hp.

It looks like only the S models will get DFI, but all models should see a fuel mileage increase. The 6-speed manual will be standard on all models (replacing the 5-speed on the base Boxster/Cayman) and the PDK will be optional. Also, finally, a limited slip differential will be available on all models.

Check out all the photos and the list of changes after the jump.

[source: Cayman Club]

Some of the changes:

• More power and torque in comparison to Cayman/S:
+20 HP / +25 HP and +27 Nm / +30 Nm (2010 Cayman: 265 HP, 221 lb-ft; Cayman S: 320 HP, 273 lb-ft)

• Performance differentiation in comparison to Boxster II/S II:
+10 HP/ +15 HP (2010 Boxster: 255 HP; Boxster S: 310 HP)

• Improved performance (driving dynamics, laptimes, fun to drive):
- increased power and torque: new DFI technology for S-model
- faster acceleration and take-off:

• PDK 7-speed with new steering wheel, shifts faster than manual gearbox

• Launch Control, with Sport Chrono package in conjunction with PDK
- improved driving dynamics/lap times: axle-differential-lock,

• PDK, PASM and 19″ wheels

• Reduced fuel consumption:
-2% – 14% (with DFI Engine + PDK) vs. Cayman I

• Improved standard equipment:
6-speed MT, CDR 30, PSM+, drive-off assistant

• Light Innovation
- New double tube headlights
- LED front position lights,
- Bi-Xenon headlights incl. dynamic cornering lights and LED daytime running lights (option)

• Interior Change
- New CDR 30 with 5 inch screen
- New PCM 3.0 touchscreen (option)
- Air ventilated seats (option)
- New PDK steering wheel

• Style Change
- Front and rear end
- Mirrors
- Exhaust pipes
- Wheels 17″ / 18 “/ 19″

• Light Innovation II
- LED taillights
- LED brake lights
- LED rear fog light

• Chassis Innovation
- Revised chassis setup
- Rear axle-differential-lock (option)
- Brake assistant
- Larger brake disc/caliper front

• Improved dynamics

• Powertrain Innovation
- New DFI-engine generation for 3.4 l
- New VC+ 2.9 l engine
- New 7-speed PDK (option)

• Improved fuel efficiency

Autoblog got to spend a week with a Cayman S. What did they think? Click here to find out.

[source: Autoblog]