One of the most exciting cars at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show is without any doubt Porsche Cayman. Lower, longer, lighter, faster, more powerful... Cayman is the new star by Porsche.
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The new two-seater is – after the 911 Carrera and Boxster – the third sports car model line from Porsche to feature innovative lightweight body design. The new Cayman is up to 30 kg lighter, and it consumes up to 15 percent less fuel per 100 km than the previous model despite higher engine and driving performance.
The new generation of the two-seat mid-engine sports car is debuting in two classic Porsche versions: the Cayman and the Cayman S. The base model is powered by a 2.7-liter flat six-cylinder engine with 275 hp (202 kW). It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, depending on the equipment, and reaches a top speed of 266 km/h. Its NEDC fuel consumption lies between 7.7 l/100 km and 8.2 l/100 km, depending on the selected transmission.
The 3.4-liter engine of the Cayman S produces 325 hp (239 kW); the best possible acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h is 4.7 seconds. The Cayman S can reach a top speed of 283 km/h, and its NEDC fuel consumption value lies between 8 and 8.8 l/100 km. Both sport coupes are equipped with standard manual six-speed transmission. The seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) can be delivered as an option; it enables faster acceleration and better fuel economy.
Cayman's proportions are new, and yet it is clearly a Porsche sport coupe. Its styling is marked by precise lines and razor-sharp sculpted edges. From the front end, the new Cayman is marked by its dominant cooling air inlets, which increase in size towards the sides of the car. The overall appearance of the Cayman is more independent than before, and it is well-differentiated from the previous model. The market launch of the new Cayman generation in Europe is scheduled for March 2, 2013. Base prices in Germany are 51,385 euros for the Cayman and 64,118 euros for the Cayman S, each including 19 % VAT. ■