Download Our App
Cars > Porsche > Porsche Cayman S 2008

 By Ketan Patel View Comments

Image Copyright: Porsche

Porsche Cayman S 2008

 

The Cayman S comes with larger wheels and brakes than Cayman and is infused with 20 percent more horsepower. Cayman S carries 295 HP, 3.4 liter 6-cylinder engine based closely on the powerplant in the 911 Carrera. The Cayman S has 251 lb-ft of torque to take it from zero to 60 mph in 5.1 seoncds and has the top speed of 171 mph (275 km/h). Cayman S has equally impressive fuel economy with 18 mpg in city and 26 mph on Highway. Check out more details after the jump.

 

 

To many purists and students of sports car history, the Cayman and Cayman S are close descendants of the legendary Porsche 904 and its precursor, the Porsche 550 Coupe. These latest interpretations of the agile, quick and sure-footed two-seat coupe bristle with the modern performance technology that continues to define Porsche.

The Cayman and Cayman S are fast, responding to inputs with razorlike sharpness. They are also both driver and environmentally friendly. Despite their exhilarating performance potentials, neither Cayman model carries the stigma of a gas-guzzler penalty and both exceed the emissions requirements mandated of a Low Emissions Vehicle.

As the newest members of the Porsche lineup both Cayman and Cayman S go into the 2008 model year with but a few minor refinements.

Optional leather sports folding bucket seats

Essentially a race seat with a folding backrest, the new sports bucket seats boast carbon fiberreinforced construction for a weight savings of 15 to 20 pounds (7 to 9 kg) over standard seats, depending on model. Like all Porsche driver and front-passenger seats, the sports bucket seats have integrated thorax airbags and are compliant with all U.S.safety standards.

New colors

As popular tastes continue to change, Porsche designers continue to refine the available palette of colors. For 2008, the new exterior color, Macadamia Metallic is available. Other 2008 exterior color changes have Atlas Grey Metallic replacing Lapis Blue Metallic as a special color, Malachite Green Metallic replaces Lagoon Green Metallic, and Carmona Red Metallic is replaced by Ruby

Red Metallic. Inside the cockpit, Palm Green is gone from the list of available colors and Carrera Red as a new natural leather option.

Finally, the panel air vents on both Cayman models are now Matte Black soft-touch, replacing Volcano Grey.

Service intervals

For 2008 models, the recommended oil change interval is now 12,000 miles (20,000 km), or one year. The spark plugs should be replaced every 36,000 miles (60,000 km), or four years.

Cayman: Supremely balanced mid-engine coupe

Porsche engineers drew upon their decades of motorsports-gained wisdom and used the inherently well-balanced and agile mid-engine chassis of the Boxster when they began development of the Cayman. They then proceeded to create a steel-roofed sports car with a structure that's 100 percent more resistant to flex than the already superbly stiff Boxster roadster. The result is a two-seat coupe with a unique look and race-worthy dynamics that rival the car's iconic big brother, the 911 Carrera.

The Cayman is powered by a 245-horsepower horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine. With Motronic® engine controls and Porsche's VarioCam Plus to monitor and adjust intake-valve timing and lift, the 2.7-liter engine develops 201 lb.-ft. of torque, and when mated to the standard equipment five-speed manual gearbox, propels the Cayman from zero to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, and to its track proven top speed of 160 mph (258 kmph). Equally impressive is the car's 20 city/29 highway mpg fuel economy rating and its certification as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV).

Optionally, the Cayman can also be equipped with either the six-speed manual gearbox of the Cayman S or the Porsche driver-shiftable Tiptronic S automatic transmission.

Cayman S: Even greater performance potential

The Cayman S ups the range's performance ante. The Cayman S comes with larger wheels, tires and brakes than the Cayman. Also it is infused with 20 percent more horsepower.

The Cayman S carries a 295-horsepower, 3.4-liter flat-six engine based closely on the powerplant in the 911 Carrera. Boasting Porsche VarioCam Plus adjustable intake-valve system and Motronic® sequential fuel injection, the Cayman S has 251 lb.-ft. of torque to take it from a standstill to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds on its way to a track-proven top speed of 171 mph (275 kmph) when equipped with its six-speed manual gearbox. More astounding is the fact that it still delivers 18 mpg in highway driving, 26 mpg in the city. And the Cayman S is certified as Low Emissions Vehicle, category two (LEV-II).

A body like no other

At 172.1 inches (4372 mm) long, the Cayman sits between the slightly smaller (about 0.5 inch) Boxster and the larger (by 3.5 inches) 911 Carrera. The Cayman is also 0.5 inch taller than the Boxster though both models are 70.9 inches (1801 mm) wide. Critical to their agility, both Cayman and Cayman S share a 95.1-inch (2415-mm) wheelbase.

The front decklid sweeps up between the strongly rounded front fenders to the windshield.

The fenders house projector beam headlamps. (Bi-Xenon® headlamps are available as an option.) In the rear, the taillamps are wide and cut into the quarter panels.

The specially designed dual tailpipes are mounted in the center of the rear and are framed by the meeting of horizontal bars.

Above the beltline, the stunningly long and unique sloping roof slides down between the voluptuous rear fenders. Below the beltline, hockey-stick shaped rocker panels sweep up to air vents on the flanks.

The head-turning body of the Cayman and Cayman S is deeply rooted in superb aerodynamics. The Cayman and the Cayman S with manual gearbox have a coefficient of drag of only 0.29. The slight modifications mandated by the installation of the Tiptronic S in the Cayman S raise that model's Cd to a still astounding 0.30.

Totally enclosed and safely ensconced

The passenger compartments of both Cayman and Cayman S are equipped with three-point inertia-reel seat belts with belt-latch tensioners and belt-force limiters as well as six airbags.

There are frontal-impact airbags for both driver and passenger. The passenger seat has a special sensor that defeats the passenger-side airbag if the sensor determines that a small child is sitting there. Each seat has a thorax-protecting side-impact airbag in its backrest outer bolster. In addition, Cayman and Cayman S are equipped with the Porsche Side Impact Protection (POSIP) system. This includes airbags that deploy upward from their housings in the door windowsills in the event of a side impact.

Crisp handling

The Cayman and Cayman S boast Porsche proven front suspension. This consists of springstrut axles with separately mounted longitudinal and track control arms to assure precise wheel guidance while controlling body roll. A specific-to-Cayman outbound/rebound stop spring within the shock strut reduces body sway, to help ensure stability and driver confidence even during periods of high lateral acceleration.

As they do in front, the Cayman and Cayman S have specifically tuned spring-strut rear suspensions with longitudinal and track control arms.

Both the 2008 Cayman and Cayman S are equipped with enhanced Porsche Stability Management (PSM) as standard equipment. PSM is a computerized system that relies on data from an assortment of sensors to help maintain the car's intended path as the driver pushes it to the edges of its dynamic limits.

Like all Porsche vehicles, the Cayman and Cayman S boast four-wheel disc, antilock brakes.

All four discs on both cars are cross-drilled and vented internally for optimum performance even under long periods of hard use. Those drivers of the Cayman S who desire even greater braking power than standard may opt for Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB).

No spare needed

By removing the spare tire, jack and tire-changing tools from the Cayman and Cayman S, Porsche engineers saved 22 pounds (10 kg) per car. Instead, each car is equipped a small electric air compressor and emergency tire sealant to allow drivers to get to a service station to have the damaged tire properly repaired or replaced.

To ensure optimum performance, fuel economy and performance, Porsche engineers provide Cayman and Cayman S drivers with a safeguard against driving on a damaged or an underinflated tire.

Room for luggage, front and rear

By dint of their mid-engine configuration, the Cayman and Cayman S have two conveniently usable cargo holds. The front trunk has a 5.3-cu.-ft. (150-liter) capacity.

Behind the engine and beneath the Cayman's hallmark sloping rear hatch is a trunk almost twice the size of the front one, 9.2 cu.-ft. (260 liter). The combined capacity of the two, 14.5 cu.-ft. (410 liter), rivals that of many sedans.

More performance and improved dynamics available

Both the Cayman and Cayman S can be equipped with Porsche Active Suspension

Porsche Cayman S 2008

Comments:

Login to add comment