Porsche Cayman goes black again

Porsche Cars Australia has released its third Black Edition and fifth version of the mid-engined Cayman, priced just $3200 higher than the entry-level $106,200 coupe on which it's based.

For $109,400 plus on-road costs, the Cayman Black Edition is powered by the same base 202kW 2.7-litre flat six but offers black exterior paint, a black partial leather interior, 20-inch Carrera Classic wheels, SportDesign steering wheel, 'Black Edition' door sill logos and Porsche crest embossed head restraints.

Other extra standard equipment includes aluminium side window trims, bi-xenon headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), auto-dimming mirrors and rain-sensing wipers.

PCA says the additions are valued at about $12,000 worth of extra equipment and that the all-black Cayman will be available well into 2016. It expects the fifth member of PCA's Cayman line-up to be "extremely" popular, but won't say exactly how many will be available Down Under.

The Cayman Black Edition joins the Cayman, Cayman S, Cayman GTS (which won this year's inaugural motoring.com.au Australia's Best Driver's Car) and the Cayman GT4 released this week.

The latter has already attracted 140 firm orders Down Under – more than double the number of cars allocated to Australia so far – and will form the basis of Jim Richards' latest Targa tarmac rally assault.

Porsche will next month reveal an even more focussed Cayman GT4 Clubsport, fitted with a PDK dual-clutch auto and race-ready components including a rollcage, but it's expected to be left-hand drive only – although a Cayman RS-badged top-shelf road car could follow.

The Cayman Black Edition joins the 911 Black Edition and Boxster Black Edition released earlier this year, and the previous all-black Cayman special launched here in 2011.

A mid-life makeover for both the Cayman and its mid-engined roadster twin, the Boxster, is due on sale globally next year, bringing downsized four-cylinder petrol engines and a price reshuffle that should see the coupe undercut the convertible for the first time <<< >>>>>.