King of Caymans

This is the car that Porsche doesn't want -- or dare -- to build.

Say hello to the Cayman GTR, developed by Farnbacher Loles Motorsports, a US-based firm that specialises in tweaking Porsches for road and race applications.

They must be reasonably good at it, because the FLM team won the 2005 24 Hours of Daytona and the 2006 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge, in addition to notching up strong results in American Le Mans Series competition.

Although the starting point for the GTR is a standard Cayman S, the end result is a car that seemingly threatens the 911 GT3 for raw pace.

For starters, the 3.4-litre flat-six is supplanted by the 3.8-litre unit from the 911 Carrera S. What's more, custom headers, a cold-air intake, a free-flow exhaust and uprated engine-management system (part of the Porsche factory-offered X51 power upgrade) boost power to 287kW, while peak torque is a robust 457Nm.

These numbers make the standard Cayman S's outputs of 220kW and 340Nm look distinctly weedy.

Its maker claims a 0-100km/h split of just over 4sec, which means it's as quick (at least on paper) as the 911 GT3, and not too far adrift of the 911 Turbo.

Complementing the added oomph is stiffer suspension, a limited-slip differential and a beefed-up clutch. The front end is pilfered from a 911 GT3.

Naturally, it gains a 'don't-mess' wheel-and-tyre package -- comprising 19-inch rims shod with 245/35 licorice-strip rubber at the front and 285/30s at the rear.

Authoritative US publication Autoweek recently had the opportunity to test the Cayman GTR and waxed lyrical about its dynamics.

"The chassis and suspension, with noticeable negative camber dialed in, allows the GTR to arc through corners with prodigal neutral balance or in full-on opposite-lock drifts, if that's your preferred method," wrote Autoweek tester Mac Morrison.

"Turn-in is immediate, with no discernible body roll to speak of, giving the car a reflexive response to inputs that makes factory-stock Porsches feel almost purposely detuned."

Hmmm ... sounds like a pretty resounding endorsement to us. Wonder if anyone from Porsche has been taking notes?

The conversion ain't exactly cheap though -- the Cayman GTR retails for $118,500 ($136,900 in our money) in the US, while Yanks can buy a brand-new 911 GT3 RS for just $125K ($A144,400).

Which would you rather have?

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