The Porsche 718 Cayman joins the drop-top 718 Boxster with Porsche promising it will “set the class benchmark for driving performance”.

THE PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN has been revealed and follows the recent reveal of its drop-top sibling, the 718 Boxster. Both vehicles now share the iconic 718 name which was worn by race-winning mid-engined four-cylinder Porsches in the 1950s and ‘60s.

The 718 Cayman shares its new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine with the Boxster meaning both vehicles offer identical outputs, and that is 220kW and 380Nm for the Cayman, while the Cayman S runs a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder boxer that makes 257kW and 420Nm. The 718 Cayman with PDK and optional Sport Chrono Package sprints from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds. The 718 Cayman S does it in 4.2 seconds.

The 718 Cayman gets the brake package formerly used on the Cayman S, while the new Cayman S runs a thicker disc and uses the same four-piston caliper from the 911 Carerra.

Porsche claims the new 718 Cayman is the most dynamic yet, promising improved grip and responsiveness; springs and anti-roll bars have been designed to be firmer and the tuning of the shock absorbers has been revised. Steering has also come in for work and is a claimed 10% more direct.

Driving dynamics cost options include the Sport Chrono Package and the Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) electronically-controlled rear limited slip differential. Another cost option is Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with 10mm lower ride height. Additionally, in the S model, PASM sport suspension combined with a 20mm lower ride height is offered for the first time.

The Sport Chrono Package can be adjusted via the mode switch on the steering wheel. Supplementing the previous settings of ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Sport Plus’ is the ‘Individual’ programme, which is able to call up previously programmed individual settings for various systems.

The new 718 Cayman is, design-wise, a step forward from the old car, as you would expect, with the nose now looking much sharper and the profile generally more dynamic. The ultra-slim front lights sit above the air intakes, and house the parking lights and turn indicators. The headlights are now Bi-Xenon with integrated LED daytime running lights. LED headlights with four-point daytime running lights are available as a new option. The tail lights have been re-designed with “three-dimensional styling” and four individual brake lights that appear to float in the housing.

Some elements on the inside are carried over from the old car, with only the upper part of the dashboard and steering wheel new.

No pricing in Australia has been released but it’s expected we’ll follow the rest of the world in offering the coupe for less than the roadster, which mimics the pricing for the 911 range.