Porsche 718 Cayman 2016 Review

First Drive
Malmo, Sweden

There are a handful of cars out there that just feel right. Porsche’s Cayman is one of those, as it has the knack of shrink-wrapping itself around your limbs and feeling like an extension of them within a few kilometres.

One of the trademarks of the Cayman since the first-gen model debuted back in 2006 has been its sonorous, free-spinning flat-six motor. The engine’s wail from behind your ears contributed much to the driving experience.

In this context, it’s a huge call (a “brave decision” to quote Sir Humphrey from Yes Minister) to bin the six-pot and replace it with a four-cylinder engine, no matter how dire the need to trim fuel consumption and emission levels. But Porsche’s execs remain adamant it’s absolutely the right move and that none of the essence of the car has been diluted, despite the loss of two cylinders.

Just to give the newbie some added cred, the marketeers have stuck a ‘718’ prefix on it, referencing a pint-sized four-cylinder racer that Porsche built from 1957-62, and which was quite successful at Le Mans and in the Targa Florio.

The 718 Cayman lands here in late November (2016), with the manual base model retailing for $110,000 (compared to $106,200 for the outgoing model). The PDK version would normally cost $4990 more, but because its overall consumption figure dips under 7L/100km, it’s partially exempt from the Luxury Car Tax and hence effectively costs just $1572 more at $111,572.

Pricing for the 718 Cayman S starts at $140,300 (a mild increase on the oldie’s $139,000), while the PDK version will set you back $145,290.

Porsche Australia spokesman Paul Ellis says about 90 per cent of 718 Caymans will be sold with the PDK transmission (three-pedal cars are clearly becoming rarer by the day), with the sales split between base models and ‘S’ versions likely to be around 70:30.

First impressions aren’t massively positive when you fire up the 718 Cayman though. We’re initially in the ‘S’ model (yellow car pictured) and as it settles into an idle we hear part air-cooled Beetle and part Subaru Impreza. The flatulent chuntering note emanating from the twin pipes (the ‘bogger’ gets a single exhaust) is a far cry from the oldie’s singing six-pot.

Things get better once on the move though, as the engine’s staccato beat graduates to a smooth (but still not melodious) hum as we make our way out of the southern Swedish city of Malmo. The added urge of the motor is immediately evident though, with 420Nm on tap from just 1900rpm.

Once clear of the city limits, a stab on the gas sends the speedo needle soaring around the dial, so it’s clear this is a discernibly more rapid entity than the old Cayman S. Porsche quotes a 0-100km/h split of 4.2sec for the PDK 718 Cayman S with the Sport+ package, which means it’s just a couple of tenths off its bigger, pricier (much!) 911 Carrera S sibling.

The engine note improves dramatically when you’re giving it some. A hard-edged growl fills the cabin, so there are no longer any parallels with the ‘Dak Dak’. There’s barely any trace of lag either, no doubt partly due to the VTG (Variable Turbine Geometry) that comes standard in the ‘S’, but not the entry model.

Swedish roads in these parts are narrow and littered with blind crests, so there isn’t the opportunity to really extend the car’s chassis. But what does become evident is ride quality that’s remarkably supple, even with the optional PASM electronic damping set to ‘Sport’ mode.

Our outward drive loop takes us to Sturup Raceway, a highly technical 2.133km circuit with bumps, ‘yumps’ (well, one of them, anyway) and off-camber corners. Chasing a pace car (911 Carrera 4S) steered by one of Porsche’s factory drivers, it’s immediately clear the 718 Cayman has lost none of the balance, tactility or raw pace of its predecessor.

If anything, it feels even more sublimely balanced than before -- a consequence of a reworked chassis with firmer springs and stabilisers, plus a few other tweaks.

It’s not hard to keep pace with the enthusiastically pedalled Carrera 4S. The latter has slightly better traction out of corners (thanks to all-wheel-drive) and a bit more squirt down the short straights, but the Cayman S (with optional PCCB ceramic stoppers) is able to dive deeper into brakes and hold its own through the corners.

The Cayman S has enough grunt to easily light up the back tyres and wag the tail if you’re too liberal with the throttle out of tight corners, but it all happens extremely progressively. It’s a highly forgiving car that flatters the driver -- a Cayman hallmark all along.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have the opportunity to sample a manual car at the launch, but this wasn’t such a hardship as the PDK gearbox is such a brilliant transmission – it’s fast, seamless and intuitive, even when left to its own devices.

On the homeward leg from the racetrack we grabbed the key to a base-model Cayman (white car pictured), and the overriding impression is that the deficit of 500cc, 37kW and 40Nm (versus the ‘S’) doesn’t in any way diminish the appeal of the car. The 2.0-litre has plenty of grunt and grip for real-world conditions, so much so that it’s all the sports car you really need as an everyday proposition.

Outwardly, the 718 Cayman may not look dramatically different from its predecessor, but only the luggage compartment lid (bonnet), roof and windscreen are carried over. Look closely and you’ll notice the more chiselled form and larger cooling ducts at the front and accent strip with Porsche lettering that runs across the rump. There are also new clear glass tail lights with four-point brake lights.

Inside, there’s the option of new Sport-Tex leather/fabric upholstery (in black or two-tone graphite blue/chalk), while Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with mobile phone compatibility and 150 watts of audio power are standard.

All in all, the 718 Cayman and Cayman S remain every bit as desirable as their predecessors. Yes, they’ve lost a touch of character in the engine soundtrack department, but the added grunt and even sharper chassis dynamics all but compensate for this.

2016 Porsche 718 Cayman; 718 Cayman S pricing and specifications:
Price: From $110,000 (plus on-road costs); 718 Cayman S -- From $140,300 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol; 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Output: 220kW/380Nm; 257kW/420Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch; Six-speed manual
Fuel: 6.9L/100km; 7.3L/100km (Combined figures for PDK versions)
CO2: 158g/km; 167g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: TBA