While the Porsche 911 was and will always be crowned as the flagship sports car in Porsche lineup, the Porsche Cayman on the other hand was meant to be the entry level model if we ranked these cars by price and engine output.
But in terms of driving dynamics, the Porsche Cayman has evolved to be a very potent car, up to a point where Porsche has begun to worry that it will triumph the 911.
Theoretically, a mid-engined car will outrun a rear-engined car in any circuit, given that these cars are powered by the same engine.
But let’s just leave this business to Porsche, shall we? Plus, we are all happy to know that the 911 is always the sports car’s benchmark.
The current-gen Cayman gets 718 chassis nomenclature for the first time and shares it with the Boxster.
Although the 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman is essentially a facelifted model with the same silhouette as the previous car, it has received a good deal of improvements inside and out.
There’s a new engine, too. The Cayman — for the first time ever — is powered by a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.
Despite being two cylinders short, the 718 Cayman now makes 300hp and 380Nm of torque, 25hp and 90Nm more than what the previous car produces.
Compared to the previous car, which has its LED DRLs in the front bumper air intakes, the DRLs on the new car are integrated into the LED Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus) headlights, in a very 918-esque way.
The tail lights of the 718 Cayman are now no longer part of the rear spoiler design, as opposed to the previous Cayman model that integrated both ends of its spoiler onto the tail lights’ surfaces, which I find nicer. But let’s call this part of progress.
On the inside, the car is equipped with a blend of sporty and luxurious items which include 14-way electric sports seats with Porsche letterings embossed on the headrests, a multifunction steering wheel, a 7-inch touchscreen with an optional Connect module and a sweet BOSE Surround Sound System.
THE DRIVE
It’s always cool to notice Porsche’s elegance and class in its cabin operation as one fires up the four-cylinder turbocharged boxer engine; the need to actually twist the key fob-like ignition switch to start the engine and — as cars like the Audi TT and Lamborghini Huracan get LCD virtual instrument clusters — the physical, analogue rev needle.
The Cayman feels very composed and compliant at city speed in the default Normal mode. The PDK gearbox shifts to the highest gear possible to extend your driving range per tank, making driving the Cayman just like driving a regular luxury car in Sport mode, only that you sit much lower.
Outward visibility is great, too. There are no bold rear haunches taking a portion of your view from the wing mirrors.
A drive through the snaky tarmac near Kuala Kubu Dam revealed the Cayman’s true bread and butter.
The car has spot-on handling with the Porsche Active Suspension System (PASM) and the new rear-wheel steering.
It carries such a high momentum in the middle of corners that you would not have dared in another car and switches direction unbelievably fluently.
The rear-wheel steering system turns the rear wheels in the same direction with the front wheels at high speeds, in what I find to be a very subtle way, but I can really feel it turn in the opposite direction at lower speeds as it helps the car rotate, enhancing its agility.
The steering wheel is nicely-weighted. The brake pedal is very firm, but allows you to precisely modulate your pressure as you enter a turn.
It may not have the gorgeous Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brake (PCCB) unit, but unless you’re taking the car to track days regularly, the standard steel set will do just fine.
There are four settings to suit your mood — Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual — selectable via a rotating knob near the 918 Hypercar-derived steering wheel.
I happily drove the car in Sport Plus mode all the way through the Kuala Kubu road, as the mode is far from bone-shattering, but firmly lets the car handle like a charm.
Yes, I do miss the sound of the previous Cayman, given how brilliantly musical the old six-cylinder engine was.
Even so, the new four-banger delivers a different sensation that varies depending on the degree of your right foot; and we cannot forget how it has the athletic performance to pull you forward with maximum torque from any rev point.
The new 718 Cayman displays the true progress Porsche has made to up the ante in the mid-engined sports car game.
The new Cayman can be had at prices from RM530,000. With all the optional kits, this particular car is retailed at RM617,107.