Thursday, July 12, 2012

A lighter, more powerful Porsche (bleep)-ster - The Cayman R

This is the first time Porsche made a model that has the letter R on it. R for responsive and refined - but most especially for racy. Introduced at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Cayman R comes with the new body kit, new 19 inch lightweight wheels, lighter aluminium doors, lighter bucket seats, and with the removal of the radio, storage compartments, air-conditioners and door handles, it weighs 54.8 kilograms lighter than a Cayman S. Of course, a radio or aircon maybe considered options.

If it's colored lime, it feels like playing Fruit Ninja

Powered by a 3.4L B6 Direct Fuel Injection engine, this produces 330 hp (246 kW) of power and it can do 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds, and with the optional 7-speed PDK dual clutch transmission and the Sport Chrono package, it can achieve 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Cayman R 6MT's top speed is 175mph while Cayman R PDK's top speed is 174mph.

Fruit Ninja-like reflexes

This car showed up in a drag race part of Top Gear's BMW 1M Coupe review alongside the Lotus Evora S and sadly, both the Cayman and the Evora lost the race against the 1M.

Getting shot by the goons?

It was also appeared on Top Gear's 2011 DVD, Top Gear at the Movies, where Richard Hammond drives the Cayman R alongside the BMW 1M in a challenge where these cars must avoid gunfire at all places. Due to spinning, the Porsche Cayman R sustained more damage than the BMW 1M.

Sure, this stripped-out version of the Cayman R may not have the luxury features from the standard Cayman but it handles brilliantly. Not too mild, not too dynamic, just a standard handling even though this is a midship Porsche, making it a decent weapon of choice for Forza players who want a better handling lightweight car but it takes skill to master this curve-cutting knife on the edge. I can't deny that even though it not as good as the BMW 1M, the Porsche Cayman R loves to slice various corners like a fruit ninja.


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