Thursday 27th April 2006

Porsche Cayman RS on the way?

Race-ready car seen at the 'Ring

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Is there a Porsche Cayman RS?

There’s a possibility that Porsche is working on a RS version of the Cayman.

While there’ll never be a Turbo version -- it would overlap the 911 -- a lightened Cayman with a rollcage and race-style seats with harnesses has been snapped circulating at -- where else? -- the Nurburgring, according to Autocar. Expect the suspension to be uprated too. It could be badged as either an RS or take the Clubsport name -- Porsche's traditional name for a lightened version of a standard car.

Alternatively, the car could of course be the product of one of the myriad of German Porsche tuners, since Porsche has previously denied that it has plans to make a faster Cayman, reckoning that it would take it too close to the 911 for comfort. Autocar reckons that sales of the Cayman have not been as strong as Porsche hoped so maybe a bit of glitz is required to boost the sales numbers...

[crook]

968 all over again?

[rumplestiltskin]

In the May06 copy of EVO (P20) Wolfgang Durheimer (Head of R & D at Porsche) says a more hardcore or hot Cayman is not likely to happen - the 911 is Porsche's sole motorsport vehicle, making "hardcore" type spin off's of 911's (such as the GT3) quite easy to engineer.

The Cayman doesn't benefit from this making it very expensive to do.

He also says that the main focus at the moment is the Panamera (2009) & the next generation of 911 (which he says will feature a 4ltr engine)

Also no plans for another CGT-type Supercar as Porsche is too busy with the Panamera to divert resources.

R.

>> Edited by rumplestiltskin on Thursday 27th April 11:05

[agoogy]

Bring it on!!!

a bit shoddy but...

www.pumopumo.net/porsche/ archives/2005/12/rs.html

[shoestring7]

I don't think marketing a stripped out CS spec Cayman (or Cayman S) would contradict Durheimer's statement. As in the 968CS they were primarily de-contenting the car to reduce the price point. Neither do I think a Cayman CS at Boxster prices would cannibalise sales.

I'd certainly be in the market as a replacement fom my 968CS.

SS7

[Adam B]

rumplestiltskin said:

The Cayman doesn't benefit from this making it very expensive to do.

how expensive is it to take a car that has already passed all the TUV stuff and remove soundproofing, some toys, some interior fittings and add a tweaked, sportier suspension and plaster some naff CS stickers down the side?

[rumplestiltskin]

"not likely" still can mean it will happen.

R.

[mindgam3]

rumplestiltskin said:

In the May06 copy of EVO (P20) Wolfgang Durheimer (Head of R & D at Porsche) says a more hardcore or hot Cayman is not likely to happen - the 911 is Porsche's sole motorsport vehicle, making "hardcore" type spin off's of 911's (such as the GT3) quite easy to engineer. The Cayman doesn't benefit from this making it very expensive to do. He also says that the main focus at the moment is the Panamera (2009) & the next generation of 911 (which he says will feature a 4ltr engine) Also no plans for another CGT-type Supercar as Porsche is too busy with the Panamera to divert resources. R. >> Edited by rumplestiltskin on Thursday 27th April 11:05

Of course he'll say that so people in the market for a cayman wont wait around for any newer versions.

Virtually all reports say that the cayman could do with a bit more extra power etc.... blatantly its easy for porsche to rip some stuff out n stiffen the suspension etc if thats what they need to do to sell more cars

[mikeyboy]

It may be quite expensive to engineer an RS/CS version of the Cayman for the reasons given but it must be more expensive to undersell the car by a certain number of units (whatever they may be). If they can work out to make up the difference in sales through the CS model then it would make sense for them to spen the cash I would say.

[mr_tony]

Well having been at RUF at the weekend, they alluded to the fact that they have almost completed development of a Cayman based car - therefore it's likely that they'll have been on the ring with it for testing...

What kind of form this RUF special would take is unclear - (e.g. lighened etc) - but engine options are likely to be either the RUF Kompressor (3.8 engine at 435bhp) or a N/A GT3 engine with slightly less.

Either would make for a very intersting drive, and with lightening, a roll cage and a RUF LSD it could be the Cayman to seriously take on the 911...

Just have to wait and see what it costs I guess...

[Geneve]

The 'RS' nomenclature should be reserved for the harder-core 911s.

Any 'Club Sport' derivative should sit between 'road car' and 'RS' - simplified spec, lighter weight, deletion of non-essential items, optimised handling and minor performance enhancements (and ideally lower price).

This formula worked for the 3.2 Club Sport and the 968 Club Sport, two of Porsche's sweetest products.

[mikeyboy]

Geneve said:

The 'RS' nomenclature should be reserved for the harder-core 911s.

erm why? One day they are going to stop making the 911 in anything like its current or past guise. I see a lot of people getting really upset when that happens.

[tonylal]

My buddy on the inside was at a board meeting last week and got these snippets; some is old news but it all came from the horses mouth.
Cayman - no plan for RS but don't discount a clubsport for track day work. They will leave the engine but fit sport chassis, sport shift, roll cage and harness, lightweight panels and hopefully an LSD as this has been the biggest criticism. The 2.7 non S will be announced next week and be specced as per Boxster 2.7 and be £36K base.
911 GT3 announced as £79K. Softer than before with more options. Will have traction control but not the usual psm so the arse will still kick right out. Bucket seats now optional, as is pcm.
911 GT3 RS will be announced at Thruxton Carrera Cup meet on the weekend of 4th June. Hardcore and £14K more than GT3. This time available in Lime green, Red, Silver, Black or White with silver decals.
997 Turbo with sports chrono will have an over boost facility releasing the equivalent of another 50 or so bhp (which is nice) and the Tip S version will be the fastest (which is not nice). Let you know more soon.

[steve rance]

It will be a clubsport not an RS. It's just too much money to develop and there won't be a motor sport spin off.

[shoestring7]

Excellent.

I'd also like to point out that the 968CS was being sold at the same time as the 964RS. No one found that a problem at the time either.

SS7

[Geneve]

tonylal said:

My buddy on the inside was at a board meeting last week and got these snippets; some is old news but it all came from the horses mouth. Cayman - no plan for RS but don't discount a clubsport for track day work. They will leave the engine but fit sport chassis, sport shift, roll cage and harness, lightweight panels and hopefully an LSD as this has been the biggest criticism. The 2.7 non S will be announced next week and be specced as per Boxster 2.7 and be £36K base. 911 GT3 announced as £79K. Softer than before with more options. Will have traction control but not the usual psm so the arse will still kick right out. Bucket seats now optional, as is pcm. 911 GT3 RS will be announced at Thruxton Carrera Cup meet on the weekend of 4th June. Hardcore and £14K more than GT3. This time available in Lime green, Red, Silver, Black or White with silver decals. 997 Turbo with sports chrono will have an over boost facility releasing the equivalent of another 50 or so bhp (which is nice) and the Tip S version will be the fastest (which is not nice). Let you know more soon.

Can you ask your chap 'on the inside' - what is the likely timescale for DSG? This is well overdue.

[steve rance]

shoestring7 said:

Excellent. I'd also like to point out that the 968CS was being sold at the same time as the 964RS. No one found that a problem at the time either. SS7

I agree. A Cayman clubsport will be a good car..

[tonylal]

They have DSG well under way thanks to VW group. The general school of thought is that they want to launch it on a 'halo' model but the amount of power and torque that the big engines produce is causing some headaches. I agree, get it out now on a Cayman, what are they waiting for.

[aerospoke]

Hi there

Did anyone notice the shed of the week as a related story?

Cheers Jens

[GTRene]

bring it on I like lightweight and special versions more drivers involvements
GTRene also know as RS those are my initials so great name...though CS is also good anough...for now
GTRene

[shoestring7]

TonyLAL; Porsche had it first. They raced a twin-clutch system in 962's in the mid-80s.

It was called PDK. I don't know why it never made it into production - I do seem to remember it was heavier than the srd. race 'box though.

SS7