Porsche 718 Cayman tested in Black Forest

Porsche is likely to impress young Arab drivers with this newly developed 718 Cayman. 
This entry-level Porsche is cheaper than a 911 but carries plenty of charisma and loads of power and torque. 
For this class of sports cars, there are hardly any rivals that can beat the Cayman package.
Porsche continued the shift toward smaller turbo-charged engines and this is highlighted in the latest 718 Cayman which acquires a four-cylinder flat 2.0 liter turbo instead of the flat six 2.7 liter. 
Amazingly, the 2.0 liter turbo is more powerful than the previous naturally aspirated 2.7 liter engine and produces nearly 300 bhp compared to 271 bhp from the old engine. 
The new 718 is more agile, faster and more efficient.
The newly developed engine has innovative turbocharging, as well as substantial torque increase of 35 percent to 380 Newton meters. 
The 718 Cayman S boasts 2.5 liters of engine displacement, 350bhp and maximum torque of 420 Nm. 
It also features a turbocharger with Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG). 
When equipped with the optional, seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) and Sport Chrono Package, the 718 Cayman sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, while the S-version achieves the same in 4.2 seconds. 
The top speed for the base model is 275 km/h; its S sibling tops out at 285 km/h. All test cars had the PDK and Sports Chrono packages. 
The base models have six-speed manual transmission as standard.
The four-cylinder engine with PDK gearbox in the Cayman now uses 6.9 liters for every 100 km, while the Cayman S with the same set-up consumes just 7.3 l/100 km.

Test drive
Both versions were put to the test in the Black Forest, near Stuttgart, in Germany over a two-day program of driving. 
The test drive put to rest any doubt that the famous flat six engines are irreplaceable. Some of the old clout and soundtrack are gone but increased power and torque more than make up for it. 
Driving the 718 is fun. The driver feels the effortless surge of power and notices the absence of any turbo lag. 
The base model has sufficient pull with power ratio even more impressive than the S (296 bhp from a 2.0 liter compared to 350 bhp from a 2.5 liter). 
But for those who crave more power the S version is the one to go for.
Clever touches to the outside design added dynamic looks and stylish well-proportioned shape. 
The company says only the luggage compartment lid, roof and windscreen have been left unchanged. 
The front of the coupe has a more sculptured form giving a wider and muscular appearance.
The Cayman range also features a new sport steering wheel (taken from the 918 Spyder), which when combined with the optional Sport Chrono Package, features a driving program switch, consisting of a rotary ring with four positions. 
It enables drivers to select a driving mode, such as: “Normal”, “Sport”, “Sport Plus” and “Individual”. 
In combination with PDK transmission the mode switch presents an additional option, the “Sport Response Button”. 
When activated the drivetrain is pre-conditioned for maximum acceleration for 20 seconds, a feature that is particularly effective for overtaking maneuvers. 
The 718s come well-equipped with mobile phone and audio interface and a good sound package of 150 watts power. 
The Cayman can be more customized to personal preferences with additional assistance systems. 
The optional cruise control system can now also brake moderately when the pre-set speed is exceeded, such as when driving downhill. 
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC, option) now has a coasting function in conjunction with the PDK transmission. 
When driving in a queue of vehicles the clutches are disengaged, thus saving fuel with unpowered coasting. 
The optional lane departure warning assistant monitors traffic behind with radar and uses LED lamps in the left and right of the mirror triangles to warn the driver about approaching vehicles in blind spots.
Navigation system is available as an option. 
It has voice control that makes input of driving destinations easy. 
It also has an improved map display and can show maps two-dimensionally or in perspective. 
Three-dimensional representations are also possible in selected regions. 
The module includes free map updates within the first three years in certain countries. 
The Connect Plus module is available as an extension of the navigation module. 
It enables simple interfacing of a smartphone to the PCM and the use of online functions such as real-time traffic information, wireless Internet access for Wi-Fi devices and an LTE telephone module.
When styling the 718 Cayman, the designers found a rich source of inspiration in the history of Porsche. 
Among the automotive predecessors of the 718 Cayman are the legendary mid-engine race cars such as types 550 Coupe (1953), 718 GTR Coupe (1962) and 904 Carrera GTS (1963). Their typical Porsche shapes and proportions live on in the 718 Cayman. 
Yet the more recent history has also influenced the design, as a glimpse at the high-performance Carrera GT sports car built from 2004 to 2006 shows. 
All of the above vehicles have contributed their genetic sequences to the gene pool of the new 718. 
The 718 and 718 S are fun and easy to drive (less so in traffic or in convoys). 
They have power, flair and character and are likely to attract a great deal of attention in regional Gulf markets. 
It is hard to find a better two-seater in this segment than a Porsche 718 Cayman.

Source: Arab News