Porsche gears up for next Cayman

It's no longer possible to order a new 987 Cayman from Porsche Cars Australia. The prestige importer issued a new price list for the local range yesterday, and as the good folk there explained the changes can be summarised as: the inclusion of the Cayenne GTS and an end to a couple of superseded models, including the current (987) Cayman.

It is possible to order the new (981) Boxster off the price list ($107,500 or $133,800 for the Boxster S), which means the new Cayman can't be too far behind. We're expecting retail deliveries of the open-top car to commence during the second half of this year.

In conversation with motoring.com.au, Public Relations Manager for PCA, Paul Ellis wasn't in a position to provide a start date for the new Cayman in Australia, although it naturally follows that the tin-topped Boxster (sharing the same mid/rear-engined layout on the 981 platform) will arrive here a matter of some months after the new Boxster. As far as PCA is concerned, the factory has probably ended production of the 987 at precisely the right time. The Cayman is still selling fairly strongly, but left any longer, sales could begin to slide, as people make the decision to hold off buying in anticipation of the new model.

"People have put two and two together and worked out that the Cayman and the Boxster are quite similar and usually produced quite close together," Ellis acknowledged. "We understand that these things work in cycles with sales."

However, the importer is not pulling the plug on the current Cayman because it doesn't need the expense of 'runout stock' — if such a concept applies to Porsches. It's purely a production-based decision, the Porsche exec insists. He also said that Australia's right-hand drive status wasn't specifically a hindrance to the new Cayman arriving here. Delays in the new car's arrival are more likely to be due to "transport logistics," he revealed.

PCA may choose to delay the local launch of the Cayman if promotional activities for the car will water-down marketing for the new Boxster. So don't be surprised if the new Cayman is launched next year, rather than 2012.

Picture courtesy Carparazzi

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