Porsche Cayman R Aiming High

Earlier today, Porsche confirmed that it will build the Cajun model, with the company’s press release including notions such as “sporty”, “ease of handling” and “agility”. In an attempt to shoot the marketing talk in the head, we’ve decided to take a look at a new Porsche model that really manages to deliver top driving sensations.

We are talking about the Cayman R, a vehicle that is scheduled to go on sale in February next year. This is the most extreme incarnation of the mid-engined Porsche.

Let’s see what an inside (company inside view, that is) view of the vehicle reveals. The carmaker’s head of development for mid-engined cars, Hans-Jurgen Wohler told autocar that the performance gap between the Cayman S and the Cayman R will be bigger than the one between the Boxster S and the Boxster Spyder, with the vehicle relying on the rigidity of its chassis to deliver a high level of performance.

“The difference between the two Caymans is coming out of the stiffer bodyshell of the fixed roof; it means the chassis can fulfill 100 per cent of its potential, whereas in the Boxster Spyder it’s about 90 per cent,” Wohler was quoted as saying by the aforementioned source.

In addition to that, the vehicle comes with a tweaked suspension that will offer it an enhanced handling.

“We have a special set-up of spring rates [five to 10 per cent stiffer], shock absorbers and torsion bar that is unique to this car. Plus, it’s 20mm lower,” Wohler added.

Our say: We give you with the same conclusion - Porsche is still afraid that the Cayman could cannibalize the 911.