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Less than one year after launching the dealership, Lifestyle Motors lands another winner.
5th September, 2006 • Article and Photos by Narend Sooknarine
The engine in the Cayman is a revised six-cylinder boxer 2.7 litre engine that makes 245hp (180KW) and 201lb.-ft. (273Nm) of torque from 4,600-6,000 rpm, thanks to the Porsche VarioCam® Plus system. The car we photographed at the dealership is fitted with a standard 5-speed manual gearbox. Zero to sixty miles per hour is estimated at 5.8 seconds and the car will accelerate to a top speed of 160mph or 258km/h. The suspension is similar to the Boxster's but features uprated tuning to match the Cayman's increased chassis stiffness. During testing, rally legend Walter Röhrl driving the prototype Cayman S produced lap times that were actually faster than those of the latest 911 at the Nürburgring in Germany.
The Cayman has a glass hatchback for added practicality and different radiator vents from the Boxter. Inside we marvelled at the factory amplified Bose sound system with integrated subwoofer and the equally cool mesh instrument hood over the dash, black-faced instrument dials and door entry trims with the Cayman logo. The instrument panel has a large centre-mounted rev counter flanked by the 175mph speedometer on the left and fuel and fluid temperature meters on the right. Inside, everything in this car feels and looks impressive. The controls are easy to reach and require minimal attention to operate and the powered seats are covered in luxurious Alcantara leather. Air-conditioning system and a radio/CD player come standard.
A Sport Chrono Package including PASM and ceramic composite brakes is optional as well as a five-speed Tiptronic automatic and a six-speed manual (packaged with Porsche Active Suspension Management). The PASM system seamlessly adapts the shock-absorber settings to match any driving situation and is capable of lowering the body by ten millimetres. The driver can choose between “Normal” and “Sport” programmes at the touch of a centre console button. The Cayman's brilliant chassis has potential for a lot more even though power levels have been kept moderate. We found ourselves tinkering with its electrically deployable wing which raises on its own at speed to improve aerodynamic stability. Other special features of the Cayman are black brake calipers, black front-spoiler lips, a titanium-coloured logo at the rear and also a trapezoidal tailpipe.
The base Cayman rides on 17-inch light-alloy wheels. Front tires are 205/55-17’s fitted on 6.5-inch wide rims and 235/50-17 tires ride on 8-inch-wide rims at the back. Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system is standard equipment. The PSM has been called a "driver's" traction and stability control system. It allows a certain level of wheelspin and steering angles before intervening and is said to be highly entertaining, yet safe. In addition to standard driver and passenger front airbags, the Cayman features unique additional side airbags. This is called the Porsche Side Impact Protection System (POSIP), which features a chest and head airbag on each side of the vehicle, and also provides excellent protection in side-on collisions.
There is one other extremely cool thing about the Porsche. Thanks to the mid-engine concept, the Cayman boasts two trunks, with a combined volume of 14.5 cubic feet (410 litres), making it wonderfully practical. Fuel consumption is expected to be good, too– 23/32mpg city/highway. Stock up on the valid arguments since the "affordable" Cayman starts at around TT$900,000 while the "baby" Boxter begins at $750,000.
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At a glance – Specifications |
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Price |
$900,000 |
Production |
-- | ||
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Engine |
2.7-litre boxer 6-cylinder |
Weight |
-- | ||
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Aspiration |
natural |
Torque |
201lb-ft@4600-6000rpm | ||
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HP |
245hp |
HP/Weight |
-- | ||
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HP/Liter |
90.7hp per litre |
1/4 mile |
-- | ||
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0-62 mph |
6.1 seconds |
Top Speed |
160mph / 258km/h |
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