18.07.2008
DR has managed to get hold of a leaked internal Porsche presentation detailing the revised Boxster and Cayman.
The document suggests that the ‘second generation’ 987 and C7-series cars will go on sale in February 2009. As you’d expect the aesthetic facelift is subtle (see pics), but under the skin there are some significant upgrades: Both Boxster and Cayman benefit from a new 2.9-litre version of the flat-six, and the 3.4-litre ‘S’ models are now direct-injection – giving significantly more power and lower fuel consumption. PDK is available across all four models.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that a mechanical limited-slip differential is now available on Boxster/S and Cayman/S. Either Porsche is confident that the latest 911 is now out of reach of the Cayman S in terms of lap times or the Cayman S might just be about to upset Carrera owners on trackdays across the world…
Technical Highlights
Boxster
Base Boxster’s engine grows to 2.9-litres from 2.7-litres, with power up from 245PS to 255PS and torque rising from 201lb ft to 214lb ft
Top speed: 163mph (formerly 162mph)
0-62mph in 6.0sec/5.8sec (PDK) – down from 6.1-seconds
7-speed PDK ‘box an option replacing Tiptronic S. Optional Sports Chrono package includes launch control AND the option of a limited-slip differential (LSD)
CO2 emissions: 223g/km – 221g/km (PDK) – down from 227g/km – 242g/km (Tip S)
Boxster S
3.4-litre engine now features Porsche’s DFI direct injection. Power up from 295PS to 310PS and torque rising from 251lb ft to 265lb ft
Top speed 170mph (formerly 169mph)
0-62mph in 5.3sec/ 5.0sec (PDK) – down from 5.4-seconds
7-speed PDK ‘box an option replacing Tiptronic S. Optional Sports Chrono package includes launch control AND the option of a limited-slip differential (LSD)
CO2 emissions: 230g/km – 223g/km(PDK) – down from 254g/km – 262g/km (Tip S)
Cayman
Base Cayman’s engine grows to 2.9-litres from 2.7-litres, with power up from 245PS to 265PS and torque rising from 201lb ft to 221lb ft
Top speed: 163mph (formerly 162mph)
0-62mph: 6.0sec/5.8sec (PDK) – down from 6.1-seconds
7-speed PDK ‘box an option replacing Tiptronic S. Optional Sports Chrono package includes launch control AND the option of a limited-slip differential (LSD)
CO2 emissions: 223g/km – 221g/km (PDK) – down from 227g/km – 242g/km (Tip S)
Cayman S
3.4-litre engine now features Porsche’s DFI direct injection. Power up from 295PS to 320PS and torque rising from 251lb ft to 273lb ft
Top speed: 172mph (formerly 171mph)
0-62mph: 5.2sec/5.0sec (PDK) – down from 5.4-seconds
7-speed PDK ‘box an option replacing Tiptronic S. Optional Sports Chrono package includes launch control AND the option of a limited-slip differential (LSD)
CO2 emissions: 230g/km – 223g/km (PDK) – down from 254g/km – 262g/km (Tip S)
The document also suggests that the prices will only increase by around €1000 across the range. Although this presentation comes from a reliable source Porsche has yet to confirm if the above information is accurate.
About Steve Davies
Steve is a media, venture, and technology advisor and a former Partner at KPMG Consulting, PriceWaterhouse Coopers and Managing Partner at EIM - his clients range from global web and media companies to small start-ups. He formed Drivers Republic (DR) in 2007, the UK's first digital automotive magazine, with a team of EVO and Autocar writers before creating SkiddMark, and also writes as a guest contributor on Unruly Media’s Meme Machine blog and for Econsultancy’s digital marketing blog.
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20 Comments
John H
July 21, 2008Does this mean that the base cars do not get the DFI? What a bummer, as this is the only reason I might have considered changing my existing 2.7 Cayman. Ah well, it takes temptation out of the way I suppose!
John H
July 21, 2008Does this mean that the base cars do not get the DFI? What a bummer, as this is the only reason I might have considered changing my existing 2.7 Cayman. Ah well, it takes temptation out of the way I suppose!
Nickworld
July 21, 2008And the legacy cars just keep getting cheaper… Hurrah!
Nickworld
July 21, 2008And the legacy cars just keep getting cheaper… Hurrah!
Stephen Read
July 26, 2008A bit odd that this appears to indicate that the Caymans are both getting 10PS more than their Boxster siblings but they appear to have identical CO2 figures! Possibly a typo, but we’ll see. Perhaps Porsche is doing something creative to sustain the price premium on the Cayman? I was, perhaps optimistically, hoping that they might use the new model to review that policy…
Stephen Read
July 26, 2008A bit odd that this appears to indicate that the Caymans are both getting 10PS more than their Boxster siblings but they appear to have identical CO2 figures! Possibly a typo, but we’ll see. Perhaps Porsche is doing something creative to sustain the price premium on the Cayman? I was, perhaps optimistically, hoping that they might use the new model to review that policy…
Paul
October 20, 2008Glad to see long overdue improvement on S models but what a shame direct injection not being put on base model, its CO2 almost as high as base Carrera now.
I’m an existing Boxster owner of 7 years and whilst the car is great, the engine is the relative weak point v. its own other attributes and v. its competitors (BMW 3 litre and Merc 3.5 litre engines)
Paul
October 20, 2008Glad to see long overdue improvement on S models but what a shame direct injection not being put on base model, its CO2 almost as high as base Carrera now.
I’m an existing Boxster owner of 7 years and whilst the car is great, the engine is the relative weak point v. its own other attributes and v. its competitors (BMW 3 litre and Merc 3.5 litre engines)
Steve
October 20, 2008Good point Paul, however at least for the S models, if the direct engine in the latest 997.2 is anything to go by then this new Boxster/Cayman engine will be a very good engine indeed.
Driving around in the 997 C2S I was easily averaging 29 mpg and that’s for a car that now is capable of reaching 100mph in a smidge over 9 seconds.
Steve
October 20, 2008Good point Paul, however at least for the S models, if the direct engine in the latest 997.2 is anything to go by then this new Boxster/Cayman engine will be a very good engine indeed.
Driving around in the 997 C2S I was easily averaging 29 mpg and that’s for a car that now is capable of reaching 100mph in a smidge over 9 seconds.
StevenK
October 21, 2008It appears so, I would imagine that they would all have DFI, but maybe this is porsches segmenting at play. The Cayman S looks delicious and finally a LSD!! WOO HOO. even though you could whack one in from a specialist anyway….
StevenK
October 21, 2008It appears so, I would imagine that they would all have DFI, but maybe this is porsches segmenting at play. The Cayman S looks delicious and finally a LSD!! WOO HOO. even though you could whack one in from a specialist anyway….
Paul
October 21, 2008Interesting feedback Steve about your Carrera.
The Cayman S will I’m sure be great (I think the existing one is already very good) and its power to weight ratio not far off the Carrera. If I’ve got it right and assuming the DFI doesn’t add much weight, then isn’t it?:
Cayman S 320 bhp – 1,355 kg = 237 bhp/ton
Carrera 355bhp – 1,415kg = 251 bhp/ton, just 6% more.
But costs about 50% more?!
I’d still love a Carrera if I could afford one ( a new Cayman S would be fantastic too!).
Paul
October 21, 2008Interesting feedback Steve about your Carrera.
The Cayman S will I’m sure be great (I think the existing one is already very good) and its power to weight ratio not far off the Carrera. If I’ve got it right and assuming the DFI doesn’t add much weight, then isn’t it?:
Cayman S 320 bhp – 1,355 kg = 237 bhp/ton
Carrera 355bhp – 1,415kg = 251 bhp/ton, just 6% more.
But costs about 50% more?!
I’d still love a Carrera if I could afford one ( a new Cayman S would be fantastic too!).
Paul
October 21, 2008Correction!!
Apologies for last post, think the Carrera should be 345bhp which gives power/weight of 244bhp/ton.
This is only 3% better than the Cayman S – as the latter handles better generally it may be the faster car in practice?
Paul
October 21, 2008Correction!!
Apologies for last post, think the Carrera should be 345bhp which gives power/weight of 244bhp/ton.
This is only 3% better than the Cayman S – as the latter handles better generally it may be the faster car in practice?
Nitrix
November 1, 2008So the new Caymans will have slightly more BHP than the Boxster equivalent? Is that to justify the extra price of the Cayman??????
Nitrix
November 1, 2008So the new Caymans will have slightly more BHP than the Boxster equivalent? Is that to justify the extra price of the Cayman??????
James
November 10, 2008According to Autoexpress and the latest EVO magazine the new Caymans and Boxers will ALL have the new 2.9 engine. The difference being that the S models will have the DFI added to the 2.9. They claim that the 320bhp estimates are still accurate for the S models, giving them a figure of around 110bhp per ton!
That seems a little excessive to me. That would give the Cayman S a bigger bhp/ton figure than the Carrera S. Just doesn’t sound right. Have Autoexpress/Evo got their facts wrong?
James
November 10, 2008According to Autoexpress and the latest EVO magazine the new Caymans and Boxers will ALL have the new 2.9 engine. The difference being that the S models will have the DFI added to the 2.9. They claim that the 320bhp estimates are still accurate for the S models, giving them a figure of around 110bhp per ton!
That seems a little excessive to me. That would give the Cayman S a bigger bhp/ton figure than the Carrera S. Just doesn’t sound right. Have Autoexpress/Evo got their facts wrong?