It's Official..Cayman R
 

Cayman R Stuttgart. The Porsche alphabet reserves the letter R for very special sports cars: R for responsive and refined – but most especially for racy. The new Cayman R combines all these attributes without compromise. 55 kilograms (121 lb) lighter and with ten horsepower more than the Cayman S, the new mid-engine coupé from Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is designed for spectacular road behaviour. With its specially adapted sports chassis, it provides an even more precise driving experience than the Cayman S. The Cayman R makes its world debut today at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

.The new mid-engine coupé is powered by a tuned-up 3.4-litre six-cylinder engine developing 330 hp (243 kW). In the standard configuration it transmits its power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox that propels the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.0 seconds. Or there is the option of the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) that reduces its acceleration time to 4.9 seconds. For even more impressive sprinting performance, the Cayman R can be supplied with one of the optional Sport Chrono packages, taking it to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.7 seconds. The new mid-engine coupé is capable of a top speed of 282 km/h (175 mph) with manual gearbox, or 280 km/h (174 mph) with PDK. Its NEDC fuel consumption is 9.7 l/100 km (29.12 mpg imp.) with six-speed gearbox and 9.3 l/100 km (30.37 mpg imp.) with PDK. The main aim during the design of the Cayman R was to improve the two-seater even further in its performance, driving dynamics and agility through consistent weight reduction. With a DIN unladen weight of just 1,295 kilograms (2855 lb) the Porsche engineers were able to reduce the power-to-weight ratio of the coupé with standard manual gearbox to 3.9 kilograms (8.6 lb) per horsepower, with the PDK version weighing 4.0 kilograms (8.8 lb) per horsepower. The largest savings were achieved through the use of lightweight components and doing without convenience equipment. As for the 911 GT3/GT3 RS and Boxster Spyder, an optional lithium-ion lightweight construction battery is also available. In addition, the top model in the mid-engine coupé is equipped with the lightest 19 inch wheels the entire Porsche range can offer. The complete rim set weighs less than 40 kilograms.

The Cayman R's purpose and purist character can be seen at first glance. The extended silhouette of the bodywork, which has been lowered by 20 millimetres (0.79 in) compared to the Cayman S, combined with the distinctive fixed rear spoiler, the high-quality silver-painted wheels and numerous sporting highlights on both the interior and exterior, ensures an individual appearance. The black-framed headlights, black exterior mirrors and the "PORSCHE" lettering on the side – in contrasting black or silver, depending on the body colour – take design cues from classic Porsche racing cars.

Precisely this lettering was the trademark of the first Porsche with the "R" designation, the 911 R of 1967. It was created for racing sport use in a small series of 19 cars. The "R" was a prototype based on the standard coupé with a 210 horsepower Carrera 6 engine and, thanks to its many plastic components and extremely sparse equipment, weighed only 830 kilograms (1830 lb).

Told you so :thumbup:

Webspecial here:
http://www.porsche.com/microsite/cayman-r/usa.aspx

Looks nice.
Is it lighter or the same vs spyder?

And no clubsport version with cage, I thought they would offer that.

And who writes the brochures for Porsche nowadays??
" Are you already looking for a cupholder for your coffee? Don’t bother. You won’t be needing caffeine anyway.No air conditioning system either. That’s right. Why? The weight saving of 26 lbs (12 kg) speaks for itself. By preserving the windshield with grey top-tint, however, we have made one minor concession."

: )

I'm all for more higher performing models, but it is basically the Cayman version of the Spyder. Not sure if it deserves the "R" model name...

Love the new color...otherwise disappointed with the "improvements". We all know they could make this car much much better. Oh well...not for me...but maybe for my wife? Hmmm.

It definitely doesn't deserve an "R". It comes nowhere near what the 911 GT3 "R" is.

Spyder: 2811 lbs
Cayman R: 2855 lbs

Given the Cayman only saves 10 lbs on a Boxster and the Spyder had more potential weight to lose given the loss of the motorized roof, the Spyder was likely to weigh less than the Cayman R.

No CLs:

That's a good thing!

I was expecting/hoping for a lightweight hatch and rear window.

Looks pretty cool, but when Porsche has to work hard to keep it from outperforming any 911 variant, what's the point?

Total weight savings of 121 lbs (55 kg)

Alum doors -33 lbs (15 kg)
A/C delete -26 lbs (12 kg)
Seats -26 lbs (12 kg)
Wheels weigh 88 lbs (40 kg) total, the 19” Carrerra S wheels weight in at 100 lbs so let’s say it’s a savings of -12 lbs (6 kg)

Not sure where the other -22 lbs (10 kg) came from, stereo and speakers, cup holders? Or are they including the optional lithium-ion lightweight battery or PCCB’s in the weight loss program?

Yup, just another parts bin special!

This is what I have from the Boxster Spyder:

GT2 seats: -26.5 lbs
wheels: -11 lbs
AC Delete: -28.7 lbs
Radio Delete (7 lbs), smaller standard battery (41.2 to 35 lbs): -13.2 lbs
smaller fuel tank (-15.4 lbs of fuel): 0 savings for comparison purposes
Aluminium doors: -33.1 lbs
RS door panels: -2.2 lbs
Total savings: 114.7 lbs

The remaining 6 lbs probably come from removing the motors for the rear spoiler as the Cayman R uses a fixed spoiler.

With the manual roof and aluminum rear deck, the Boxster Spyder saved an additional 46.3 lbs.

not special enough, just another pay-more-for-less Porsche model.

Unless you are buying a Cayman R strictly for the track or dislike roadsters, the Spyder is a better value and I think a better looking car as well.

Reminder that you can tune to the live broadcast of the Cayman R press conference by Porsche at the LA Auto Show today a 10:55 AM, Pacific Time, about one hour from now. z356

Cayman R Livestream

Totally agree. The Spyder is a much more compelling and unique car, given the CGT humps and funky top, and a better value. I now have 7,500 miles on my Spyder and I am loving it more and more.

quite disappointing, only 10 hp improvement, and that could be because they removed the A/C...

Per the just completed LA Auto press conference, it is going to be a MY2011!!!! That is another negative. z356

Looks like your correct. Smaller gas tank from 65l to 55l.
I'd rather have the larger tank and a/c and stereo.

Why is that a negative? It's coming in Spring 2011 - having it called 2012 is going to carry more retained value than a 2011 right before the 2012's come out..

Sad this is the best porsche could do. Pathetic really. Why even bother? Spyder FTW.

agree - the spyder is much better proposition.
the cayman has been restrained again. that is the fundamental issue....always has been.

I'm somewhat disappointed. Porsche could have done so much more, so easily.

But for my intended use as a daily driver, it may still be fine. It is still more focused than a standard Cayman S. It really depends on pricing and what that price buys me, now.

Not even that...I doubt engineering money went into a 3% power increase. The Cayman 3.4 has probably been consistently putting out 330hp all along...

Ha! What a joke! C'mon Porsche, are you really not compromising the possibilities of the Cayman?!?!?! Is this as "racy" as a stock Cayman can get?!?!?! :grr:

yes, it is a joke. it's actually an insult.

Price has been released:

2011 Cayman R: $66,300
2011 Cayman S: $61,500

Actually, the Cayman R is a good value, and it doesn't make sense to buy a Cayman S anymore.

Essentially, a Cayman S + Carbon Seats + 19" Boxster Spyder wheels exceeds the $66,300 price of the Cayman R.

Agreed, though I'm hoping (at least) for some Alcantara trim in the base price, since the HIDs and A/C are extra cost, now.

Make it 100K, 3.8 Gt1 motor, no options, all alcantera, add front facia and real spoiler and all the rest should be options to delete or add anything..

we can all dream - reality is, porsche is a commercial outfit. they have to delve underground to satisfy us crazies on here. hahahahaa

who wants to take bets the RS LE will be named GT3R?

that is a scary thought. or rs - r

As long as it's not called GTR im fine with it :evilgrin:

Originally Posted by Z356 "Per the just completed LA Auto press conference, it is going to be a MY2011!!!! That is another negative. z356"

Grant: I agree. "Having it called a 2012 is (indeed) going to carry more retained value than a 2011!" But they are not calling this Cayman R a MY2012. They are calling it a MY2011. That is the negative. In less than six months, there will be a MY2012 model which will be more valuable, in resale, financing, leasing, etc. Contrast that with the Boxster Spyder. Exactly one year ago, at the same LA Auto Show in November of 2009, they introduced the MY2011 Boxster Spyder. First delivered in March of 2010. Still in production today and will be until the summer of 2011. That was the 'positive' for those that bought this car 'early'. z356

Sorry, I misunderstood...

Like the wheels, clean simple n sporty :)

The press release says "2012 Porsche Cayman R Makes World Debut at Los Angeles Auto Show"

1. nice try, they wont do it :(
2. u still wont fit. they you'll be very pissed when i blow by you in the 3.8GT1 no option all alcantara cayman R :icon107:

if one must buy a cay s, then cay r is better value as NJGT suggested.
but if i were choosing b/n cay r and spyder, i take spyder. more differentiated than box s and more fun with top down in N Cal.

what really disappoints is that PAG is pimping out the "R" nomenclature. when is the pepper RS coming? or panamera R limited edition?

the could have done so much to cay r and sell it for 80-90k. but no.... let's just throw parts together and put a badge there.

werd.

Steve: I sincerely hope so but I heard the term '2011 Cayman R' from one of the presenters at the 'live' telecast this morning. It would make sense that it is a MY2012. I am coming down from Carmel on Friday to see it in person. Hopefully, what model year this Cayman R actually is will be sorted out by then. Are you still interested in this model for purchase? z356

They should stop right there. Yes, "R" could denote responsive and refined, but hell, by no means does it pertain to a 3000lb flubbery street car. But let's stop there.Damn ... they just couldn't quit while they were ahead, could they? Seriously?! 10hp? And puerile vocabulary? "Racy?" Good grief.And if you pay the premium, Porsche will apply the "golden screwdriver" and heal the car of its factory crippleware. This is just offensive crap! It is as if a mass market vendor was trying to take the Porsche back to its VW Beetle origins and extract every penny from the Porsche brand value before throwing it on the trash heap of slain heroes including Bugatti and Lamborghini and Audi and ... oh dear.

Not impressed with the car or the website!:( I remember the days when Porsches came in 1600 normal and 1600S, cab or coupe! Live was so simple then.

simple is good.
make it light and simple
you dont like it? go somewhere else, buy a cadillac.
but no..... PROFIT rules.....
i give up.

Oh Porsche no no no. Why would you do this to us?! Why do yo let the marketing department rape and pillage your wonderful history and devalue the most important model names you have left? This car should be called the Club Sport not the bloody R. NOT THE R, NOT THE R! CLUB SPORT.

I'm actually very angry about this. This is what an R should be, the ultimate lightweight philosophy not a slightly warmer run out sales booster:


843kg wet and 217bhp:
http://www.gmundcars.com/cars/612/911r.html

http://www.early911.co.uk/historic/html/911r.html

To quote my dear old friend and former employer from 48 years ago, Vasek Polack;
“Porsches are like children, there are no bad ones”. I wonder what he would say about the “R? I’ll take my next Porsche as a 2600 pound 500HP GT3 narrow body thank you!:crying:

The 2011 date may have been stressed to make sure the public knew it was available now - marketing runs (ruins?) everything.

Yes, I'm still interested. I agree with all the posts (devaluing R nomenclature, what it could have been, model year, Spyder being more special, etc), but since I'm considering this car as replacement for my daily driver 01 Boxster S, my desires/goals for it are somewhat different from most on this list.

It will come down to what my $ will buy me. I always like the Cayman S, but could never justify the $85K (6spd, performance options only!) that the configurator came up with. The R fixes some things I didn't like, adds some options that Porsche wanted to nickel & dime me for.. hopefully it will make the dollar/content ratio palatable.

I'll be there on Saturday. Please let me know what you think after seeing it.

There is no way they're going to put a 3.8L GT1 motor in a Cayman, then there would be no reason for buying a GT3 or RS... GT3 and RS sales would drop by 95% instantly

I vote for 996 mk1 3.6L GT3 engine with 360-365hp. High revving, light, and there is a significant difference between the power of Cayman and GT3. This way you can justify the price difference between the two cars. :cheers:

+1! A 3.6L GT1 engine would be a killer for these cars :evilgrin:

It's just a Cayman S with Aerokit, ECU remap, buckets, and Spyder wheels... Such a disappointment. :(

I dunno, lots of 6'4" + GT3 drivers out there....But I see your point, still if they must dumb it down, like you said it should have been the 3.6 Gt1.

Did anyone notice what tires it comes with? R-compounds?
Thanks!

Even though Porsche could have done more, did they did reduce weight and increase power (as compared to the *regular* Cayman). That is a good thing. And the suspension (20mm lower, no PASM), if the same as on the Boxster Spyder, is a killer set-up. So, the car will be a blast to drive (no doubt) and it will be a handling demon. But, again, I will take a Boxster Spyder over the Cayman R every time. I think Clarkson (Top Gear) pointed out a while back that the slotting of the Boxster, Cayman and 911 (power and price-wise) is just too obvious or neat, and it makes you wonder what the P engineers could do with the Boxster/Cayman platform if they were truly unleashed.

Someone please unleash the Cayman!

I like it. But it should be called Cayman and the Spyder should be called the Boxster. Period.

The R and the Spyder represent the Porsche philosophy and brand very well as entry level sport cars (light, minimalist and tuned). They shouldn't be "special" models (the regular and S versions of the Cayman and Boxster should be retired). And using R in the name is utterly disrespectful to the company's roots.

^^^
Tru Dat!

I think it a great value at less than $70K. Yes, it may not deserve the R designation, but on a tight technical track, stock vs stock, on similar tires, most GT3 drivers will be checking their mirrors.

I suspect every Cayman R sold will canibalize a 997 sale. If they had made the Cayman R any better, say with a 3.6L and further weight reduction, this problem would only worsen. I'm sure they'll make money on each CR, but not as much as they would have on each 997. Hence the relatively mild treatment.

Don't you think some potential Cayman (S) or non-Porsche shoppers (BMW, Audi, Mustang, etc.) would be upsold too?

no, i disagree.
they did this when 944T was cheaper and faster than 911.
what i am saying is dumb down carerra, upgrade cayman, make cay faster than 911 but more $$$ than 911. this will slowly migrate customers to a different platform. 911 can cont. to evolve but how much more? when ferrari's put out 600hp from amidship, how will rear engine compute? tire wear and such......

if they developed cay s and consistently win lemans year after year, then cay will destroy 911 sales for good, AND allow porsche to move to a new platform with arguably unlimited potential.. yes, i also think the rear suspension could be changed on cayman. heck in fact, even the front suspension needs work, double wishbone baby.

Now there is a saying I havn't heard in about 40 years! That was one my fathers favorites!!

What I meant to say above was that with the Cayman R's standard equipment and price, it really erodes the value proposition of the base 997.2 for everyone except folks who need the back seats. If you were to try to equip a base 997.2 similarly to the CR (buckets, LSD, -20mm suspension, 19s, painted interior bits, etc) you get to $90k MSRP for a car that is alot heavier and only has 15hp more compared the CR which is at $70k. So, if someone wants a NEW P-car under $100k, and they don't need back seats, the CR is actually a $20k "steal" compared to the base 997. This problem would have been worse if they had made the CR better (even if doing so used up some of that $20k headroom).

Seperately, the Carrera will always have a lock on the p-car buyer who needs occasional-use back seats (and there are a lot of those folks).

And you're right, the CR will probably also steal some buyer from other brands too... lotus perhaps? Maybe some BMW M cars too. I shouldn't have used the word "every" in my post.

+1
As it is, most 911s have been sold on image/prestige and reliability/drivabilty (versus other top-tier sports/exotic cars). From what I've read, prior to PDK availability, more Turbo Tips (a terrible automatic) were sold than Turbo manuals. Even now, many 911 buyers are not happy with GT3-levels of 'refinement' (NVH).

Getting past these issues is a lot easier when the product isn't $100K. And it isn't like Panamera and Cayenne aren't stealing sales from less sporty 911s, even though they both increase the marque's penetration.

I got an email last night from a friend who attended Wednesday night's Porsche party at the LA Auto Show. He sent me a photo of the MSRP info display in front of the world premiere Peridot Metallic Cayman R that reads "MY2012", not MY2011. I sent that photo to my dealer and this morning PCNA confirmed to him that the Cayman R will be a MY2012, not a MY2011. MY dealer will be able to 'custom order' MY2012 Cayman R for his customers starting with the next allocation batch he will get from PCNA in January.

So that means (I believe) we will see current Boxster/Cayman platform continue 'as is' for MY2012. And that might mean we will also see a MY2012 Boxster Spyder too. Because of this new information (Cayman R will be a MY2012), I believe we can expect to see the new Boxster/Cayman platform as a MY2013 (not a MY2012) that will probably be announced late in 2011 and produced/delivered starting in spring of 2012 an an 'early' model introduction. z356 (Montecito/Santa Barbara on way to LA Auto Show)

I'm not sure if that is a good assumption. It is common for Porsche to offer old and new generations in the same model year (i.e. 2005 996 GT3 and Turbo S at same time as 2005 997 Carrera).

quickxotica.
i got it now.
yes, cay is quite the bargain comparde to 997's if rear seats aren't needed.

but i wont torture my kids with 997 back seats ;0-)

Cayman R can now be built on P-car website, & amazingly the Peridot metallic is not an upcharge (not that I like it, should have offered it in a unique non-metallic color)...but adding weight with A/C will cost ya' $1760.

that's like a chatreuse green.

The weight savings isn't bad...but 10hp more...really? That's only a 3% increase, totally irrelevant. It's an insult to people who know anything about power to brag about that. How about let's try to (at very minimum) meet the 100hp/litre mark...and make it a 3.8L. Then we'd have something to talk about. I'm sure many of us are tired of the so-called need to keep the Cayman slower than the 911.

What shall we talk about now? The existence of a Porsche SUV? The styling of the back end of the Panamera?

The Cayman R is a momentum car...the increased speed is in the "incredible" suspension. Most won't even approach its limits never mind the HP!

Spend some money on PSDS and learn how to use the momentum, it is cheaper than Porsche HP.

Color comparision to chartruese..

.....and +.2L and +50hp and -200lbs..... = :burnout:

That would all seem very good and do-able, except Porsche has nothing in the parts bin to shed 200lbs off the 3.8 RS.

15" wheels and the rear brakes of an old 911 might be a good start :D

Now that's funny!!

Chris Harris' opinion on the Cayman R, as posted here on 11/17. Emphasis in bold is my editing:

"In 1967 Porsche built its first dedicated racing car based on the 911, it was called the ‘R’ for ‘rennen’, or ‘racing’. To homolgate the machine for the GT class required a production run of 500 vehicles, and that wasn’t possible so the car was built as a prototype.

1967 911R. 210bhp, 830kg. 24 built.

The bodyshell was made by Karl Bauer and featured GRP front wings, bonnet, boot lid and bumpers. Even the dashboard had plastic elements. The side glass was replaced with Perspex and the rear window was 2mm thick plastic. The doors were aluminium and everything that could have a hole drilled in it to make it lighter did, like the floor.

By the time they’d finished stripping the kilos away, the car weighed 830kg. And that included the most spectacular motor ever fitted to a 911: the Carrera 6’s 2-litre flat 6.

Using titanium rods and running in eight bearings, surrounded by magnesium cases it produced 210bhp at 8000rpm and sounded, indeed still sounds, about as good as any engine ever made. Do the maths for yourself on this one: in 1967 the 911R had a power to weight ratio of 254bhp per tonne: nothing else came close. When people talk about the 2.7RS being the true lightweight, they are sadly mistaken –it’s an S-Class next to one of these. 24 were built.

Imagine Porsche taking a GT3 RS, re-shelling it in carbon, adding a Carrera GT motor and entering it into Le Mans and you have an idea of the scale of the changes.

The 911 R was, and is, the most extreme representation of the Porsche 911 ever to wear number plates, this is why the ‘R’ moniker has been used so sparingly by Porsche. Occasionally a full-house race car will warrant it, to show the level of upgrade it represents over the previous machine, like this year’s GT3 R which is an altogether more serious package than a GT3 Cup.

But now, after 43 years absence, Porsche has decided to use this hallowed badge on a street car once again.

The Cayman R: a Cayman S with another 10bhp, that weighs 55kg less than a Cayman S. That’s it.

I have lost the will to write anything more on the subject, even though it'll probably be a decent drive."

My feelings as well!!:banghead:

Word. Some historical perspective as provided by Mr. Harris, Pete from ExcMag, & others definitely helps to show the folly in Porsche naming this car the Cayman "R".

So if anyone was wondering "what's in a name?", now you know :(