Thursday 24th February 2005

Porsche names Boxster coupé

Teaser campaign reveals power output and engine size

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Porsche has launched a teaser campaign for its upcoming Boxster coupé, which has now been officially named the Cayman S. The new two-seater coupé will be based on the Boxster series but will be positioned in terms of performance and price between the Boxster S and the 911 Carrera, said Porsche. Its six-cylinder boxer engine will generate 295bhp at the rear wheels.

Porsche's blurb said that, as well as the characteristics and qualities typical of Porsche, the car "fulfils the demands of Porsche customers in terms of sporting performance, but also in everyday practicality."

Why the name? Porsche said it was taking up a concept from the animal kingdom: the cayman belongs to the crocodile family. Within this group of the world's largest reptiles, the cayman (right) is, however, a relatively small but very nimble athlete. The cayman is acknowledged as a highly specialised hunter with strength and agility, quick reflexes and clear target orientation, a concept that not only embodies this new Porsche sports car, but also the company as a whole.

The heart of the Cayman S is a new 3.4-litre power unit mounted midships in front of the rear axle. Porsche said the mid-engined car features direct and highly responsive steering with very dynamic handling. This new coupe will also be fitted with a class-leading braking system allowing it to generate very high deceleration forces.

In summary, therefore, the combination of supreme power and performance in the Cayman S provides an unprecedented experience on the road: driving pleasure in its purest form.

A full technical specification, price and dates of introduction, will be announced after the official presentation of the Cayman S later in the year.

It's a lot of words for just a name and concept. The company wouldn't even release pictures -- although Autocar released pictures and prices a month ago (see link below).

www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=9705

[squirrelz]

what were they thinking? One little amendment with a marker and it becomes the Gayman S!

[Alex]

Daft name.

[clubsport]

Here is the link to the video from the UK Porsche site, it doesn't tell you anything about the car or show a full image.....totally gratuitous, if you cut the narration out it would be better as an average pop video

http://www2.porsche.com/cayman/pcgb.asp

[Stig]

Lol - I can hear the pub conversation now...


Drunk "So what do you drive"

Hairdresser "Cayman"

Drunk "What did you just call me"



Actually, other than the name thing, it's about the first Porsche that I'd consider buying.

[dinkel]

Just order it debadged . . .

[will_t]

Hello Porsche HOW MUCH !

I think I want one.

Will (not gay or owt)

[iguana]

295bhp@wheels? so a 330-340 bhp rough area area Boxster then?

[v8thunder]

I like it - a bit of purity from Porsche after fiddling with the 911 a bit too much. But Cayman? And I thought naming their off-roader after a variety of pepper was bad enough.

Should've just been Boxster Coupe. I bet most will get debadged.

[shadowninja]

I'm getting deja vu from this thread

v8thunder said:

I like it - a bit of purity from Porsche after fiddling with the 911 a bit too much. But Cayman? And I thought naming their off-roader after a variety of pepper was bad enough. Should've just been Boxster Coupe. I bet most will get debadged.

Can imagine a lot of TVR owners going round and cheekily sticking cardboard badges reading 'Gayman' on debadged cars.

[dinkel]

www.autowereld.com/nieuwsbericht.asp?artikel=1746&pa=&fr=1

http://autotelegraaf.nl/vanonzeredactie/fotopopup.fpl?id=32587

What about Panamera . . .

www.patent.gov.uk/tm/tmj/journals/6561/madrid/834127.html

www.autoweek.nl/forum/read.php?f=13&i=119010&t=119010

http://quicklook.engesat.com.br/quicks/IKIlhas-Cayman-Caribe2004-01-28.jpg

[v8thunder]

I'd have called it the 'Panamerica' or maybe the 'Mille Miglia' in deference to the 550 Coupes that ran in the Carrera Panamerica and the Mille Miglia in the '50s.

[johnny senna]

v8thunder said:

Should've just been Boxster Coupe.

But that wouldn't make sense because Boxster is derived from "roadster" which means convertible obviously.

I would have gone for Porsche GTS.

[hobo]

Not keen on the looks of the standard model, however, think it would look very nice with a turboesque type body kit & spoiler.

[richb]

There was me thinking the Caymans were a couple of islands in the Caribbean? Rich...

[dinkel]

v8thunder said:

I'd have called it the 'Panamerica' . . . in deference to the 550 Coupes that ran in the Carrera Panamerica . . . . in the '50s.

The 50s, that's too far back for Porsche.

What about Porsche Carrot, Garlic, Lavender, Ginseng

[squirrelz]

To me the word Cayman makes me think of the Cayman Islands and dodgy offshore financial dealings. I think overall, its a bad choice of name for what is probably quite an accomplished car.

[chickensoup]

Sounds good to me, if I bought the wife matching cayman skin handbag & shoes it could go down a storm

[v8thunder]

johnny senna said:

v8thunder said: Should've just been Boxster Coupe. But that wouldn't make sense because Boxster is derived from "roadster" which means convertible obviously. I would have gone for Porsche GTS.

'Boxster' was derived from 'Boxer' (the engine) and 'Speedster' (the mid-engined Porsches of the '50s that inspired it). The Speedsters included not only the 356 Speedster (only a convertible), but the 550 Speedsters, which is what it's quite clearly inspired by, that also came as hardtop coupes that raced as such in the Mille Miglia and Carrera Panamerica.

In short, 'Boxster Coupe' would make sense. 'Carrera' is associated with 911s so 'Panamerica' would suit it fine (and boost American sales, no doubt).

[B10]

I think they are going for names beginning with the letter C, ie Carrera, Cayenne. Therefore the Boxster name must be changing when a new model arrives.

[nel]

[redacted]