Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is an electronic damping control system. Optional on the Cayman S, it offers continuous adjustment of the damping force at all four corners of the car.

The damping rates are adjusted throughout each journey based on current road conditions and driving style. Agility and driving pleasure are significantly enhanced while retaining the car’s natural ride quality. Equipped with PASM, the car rides 0.39 inches lower than with the standard steel-sprung suspension.

During each journey, the driver can choose one of two setup modes: ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport.' While the 'Normal' setting balances performance with comfort, the ‘Sport’ settings are generally much firmer, enabling greater agility on the racetrack. In either mode, the system responds to changing road conditions and driving style by applying the optimum damping rate on each individual wheel.

The rates are selected from a range of map options, which are specially adapted to the unique dynamics of the Cayman S.

The movement of the body is continuously monitored under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. Other sensors provide additional information on lateral acceleration, steering angle, brake pressure and engine torque. A dedicated control unit provides real-time analysis and damper adjustment as defined for the respective setup mode (‘Normal’ or ‘Sport’). The result: greater stability and more consistent occupant comfort.

If, when ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the quality of road surface drops below a certain threshold, the system immediately switches to a softer rating and restores the car’s traction and grip. When the road surface improves, PASM returns to the original, harder rating. The system remains active in ‘Normal’ mode, too, automatically switching to a harder rating if the car is driven more assertively. As the dampers become stiffer, the car becomes more stable and driver control is improved.