Porsche Cayman S Sport Edition unmasked

An image of Porsche's upcoming Cayman S Sport Edition -- a low-volume high-po model due to debut later this year -- has leaked out ahead of schedule and has since been doing the rounds on various websites.

The S Sport Edition is essentially conceived as a final hurrah for the current Cayman before an updated model debuts next year but, as yet, Porsche has not officially revealed any pics or info relating to the car.

The new Cayman flagship follows in the wake of Boxster S Sport Edition and -- in the same vein -- scores a host of tweaks to boost both performance and visual appeal.

Power from the 3.4-litre flat-six is reportedly hiked marginally from 217kW to 223kW, and the mild power boost is complemented by a stiffer suspension set-up that lowers ride height by 10mm.

The limited-run Cayman also sports bigger brakes, blacked-out multi-spoke rims and mirrors and a two-tone colour scheme that mimics the lauded 911 GT3.

It will reportedly command a 10 per cent price premium over the garden-variety Cayman S, which suggests it will cost around $165K in our market.

The upgrades should bolster the appeal of what is already regarded as a sublimely balanced driver's car. It should also lift its performance capabilities closer (but not too close) to the pricier, recently revamped 911 Carrera (more here).

The Cayman launched here in 2006, and has received favourable reviews from the press, but it was still the least popular Porsche model last year, accounting for just 148 out of a total of 1380 sales in 2007.

The evergreen 911 was the biggest seller (522 sales) in 2007, closely followed by the Cayenne (495). The Boxster was a distant third with 215 sales.

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