Super Power Porsche Cayman S PDK, Overwhelming!

With such an effective and easy to take fast frame

More powerful, more efficient, more agile, easier, more efficient, more desirable, more ... Certainly, this Porsche Cayman proves irresistible. Costs and some minor details closely.

The first Cayman S, I know him well enough to have spent a week and a few thousand miles at the wheel ... dressed as Santa Claus! If so, it was in December 2005 (see "The AM" No. 716). I really liked.
The Porsche ... not held, not really practical for sporty driving! This time, no delirium dress. I laced up fine shoes "pilot" and sunglasses adapted to the climate of the Algarve (southern Portugal). Large, sinuous curves, beautiful road, but also degraded coatings frankly, not to mention the incredible Portimao circuit, as hilly as complex Porsche chose a route really brave! But driving, you soon realize the confidence displayed by the German manufacturer. With its long 60 mm wider track 40 mm front and 12 mm at the rear, and its height reduced by 10 mm wheelbase, the Cayman S is literally stuck to the floor. And with that, not even uncomfortable, controlled suspension (optional) forces.

On board the "flat-six" remains present,
and even a little on the highway

Benefits
    Effective Behavior and easy
    Well-calibrated steering
    Melodious and powerful engine
    Comfort preserved
Pitfalls of
    Tiring soundscape highway
    Pallet too short and fixed to the flywheel
    Minimum equipment

Incredible ease cornering and balance that cut must, among other things, its engine in the rear central position and a weight reduction of 30 kg (despite more equipment supplied) through the use of 44% of its aluminum hull (front and rear blocks, opening and floor). Finally, a lighter structure than 47 kg, which still provides torsional rigidity (40,000 Nm / degree) increased by 40% compared to the first Cayman (2005) and even 20% over the last 911! Due to this structure as rigid, running gear, mostly aluminum too, work best in support. The front shows a incredible grip, especially for a mid-engine coupé. Usually, such an architecture requires to keep the brake to charge ahead and avoid understeer. None of that here, where the efficiency reaches a level that really have to force yourself to get the limit on the open road (on the track, we reached 1.35 g lateral acceleration!).

The rear is agile just enough to help turn
raising the pie ...

This exhilarating ease, Cayman does not divest more wet floor, where he demonstrated a greater progressivity when the front finally reveal later, its limits. Limits that we feel perfectly happen to favor a direction really well calibrated (with Servotronic option) electric assistance. A beautiful work of development, supplemented by an agile back just enough to help turn lifting the foot off the accelerator, without worry. Especially if the drift is increasing too, PSM stability control takes control without curbing driving. In short, the Cayman reassures us immediately, whatever the circumstances, and encourages use and abuse of 325 horses from 3.4 to "safe" impressive (always over 280 Nm at 1500 r / min and 370 Nm at 4500 r / min ), and inimitable voice. Hoarse, guttural bottom of the tachometer, the "flat-six" invisible unfortunately, is frankly not discreet, especially when Sport (optional) the escape key is activated.

The "g" received proudly displayed on the dashboard

But it's so good, even when that change register from the serious to the medium to 3500 rev / min when he gets mad for good, before screaming how race beyond 5500 r / min , when the tachometer needle squirts on the switch set at 7800 r / min. Even deceleration flatter the ear of their powerful rumbling and backfiring. I just wish roll in less soundscape highway. Between 110 and 150 km / h, even without accelerating the intake and exhaust noise too strong quickly become wearing. Another downside, the pallets of the PDK dual-clutch 7 are too short and fixed to the steering wheel. They "lost" in the corners, where, exactly, we might need. Luckily, the PDK can not successfully adapts to your desires gradually sharpening his response, ranging from normal to Sport and Sport Plus. A priori acceptable, the rate hides minimal equipment (aircon manual, no GPS or leather ...). So much so that our Cayman S PDK, with a few options "not essential but almost," was displayed over € 90,000 ... Not far from a 911, actually!