Cayman R announced
- Thread starter John H
- Start date
Porsche is guaranteed to have one of the stars of this today’s Los Angeles motor show with a lighter, more powerful, stripped-out version of its mid-engined Cayman. Called Cayman R — and not Club Sport, as had been rumoured — the new model uses lightweight components and a number of alterations to the spec sheet to shed 55kg from the Cayman S. It loses air conditioning and the stereo, and adopts lightweight 19in alloy wheels (as seen on the Boxster Spyder), carbonfibre sports bucket seats and lighter interior door panels from the 911 GT3 RS. A mild retune of the Cayman S’s 3.4-litre powerplant has yielded a further 10bhp, taking the R to 325bhp. Torque remains the same, at 273lb ft, but the slight increase in grunt and weight reduction gives the new car a power-to-weight ratio of 252bhp per tonne (247bhp per tonne with a PDK gearbox). The R shaves 0.2sec from the Cayman S’s 0-62mph time, to 5.0sec, and reaches an increased top speed of 175mph (up from 172mph). The PDK-equipped R covers 0-62mph in 4.7sec and hits 174mph. The chassis set-up includes a limited-slip differential as standard and sports suspension that lowers the car by 20mm. The car’s fuel tank is also slightly smaller, at 54 litres. The standard kit list may not include air-con, but you do get what Porsche calls the Cayman Aerokit: styling add-ons including a fixed rear spoiler in a contrasting colour, black-framed halogen headlights, contrasting side mirrors and Porsche side stripe decals. The Peridot metallic paint shown on the launch car will also be exclusive to the R. The Cayman R is due on sale in the UK in February. It’ll cost from £51,731 (with 20 per cent VAT) for a manual version, including a Driving Experience at Silverstone. That equates to a VAT-adjusted premium of about £5k over a Cayman S. Expect a PDK-equipped Cayman R to cost around £53,500.
Below is taken from Porsche website describing the brand new Cayman R This concept is basically the total opposite to the one used to create the very latest and most expensive Speedster ever
] How exactly do you refine an existing sportscar concept? Do you add one thing after another, piling more on top, and packing more in? Many would think so, but we don’t. The result is the new Cayman R. Minimise to maximise was the idea. The guiding principle was the power-to-weight ratio. For us, improving performance is not simply about boosting engine output, but radically dispensing with features that would otherwise mean only one thing: increased weight. This is the principle of Porsche Intelligent Performance. What does this mean for the driver? More dynamics, more agility, and even more Porsche.
] How exactly do you refine an existing sportscar concept? Do you add one thing after another, piling more on top, and packing more in? Many would think so, but we don’t. The result is the new Cayman R. Minimise to maximise was the idea. The guiding principle was the power-to-weight ratio. For us, improving performance is not simply about boosting engine output, but radically dispensing with features that would otherwise mean only one thing: increased weight. This is the principle of Porsche Intelligent Performance. What does this mean for the driver? More dynamics, more agility, and even more Porsche.
John H
New member
"Much ado about nothing!" What a huge disappointment this is. I fully expected that Porsche would use the same parts as they used on the Spyder, that's a no-brainer. The Spyder however gets a unique hood and one-off bodywork in the double bubble clamshell, which makes it genuinely different from the vanilla Boxster, and goes some way to justifying the extra price. Where is the same for the Cayman? A tacky black add on spoiler, a bit of black paint, and that's your lot! Pathetic. I doubt if the Cayman R costs a euro more to make than a regular S, yet the UK price is £5,000 more ... for what exactly? Sorry, but this smacks of Porsche at their most cynical.
John H
New member
To be fair, on the Spyder you could add back the radio and air con at no extra cost, so I would assume the same will apply here. The Cayman is a very warm car in summer though, as there is alot of heat soak through the firewall on a long journey. I would think a Cayman without air con would be a very uncomfortable car in warm weather. I could live without a radio, but not aircon.ORIGINAL: daro911 Without air con and radio etc it is more like £6500 extra over the regular S [[
I'm forced to agree. I can see why they've called it the 'R' as it really doesn't qualify as a Club Sport or RS! Why go to the "effort" of a limited slip diff and sports suspension, plus the sensible weight saving moves of lighter seats (no harness, mind), door panels and wheels, but not give it a cage? The new spoiler looks like an afterthought with the original spoiler apparently still present. I can just imagine what Top Gear's Cockson is going to say...
Will have to wait a bit for them to update the Configurator.
Perhaps in warm countries, they'd suggest you buy a Spyder instead?!
Disapointing all round ... when will the geeks at Porsche realise that a TRUE lightweight version is needed with cage and dare I say French Cayman Cup spec! But at least the video descibes the engine is in the right place[]
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John the air can be added back but at a cost £££'s £1000.00 apprx for the air con and £400.00 apprx for the speaker kit to go with the no charge radio/cd Porsche are far to slick to actually let you put anything back without a co$t attachedORIGINAL: John HTo be fair, on the Spyder you could add back the radio and air con at no extra cost, so I would assume the same will apply here. The Cayman is a very warm car in summer though, as there is alot of heat soak through the firewall on a long journey. I would think a Cayman without air con would be a very uncomfortable car in warm weather. I could live without a radio, but not aircon.ORIGINAL: daro911 Without air con and radio etc it is more like £6500 extra over the regular S [[
John H
New member
I stand corrected ... that makes it even worse! [ORIGINAL: daro911John the air can be added back but at a cost £££'s £1000.00 apprx for the air con and £400.00 apprx for the speaker kit to go with the no charge radio/cd Porsche are far to slick to actually let you put anything back without a co$t attached ÂORIGINAL: John HTo be fair, on the Spyder you could add back the radio and air con at no extra cost, so I would assume the same will apply here. The Cayman is a very warm car in summer though, as there is alot of heat soak through the firewall on a long journey. I would think a Cayman without air con would be a very uncomfortable car in warm weather. I could live without a radio, but not aircon.ORIGINAL: daro911 Without air con and radio etc it is more like £6500 extra over the regular S [[
]I'm going to remain fairly positive about the Cayman R because, as my Cayman S is such a great drive and the R is supposed to be an improvement on it, then i'll assume it is a very good driver's car. I'm not saying that they have bettered it by much. The figures on paper may not seem to be of the 'Radical' theme of the marketing (I guess a 2012 Cayman S may have similar performance figures). I was hoping for a Carrera matching 345bhp but didn't really expect it. It doesn't have the significant visual differentiation that the Boxster Spyder has compared to the Boxster S, with its redesigned rear bodywork and I 'guess' that the Spyder, by losing the roof, makes a more significant step change in lowering its centre of gravity. That said, the latter 2 points are to be expected with a coupe. I can only assume that the reduction in weight, the small increase in power (no increase in torque, those more knowledgeable than me can explain how torque translates to real world driving performance) and the reworked suspension (are they choosing not to use PASM to save weight or is the result somehow different to what 'PASM in sport mode' gives? Can someone advise?) come together to improve the driving dynamics and agility for a slightly more involving driving experience. Personally: Would I have one of these? Yes Would I have one of these instead of a Cayman S? Yes, but i'd be curious to know what adding back in 27Kg (according to the Porsche 'Web Special') for aircon, radio & sports seats (needed for my child's car seat) does to the performance figures (assuming the Cayman S figures are measured with these bits of kit in and the Cayman R is measured with them out, I may be wrong) - could be down to only a 10th of a second difference (no science around that 'guesstimate'), but that still leaves the improved driving dynamics and agility of the Cayman R. Would I have one of these instead of a base Carrera (the culprit for restraining the Cayman's potential)? Yes Would I have one of these instead of a Boxster Spyder (my limited driving ability would not expose any difference between them, the Spyder has the the same torque, is cheaper, has a more 'radically' differentiated body shape for more visual appeal, is lighter (OK, so what its lighter, but combined with the same torque..., and interestingly, the Boxster S is heavier than the Cayman S but the Spyder is ligher than the R, I guess because they could lose more weight with the roof) has the same 50 to 75mph elasticity)? Now that, personally, is a tougher choice to make.
John H
New member
Despite my earlier negative comments, I have no doubt whatever that the Cayman R will be an utterly sublime drive. I was lent a Boxster Spyder for the day, and on handing back the keys I described it to the nice salesman as the best drivers car I had EVER driven. I fully expect the Cayman R to be even better, but I still hate that rear spoiler! [] By the way, it's now on the Porsche website configurator. Dial one up in periwinkle green metallic, or guards red, and hit the option for wheels in body colour ... MMMM NICE! [] Who mentioned 968 Club Sport?
] By the way, it's now on the Porsche website configurator. Dial one up in periwinkle green metallic, or guards red, and hit the option for wheels in body colour ... MMMM NICE! [] Who mentioned 968 Club Sport?
Alan Woods
New member
As the bodies still arent done at Zuffenahusen they cant do colour to sample so no Riviera Blue The configurator does make Aqua look a bit like Maritime though:
The configurator does make Aqua look a bit like Maritime though:
Alan Woods
New member
Probably not. I've been thinking this as well because 60K would get you into one. But...
Is the only reason to buy this, that you can't run to a GT3, and want a new car ... ? It could have been lovely with PCCB brakes and PDK, a real "alternative" track car to show off the new technologies and DI engine. But thinking about it, maybe Porsche think this is it ... maybe they do think this is the car to do it ... for the same price as an entry level C2 ?
Alan , there is no such word as cant at Porsche. But you would have to stump up the cash for them to say can. And almost anything is possible for the right sum ! It's what special wishes programme was made for.
Alan Woods
New member
6 months wait - apparently the paint would have to be tested on all surfaces - plus ~£2.5k [&:]
If you're interested in the Cayman R and Boxster Spyder you might find this intersting; contains some comments from Porsche reps at the LA Motorshow, interspersed with the author's own views. I have not read the thread, only the original post. [link=http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/987-forum/602917-a-case-for-the-cayman-r-vs-the-spyder.html]http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/987-forum/602917-a-case-for-the-cayman-r-vs-the-spyder.html[/link]
Alan Woods
New member
Interesting stuff Cecil, thanks. So now then, who's ordered one?
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