Porsche Cayman R - The lightest and most powerful Cayman

The alphabet R remains very special for most sports cars and the Porsche Cayman is no different. Launching its top-of-the-line variant Cayman that promises a race-car like performance capability through a sporting concoction of speed, agility and efficiency is the Cayman R. Displayed in its signature striking peridot green colour at the launch, the new Cayman R was first unveiled to a world-wide acclaim at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November last year.

Mr Karsono Kwee, Executive Chairman of Stuttgart Auto said, “The Porsche Cayman model range has long been recognised for its excellent driving and handling capabilities. In the Cayman R, Porsche engineers have once again surpassed the industry benchmark, delivering a lighter, a more powerful and dynamic car that will provide drivers with an exhilarating race-car like driving experience.”

Through an extensive weight reduction of 55 kilograms over the Cayman S, the driving dynamics in the Cayman R has been significantly improved, with the car’s agility and acceleration capabilities honed to deliver a precise driving experience.

The Shell

Compared to its brethrens, the Cayman R sees a massive weight reduction due to its aluminium shell. Apart from its front luggage lid, the R’s doors are also manufactured in aluminium, resulting in a 15kg of saved weight. The car’s distinctive fixed rear spoiler is also another factor for its weight reduction.

On first glance, the top-of-the-range Cayman appears more aggressive and purposeful, with the extended silhouette of the bodywork lowered by 20 millimetres compared to the Cayman S. The black-framed headlights, exterior mirrors and the "Porsche" lettering on the side, in contrasting black or silver, depending on the body colour customers decide on, take design cues from classic Porsche racing cars.

The wide-opening tailgate with its large, heatable rear window in lightweight steel construction fits snugly in the flowing lines of the back of the sports car. But it’s not all about looks. Should you decide to have a game of golf with your buddies, the Cayman R fits not one but two golf bags in its boot, making it suitable for everyday use.

The Inside

Having piano black as its main colour, the cabin of the Cayman R has been designed with the focus on purism and ergonomics while presenting itself in a sporting functionality. Thus, the fittings are concentrated on the essentials for reasons of maintaining its light weight.

There is a storage compartment instead of a radio, the door pockets have been left out and the cupholder is only available on request. Instead of door levers normally found in cars, or metal ones in Porsche, the Cayman R is fitted with merely a light fabric strap in the inside paneling for opening the door.

Like its wing mirrors and spoiler, the gear diagram on the shift lever, door opening straps and seatbelts are coloured in contrasting luminous red or black, depending on the external colours to allow the car to exude a sportier and more aggressive air.

The car is also fitted with light sports bucket seats with a seat centre in Alcantara as standard. The seat shell is made of glass and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, and plays an important part in weight reduction to about 12kg compared with the standard seats on the Cayman S.

Under the bonnet

The new mid-engine coupe is powered by a tuned-up 3.4-litre six-cylinder engine developing 330 hp. In the standard configuration, it transmits its power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox that propels the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds. There is also the option of the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) that reduces its acceleration time to 4.9 seconds. But for purists who have the extra cash to spare, the Cayman R can be supplied with one of the optional Sport Chrono packages for a more impressive sprinting performance, taking it to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds.

The new Cayman R is capable of a top speed of 282 km/h with manual gearbox, or 280 km/h with PDK. Its NEDC fuel consumption is 9.7 l/100 km with six-speed gearbox and 9.3 l/100 km with PDK. The main aim during the design of the Cayman R was to improve the two-seater even further in its performance, driving dynamics and agility through consistent weight reduction.

With an unladen weight of just 1,295kg, Porsche engineers was able to reduce the power-to-weight ratio of the coupe with standard manual gearbox to 3.9hg per horsepower, with the PDK version weighing 4.0kg per horsepower. The largest savings were achieved through the use of lightweight components and doing without convenience equipment. As for the 911 GT3/GT3 RS and Boxster Spyder, an optional lithium-ion lightweight construction battery is also available.

Technical Specifications

Porsche Cayman R 3.4 (A)

Engine
Type: Horizontally opposed 6-cylinder 24-valves
Displacement: 3,436cc
Max Power (bhp): 330 @ 7400rpm
Max Torque (Nm): 370 @ 4750 rpm

Dimensions
Length (mm): 4,347
Width (mm): 1,801
Height (mm): 1,285
Wheelbase (mm): 2,415

Performance
Max Speed (km/h): 280
Acceleration 0 - 100km/h (s): 4.9