2015 Porsche Cayman

New for 2015

The Cayman was significantly updated for the 2014 model year, so the only major change for 2015 is the addition of a new GTS model.

Luxury and Performance Personified

The Porsche Cayman is a car automotive journalists love and makers of similar products hate. It’s one of those cars that performs its intended purpose so well that its name is almost a generic term for the category.

There’s a reason for that. The 2015 Cayman combines performance and luxury in a way that’s hard to argue with, and makes it worthy of the Porsche badge on its bonnet.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2015 Porsche Cayman is offered with a choice of three powertrains, all of which should give you a thrill. As a mid-engine car, you’ll get great handling, balance, and performance.

The base Cayman features a 2.7-liter flat-six that produces 275 horsepower and 213 pound-feet of torque. As with all Cayman models, it drives the rear wheels and is offered with either a six-speed manual transmission or Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic.

The Cayman will do 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds with the manual and reach a top speed of 165 mph, or 5.3 seconds (5.1 in Sport Mode) and 164 mph with the PDK. EPA fuel-economy ratings are 24 mpg combined (20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway) with the manual,* and 26 mpg combined (22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway) with the PDK.*

Next up is the Cayman S, which gets a 3.4-liter flat-six producing 325 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. That gets it from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 175 mph with the manual transmission, or 4.6 seconds (4.4 in Sport Mode) and 174 mph with the PDK.

Cayman S fuel economy is 23 mpg combined (20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway) with the manual,* and 24 mpg combined (21 mpg city, 30 mpg highway) with the automated PDK.*

A new addition to the Cayman lineup for 2015 is the GTS. In Porsche parlance, those three letters generally signify a model that’s sportier than what came before, without being too extreme.

That’s the case here. Along with uprated suspension and other tweaks, the GTS gets a more powerful version of the Cayman S’ 3.4-liter flat-six, with 340 hp and 280 lb-ft. The 0 to 60 mph times fall by 0.1 second with either transmission, while top speeds increase to 177 mph (manual) and 175 mph (PDK).

That extra performance doesn’t come with much of a fuel economy penalty, either. The GTS gets 22 mpg combined (19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway) with the manual,* and 25 mpg combined (22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway) with the PDK.*

Features and Trims

The 2015 Porsche Cayman is only available as a mid-engine, two-door, two-seat coupe, but Porsche also offers the virtually-identical Boxster convertible. As noted above, the three trim levels correspond to the three available powertrains. Prices start at $52,600.**

The base Cayman comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth®, sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The Cayman S adds the biggest engine, an upgraded system, and a few other cosmetic features.

Since this is a Porsche we’re talking about, the list of options is much longer than the list of standard equipment. Items on that long list include performance-enhancing features like carbon-ceramic brakes and the Sport Chrono package, convenience features like Bose® or Burmester surround-sound systems, and lots of options for personalization.

It’s possible to swathe your Cayman in leather, wood, carbon fiber, and Alcantara trim, or coordinate the gauge faces and seat belts to match exterior colors. You can even have the key fob painted the same color as your actual car.

In addition, the Cayman GTS gets a few of its own specific features, including its own 20-inch alloy wheels, front and rear fascias, and Alcantara interior trim. The Sport Exhaust and Porsche Active Suspension Management system are also standard.

Exterior/Interior

The Cayman features crisp and clean exterior styling that takes full advantage of its compact proportions and mid-engine layout; those side air intakes aren’t just for show. With no styling distractions, it’s pretty much the archetypal small hardtop sports car.

The interior is equally clean and purposeful. The standard sport steering wheel and heavily-bolstered bucket seats are perfectly suited to a driver’s car like this, as is the stylish gauge cluster made up of three individual binnacles and tachometer in the center. The sporty driving position is complemented by an inclined center console that puts controls within easy reach.

Safety

Standard safety equipment on the 2015 Porsche Cayman includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, and front, knee, and head and thorax side airbags. A front and rear park-assist system with rearview camera is also available as an option.

Bottom Line

The 2015 Porsche Cayman will likely continue to dominant the small sports-car segment with its sporty character, handsome styling, and long list of available equipment.

For more information, or to schedule an exhilarating test drive, please visit Porsche Silver Spring or contact us online today.

*EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary depending on driving conditions and habits.

**MSRP excludes any government fees or taxes, titling and registration fees, any finance charges, fees, or taxes.

Image: Porsche (European model shown)