What Changed for 2008:

• Optional sports folding bucket seats


• New exterior colors


• New upholstery colors


• Service intervals changed

Overview
Building on the successful Boxster roadster platform, Porsche went back to the design books to reengineer the chassis with a steel roof. The result was the Porsche Cayman coupe, introduced as a 2006 model. With half the chassis flex of the open-top Boxster and sharing the identical powerplant, drivetrain, suspension, and brakes, the 2-seat Cayman offered race-worthy performance to rival the car’s iconic big brother, the 911 Carrera, Porsche says. For 2008, the mid-engine Cayman is offered in two carryover versions with minor option changes, plus a new limited-edition model.

Porsche offers a standard 4-year/50,000-mile limited warranty on the Cayman. A roadside assistance program mirrors the duration of the limited warranty, while a limited corrosion warranty extends a full 10 years, regardless of mileage.

Model Lineup
Porsche is offering several different Cayman models for 2008. The standard production models are the Cayman and Cayman S. Each 2-passenger coupe offers razor-sharp responsiveness and agile handling, according to the manufacturer. While both are considered high-performance sports cars, the Cayman S differentiates itself from the standard model with its larger and more powerful engine, stronger brakes, and more substantial wheels and tires.

Porsche is also offering a special-edition Cayman model this year. To commemorate the launch of the Porsche Design Studio 35 years ago, Porsche has introduced the 2008 Cayman S Porsche Design Edition 1. With a production run limited to just 777 vehicles (only 250 will find their way to North America) and special cosmetic details that pay tribute to the Chronograph 1 (one of the first timepieces from the Porsche Design Studio), consumers are guaranteed a rare and exclusive automobile.

All 2008 Porsche Cayman models feature a long list of standard equipment including power windows and locks, cruise control, and an on-board computer. Option packages include the DVD-based Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system boasting a 5.8-inch color monitor, the upgraded Bose Surround System audio package with 7-channel digital amplifier, and bi-Xenon headlamps. As is customary with Porsche, customers may choose from a long list of optional seats, wheels, upholstery combinations, and exterior colors to customize their Cayman.

Powertrain
Porsche offers the 2008 Cayman with two different engines. Standard in the Cayman is a 2.7-liter, horizontally-opposed 6-cylinder engine rated at 245 hp and 201 lb.-ft. of torque. The standard Cayman is offered with a choice of three different transmissions. The base transmission is a manual 5-speed unit, with a 6-speed manual transmission optional. Consumers may also choose the Tiptronic S, Porsche’s electronically-controlled automatic transmission. With the manual transmission, the Cayman is able to accelerate to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds towards its top speed of 160 mph. The Cayman S features a more powerful 3.4-liter, horizontally-opposed 6-cylinder engine rated at 295 hp and 251 lb.-ft. of torque. The Cayman S is available with a 6-speed manual transmission, or the Tiptronic S electronically-controlled automatic transmission. In manual transmission trim, the Cayman S accelerates to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds towards its top speed of 171 mph. EPA fuel economy ratings for 2008 range from 19 mpg city/29 mpg highway for the standard Cayman, to 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway for the Cayman S models.

The Cayman engines are all-aluminum, water-cooled, and mounted in the middle of the chassis (mid-mounted) for optimal handling and balance, Porsche says. The suspension on both models is independent front and rear with McPherson struts and twin-tube gas-filled shock absorbers. On vehicles equipped with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), the shock absorbers are actively controlled. The brakes on the Cayman are 4-wheel discs, featuring 4-piston aluminum monobloc calipers with cross-drilled inner-ventilated brake rotors. The Cayman S models feature an upgraded braking system with larger calipers and rotors. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) are standard on all 2008 Porsche Cayman models.

Safety
The 2-seat Porsche Cayman models are built with a lightweight, hot-galvanized, all-steel body shell. In addition to the standard 2-stage frontal air bags, all versions of the Cayman are equipped with 3-point inertia-reel seat belts with belt-latch tensioners and belt-force limiters. The standard Porsche Side Impact Protection (POSIP) system adds torso-protecting thorax side-impact air bags and special head-protecting side-impact air bags that deploy from the windowsills on each door. The Cayman and Cayman S are equipped with Porsche Stability Management (PSM) and a tire-pressuring-monitoring system (TPMS) as standard equipment.

The Porsche Cayman has not been crash tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Technology
Both the 2008 Porsche Cayman and Cayman S are equipped with a non-intrusive stability control system that is specifically designed for performance driving, the automaker says. Porsche Stability Management (PSM) is a computerized system that compares data from an assortment of sensors measuring wheel speed, vehicle speed, and engine speed to help maintain the car's intended path should the car exceed its dynamic limits, Porsche explains. To bring the Cayman back under the driver's control, PSM applies individual brake-force to a slipping wheel. If more intervention is required, PSM works with the engine control module to reduce engine power briefly. To allow the driver more latitude, the PSM is engineered to intervene less at slower speeds and it can be switched off by the driver for track use.