Everything you need to know about the Porsche 718 Cayman Chassis, Engine, Design – Video
The new Boxster and the new Cayman are the sequel that continues the 718 era. At their heart, a four-cylinder turbocharged boxer engine beats with the same fighting spirit that delivered countless podium finishes. In them lives the will to break away from standards. And to inspire conviction. So it is entirely appropriate that they, too, should bear these three digits in their name and carry the 718 legend forward.
The new 718 models were made for the sport of it. They are mid-engined roadsters that unite the sporting spirit of the legendary Porsche 718 with the sports car of tomorrow – and transfer it to the roads of today’s world. With one goal: to take the everyday out of every day.
What is it that makes the new 718 models so special? Their performance, their handling, their design and the generous amount of space afforded by two luggage compartments. Above all: a mid-engine layout that makes all this possible in the first place.
The engine is positioned no further than 12 in. behind the driver. Effect number one: the resounding thump on the back. Effect number two: the extraordinarily dynamic cornering capabilities, thanks to the car’s low and central center of gravity. The horizontally opposed arrangement of the engine’s cylinders also helps to reduce oscillations, which has a positive impact on smooth running. Another plus for driving dynamics: the concentrated power of the engine is transmitted directly to the rear axle.
How do we best exploit this power? By systematically reducing the weight of the vehicle. And by optimally distributing the weight left over. The compact construction of the car as a two-seater plays an important part in this respect. And that’s without sacrifices in terms of comfort and everyday practicality.
However, as soon as the mid-mounted engine starts, there’s really only one thing that matters: the world with its countless twists and turns. And you – right in the middle of it all.
Porsche claims the new Boxster with a PDK gearbox and the Sport Chrono package will sprint to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, while an identically optioned S will do it in 4.0. The last PDK-equipped Boxster S we tested got to 60 in 4.2 seconds. Porsche claims the new one is a half-second quicker—and tends to be conservative with its numbers.
The new 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four makes an even 300 horsepower, giving it near parity with the outgoing Boxster S, while the incoming 718 Boxster S gets a 0.5-liter displacement bump and a variable-vane turbocharger, with the result being 350 horsepower. But the bigger news is in the torque curves. The old 2.7-liter flat-six demanded revs to make power. Its 2.0-liter replacement makes 74 lb-ft more than did the old six (a total of 280) and does it between 1950 and 4500 rpm. The 2.5 makes its peak torque over the same range, only in this hotter application, it’s churning out 309 lb-ft, the exact same figure as the Boxster Spyder’s 3.8-liter six.