2012 Cayman R
in WhitePorsche just got a little
competition; from well, Porsche. This week, the 2012 Cayman R
landed on our
Virginia
Beach Porsche lot at
Checkered
Flag. The new Cayman R is already turning heads and
causing quite a stir here at the store. Now it's time for you
to get out here and see it for yourself!
With power
and speed to rival all top-of-the-line sport cars, plus extra room and
amenities for the everyday driver, the new 2012 Porsche Cayman R is the
perfect pick for any
Checkered
Flag Porsche enthusiast.
If you are interested in
visiting
Checkered Flag
Porsche to test drive the new Cayman R, or would like more
information on any Porsche model, please call
(757)490-1111.
Review source: [
caranddriver]
History-Wrapped
Lightness
You notice the new Cayman R's aesthetic
distinctions immediately. Porsche plays on the historic racing theme
once again through the use of specific lettering and stripes on the R's
flanks, as well as a fixed rear wing that references the 1967 911R, of
which only 19 were built. The competition often struggles to integrate
history into its sporty offerings, but all Porsche needs to do is add
another letter and a few stripes to send its loyalists into
hysterics.
That, of course, is not all. The Cayman R
has gained 10 hp over its Cayman S sibling-for a total of 330 available
at a lofty 7400 rpm-thanks to a freer-flowing exhaust system. Even more
important, Porsche claims the R sheds a cool 121 pounds, making it one
of the lightest sports cars on the market. How was this accomplished?
The aluminum doors shave off 33 pounds, 26 pounds come from the use of
lighter seat structures, and 11 pounds from new wheels. The rest is in
the details, such as the fabric straps that replace conventional door
pulls and the nonactuated rear wing. If you can do without air
conditioning and a radio, subtract another 26 and seven pounds. The
carbon-ceramic brakes-an $8150 option-will shave off another seven
pounds, and the available lithium-ion starter battery ($1700) is worth
26. These weight-saving measures are much the same as those employed on
this car's open-roofed foil, the Boxster
Spyder.
Zen and the Art of Mid-Engine
Porsches
Like any
Porsche
Cayman, the R imparts an instant sensation of man-machine
harmony as soon as you get behind the wheel. Looking around, we note the
interior is purposeful and clean, if a bit
dated.
The precision with which any throttle, brake,
and steering input is delivered dynamically is virtually unmatched. It's
a sharpness that sets the Cayman R apart from its lesser
siblings.
That's not least thanks to a lower center
of gravity and a modified chassis with a reduced roll-angle gradient.
The aerodynamics are improved as well: Rear-axle lift is reduced 40
percent, front-axle lift has been lowered by 15 percent. The steering is
perfectly weighted, neither light nor artificially heavy. The naturally
aspirated flat-six is supremely responsive and attentive to the
slightest input, a behavior unmatched by any turbocharged engine. At the
limits of adhesion, the Cayman R is remarkably communicative and a
pleasure to handle. It allows the driver to probe those limits fully, as
the stability-control system can be turned off
completely.
In standard configuration, the power is
transmitted to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission
with nicely spaced ratios. Those who prefer not to shift for themselves
might appreciate the fact that the optional seven-speed PDK dual-clutch
automatic (which comes with a 55-pound penalty) has a modified and
sportier shifting strategy in its normal and sport modes. Sport plus,
which Porsche says is strictly for the track but which we appreciate on
open roads as well, remains unchanged. It is our favorite setting as it
doesn't try to interpret the pilot's driving style and therefore is
utterly predictable.
Straight-line performance is impeccable.
At an ungoverned 175 mph and with a predicted 0-to-60-mph time of just
over four seconds, the Cayman R should leave much more powerful cars in
the dust. Acceleration runs are accompanied by an angry blare, although
we'd prefer it to be even more assertive. But it still sounds
great.
The Cayman R is not a compact equivalent of
the radical GT3 RS-you could easily use this car on a long trip-but it
is a better, slightly faster Cayman that remains faithful to the
established formula. True, it and the Boxster Spyder inch uncomfortably
close to the entry-level 911 models. But if any brand can handle a
little internal competition, it's Porsche.
