First some technical jargon on this Cayman. The new Cayman R’s performance lies first with a free flowing exhaust system that allows the all-aluminium flat-six to rev to 7600 rpm. This new Cayman engine is pushing out 330bhp at 7400 rpm. The power of the engine is transmitted via a 7-speed PDK gearbox and 19” (with 295/35 ZR 19 Michelin tyres) wheels try its best to keep it on the drivers intended trajectory. The effect of mashing the throttle is a devastating 0 – 100 km/h time of 4.3 seconds, and you reach 160 km/h (100 mph) in just 10.5 seconds. Top speed is 285 km/h (175 mph).
So what is like on the road? After signing the relevant forms at Auto Performance Cars (Porsche franchisee) we were handed a Porsche key fob that felt like a precision watch under our fingers.
The test car’s indicators blinked like they were calling us as we pressed the key fob to unlock the car. A quick look and the Cayman R looks exactly like its ‘standard’ brother which we test drove some years ago but with a fixed rear tail and some red decals running the length of the car. Chill red 19-inch alloy wheels fill up the large wheel arches. Climb inside and you will see 2 race seats and an Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel. The gearbox surround and the dashboard is colored coded with the cars exterior.
We gingerly leave the car park of the Porsche showroom and make our past heavy traffic until we reach a toll booth. After sliding into the elegant interior of the Cayman R we can’t help but smile like a Cheshire cat at the thought of unleashing this powerhouse on the PLUS highway to Klang. With a posted speed limit of 110km/h we start fiddling with our radar detector to ensure no money will leave our wallets on this drive.
The first 15-20 minutes on the highway at legal speeds was for us to get better acquainted with the Cayman R. With dimensions, braking pressure and power delivery all taken in, we slid the PDK into manual mode and hustled the 3.4-liter flat-six engine to produce its claimed 330-horsepower using the nicely placed steering paddles.
The almost metallic and growling engine screamed up the revolution range at every gear-change peaking at 7,400 rpm on the way to an 8,400 rpm redline as we rowed the 7-speed box to reach 255km/h. Looking at the fast approaching horizon promoted us to ease a little of the accelerator pedal to ensure our life insurance company maintained their operating margins. With the ‘Sport Plus’ button on ‘OFF’ mode, the Cayman R was still pushing hard at every gearchange, but with ‘Sport Plus’ on ‘ON’ mode, the Cayman R took on a different attitude at every gearchange where it was progressively more exciting and with a louder howl at every gearchange upwards.
High speed handling was great as we moved up the speedometer and there was any effort needed to keep her on our designated fast lane. Even in 6th gear at 220km/h, a slight prod on the accelerator dishes out oodles of torque to propel the car forward without any hesitation. It does not stray heavily to the left and right. Instead it is planted and very firm returning good steering feedback.
Porsche Cayman R Specifications
Price: From RM620,000.00
Engine:
Flat-6
Displacement cu in (cc):
3436cc
Power bhp RPM:
330@7600
Torque Nm RPM:
273lb-ft @ 4750
Acceleration 0-100km/h:
4.3secs
Top Speed mph (km/h):
174 (285)
