Porsche Cayman 2006 News

German sports car maker Porsche have published 3D printing plans for their Cayman coupe, and a video showing how it's done. Naturally, the first thought is that this is a great way to get a new tiny scale model car -- or a fleet of them, if you wish.Watch the desktop version of the 3D print a Porsche Cayman video here. But there are suggestions the plans could be scalable, with the only restriction being how large your 3D printer is. And that opens up a whole world of possibilities... even before you start thinking about the paint options.Also watch: Porsche Cayman S trailer here.The video shows you'll still want to do a little final finishing to get the best result. And with a bit of coding knowledge or craft knife handiwork you could probably even turn the Cayman into a convertible Boxster -- or a completely new variant limited only by your imagination.The Porsche Cayman 3D printing plans can be downloaded from the official website and any creation can shared on social media with a #3DCayman hashtag.  

Driving games have evolved massively from the early days of PC and console arcade. You can even get some pretty decent mobile phone sims. But what if a smartphone driving game could cross over into the real world? That's exactly what the Code of the Curve app seeks to do.At least, that's part of what it does. Capable of tracking and recording your driving -- and your car is going to be a 2014 Cayman, as that's the car this app is built to promote -- the app can give you "precision driving challenges," presumably to be conducted in a safe, closed course environment. Example scenes show the Cayman navigating a slalom and coming to a stop inside a coned-off box.It looks like the app will also focus on the social side of driving, allowing you to share your achievements and precision driving skills through the app. You can also share pics and follow the conversation at #CaymanCode.The app also shares a theme with the upcoming King of the Curve TV show which will be shown on the cable channel, Speed. The Porsche-sponsored show will pit Porsche fans, pro drivers, and celebrities against each other in a series of challenges.www.motorauthority.com 

The good news is that the Cayman is closer than ever to the classic 911, in both design and performance, and the bad news is the price. At the car's official unveiling at the Los Angeles Motor Show the American pricetag is set at just $52,600, but by the time it gets to Australia next year the starting sticker will have blown out to $115,000. The strength of the Australian dollar should make things better but Porsche's down under pricing policy and around $35,000 in Federal and State Taxes - including the hated Luxury Car Tax - means the car is nowhere near as affordable as it is in Europe or America. Even so, the Cayman seems certain to steal even more sales from the 911 thanks to better performance, more equipment in a bigger cabin, and even 15 per cent better fuel economy. The design also makes it much more than just a Boxster with a coupe roof. "In short, the new version is lighter, more powerful and more fuel efficient. It is more distinctive than ever. It delivers an unmatched combination of driving dynamics," the boss of Porsche, Matthias Mueller, says at the car's unveiling. The preview of the Cayman in Porsche heartland in California comes at the end of a year when the company has also put an all-new 911 and Boxster on the road. Production of the second-generation Cayman coupe will not begin until the first quarter of next year, with local delivers in the third quarter. "This has been a milestone year for Porsche. Globally, this has been a record setting year," says Mueller. "We have sold 160,000 cars. This is the best possible proof of the customer desire for our outstanding sports cars." The Cayman does the job too, and Porsche has allowed it to creep closer to the 911 in size and style. That's no surprise, since the basic mechanical package is shared with the big brother. The styling is more mature and the body sits over a chassis that is longer and wider than before, just like the Boxster, with a basic 2.7-litre engine and a 3.4 in the Cayman S. The starter engine makes 202 kiloWatts with economy of 8.2 litres/100km and a 0-100km/h time of 5.6 seconds as a six-speed manual, while the Cayman S numbers are 239, 8.8 and 5.0. The car retains the mid-engine layout it shares with the Boxster and that, says Porsche's technical chief Wolfgang Hatz is the big difference from the 911. "For me, the 911 is a car that people use as their first car, where the Cayman is a second car. The 911 is a two-plus-two and that is the difference," Hatz says.  

The compact coupe has a big job in the latest Porsche lineup... ...winning first-time buyers to the brand before they can afford to graduate to a 911 with a $200,000-plus pricetag. It will be previewed at the LA Motor Show in November.

Had it been a case of which car was the best on the track, the Cayman would have finished out of sight in front. It is sharp, focused and beautifully engineered for belting around at high speeds. And the representative for high-powered sports cars in our top 10 certainly has the looks. It's a package that is entertaining, challenging and communicative - so much so it feels as if it could use some more horsepower. Porsche was accused of limiting power outputs to preserve the market position of the 911, but the 180kW, 3.4-litre six-cylinder Cayman S is really a different beast. Mid-engined, with luggage space front and rear, it would make any driver smile. However, looks and high-speed travel on smooth surfaces are not the whole picture. As much as the Porsche won hearts doing its thing on the track, it lost some ground with most judges once it came back to a real-world situation. The very suspension sharpness that made the car so competent on the track was deemed by the judges as too difficult to live with as a daily drive on anything but the smoothest of roads. And at $148,500 for the basic package for the six-speed manual, price also became a talking point - particularly as that does not include the test car's leather trim ($4490), metallic paint ($1890), PASM active suspension ($4490) or the bi-Xenon headlights ($2290).

Now it's down to the judges to decide which of the 10 finalists will win the award to be announced in a special edition of CARSguide next Friday.Our top 10 has been achieved after an extensive search and culling process covering all cars launched in Australia in the past year.The judging criteria included assessing styling, safety, innovation, value, functionality, build quality and performance.Our motoring experts, motoring editors and senior motoring writers from The Daily Telegraph, Herald-Sun in Melbourne, The Courier-Mail in Brisbane, The Advertiser in Adelaide, The Mercury in Hobart and The Sunday Times in Perth extensively tested the 10 finalists earlier this month. The three-day back-to-back testing, included a full day's driving at Wakefield Park in Goulburn.The finalists were driven in a wide mix of environments and road conditions, including wet, dry, city, freeway, highway and country roads.Fiat Punto EmotionJudge Keith Didham's comment:Fiat returned to the Australian market in August after a 17-year gap. The Punto is one of Europe's biggest sellers, but can that success be replicated here?Fiat reopened the batting Down Under with four variants, with a choice of five-door or three-door manual hatches powered by 1.3 or 1.9-litre turbo diesel or a 1.4-litre petrol motor. Fiat last month added two more smart sequential automatic variants to round out the range to six. Prices range from $19,990 for the Dynamic to $27,990 for the better-equipped Emotion as tested here.The cute Giorgetto Giugiaro styling comes with a strong hint of Maserati about its nose, while the cabin is unmistakably Italian, so the car appeals to the buyer looking for something out of left field from the bevy of small-car clones. The Punto's biggest attractions, however, are its frugal fuel economy, comfortable four-seat cabin and five-star crash rating.The perky diesel feels robust once you get it up and running and riding the torque wave.It's a strong performer, with plenty of grip and good dynamics, but the trade off can be a harsh ride, while the steering sometimes lacks feedback.The Punto is premium priced, but standard kit includes electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, cloth trim, cruise control, a decent CD audio system, remote locking, airconditioning and power windows.Holden Astra CDTiJudge Bryan Littlely's comment:There is a very straightforward reason for the Holden Astra CDTi's inclusion in the CARSguide Car Of The Year Award - and that is its diesel engine.The stylish, imported Astra is the first diesel passenger car to wear the badge of an Australian manufacturer in more than 20 years, a wise move by Holden given the surge in popularity of diesel powered vehicles amid rising fuel prices.But the Astra is an attractive option for much more than its powerplant. It has the styling that would appeal to a wide range of car buyers and, at $29,990 for the six-speed manual, it is very competitive with European brands on price.The Holden Astra offers good ride and handling in a comfortable and practical package that is fun to drive - if not all glitz and glamour - and it certainly proved its worth during the judging.Holden still has some issues to overcome with this car if it is to convert car buyers from petrol to diesel but, overall, it offers a solid package and a good entry point for buyers wanting to make the shift to diesel-powered vehicles.Hyundai Elantra EliteJudge Kevin Hepworth's comment:Once the whipping boy of poor build quality, Hyundai has turned around its reputation to the point where it is now winning quality surveys in major international markets.A fine example of that new attention to detail was the action the company took after criticism of the Elantra's woolly steering at its Australian release. Within days a team of engineers was flown from Korea to recalibrate the cars.While it is still not perfect it is a huge improvement and a credit to Hyundai's determination to improve wherever it can. And while there may still be the odd question mark over styling - the curved crease-line down the car's flanks comes readily to mind - the Hyundai Elantra Elite offers a comprehensive package for its $24,990 sticker price.Not the least of the attractions in the Elite is the included safety pack of electronic stability control and six airbags.The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, coupled to a five-speed manual, puts out a reasonable 105kW and the Elantra offers a good quality ride for a car in its segment.The finalists1: Audi Q7 TDI 4WD, $85,7002: Fiat Punto Emotion diesel $27,9903: Ford Focus XR5 5-cyl turbo hatch, $35,9904: Holden Astra CDTi diesel $29,9905: Holden VE Calais V8 V-series sedan, $58,4906: Hyundai Elantra Elite $24,9907: Mazda3 MPS 4-cylinder turbo hatch, $39,9908: Porsche Cayman S 2-door coupe, $148,5009: Toyota Aurion Presara V6 sedan, $49,99010: VW Passat wagon 4-cylinder turbo, $44,990The winner will be announced next Friday.

We announced the first four finalists on our Top 10 list last week and the final three finalists will be revealed next Friday.Our top 10 finalists have been achieved after an extensive search and culling process through all cars launched in Australia over the past year.Our motoring experts, motoring editors and senior motoring writers from The Daily Telegraph, Herald-Sun in Melbourne, The Courier-Mail in Brisbane, The Advertiser in Adelaide, The Mercury in Hobart and The Sunday Times in Perth have joined CARSguide's search for Australia's car of the year - the best of the best for 2006.Earlier this month the 10 finalists were tested extensively over three days, including a full day's driving at Wakefield Park at Goulburn, to find a winner.The judging criteria ranges across styling, safety, innovation, value, functionality, build quality and performance.The finalists were driven in a wide mix of environments and road conditions, including wet, dry, city, freeway, highway and country roads.The 2006 CARSguide Car of the Year will be announced on December 1.Mazda 3 MPSJudge Gordon Lomas' comment:In an age where hot hatches have staged a big revival on the new-car landscape, the MPS makes the final list on the strength of its sheer point and squirt capability.Point because it steers as though it has German blood, and squirt because it is the hottest four-potter in production at Hiroshima. The MPS is raw, mean and keen. It offers enormous bang for your buck with this $40,000-odd package delivering stunning levels of performance.If the WRX was the turbo cult car of the 1990s, then Mazda has come up with the next big daddy of the hot four-cylinder world.It has the tricky differential - torque management keeping a lid on the MPS's boost in first and second gears so the driverwon't have any nasty surprises when some steering angle is wound on.The MPS is a tough car that is practical as well as being armed with attributes for those seeking track day enjoyment.Porsche Cayman SJudge Stuart Martin's comment:The Boxster S platform doesn't need a solid roof to compensate for any platform deficiencies, but put one on it and the result - Cayman S - retains the droptop's serious abilities, with extra platform strength.Gorgeous curves (to most eyes) cloaka chassis that is entertaining, challenging and communicative - so much so it feels as though it could use more horsepower.Porsche were accused of limiting outputs to preserve the 911's position, but the Cayman S is a different beast. Mid-engined balance, luggage space front and rear, the two-seater puts a smile on the face of any driver.On road, the suspension copes with broken bitumen, but once on a favourite back roador at a track, the Cayman S hunkers down and yowls seductively, with myriad options to sharpen its claws.The most expensive in the field might not be a commuter tool, but there's plenty to like about the svelte coupe.Ford Focus XR5Judge James Stanford's commentA Ford hot hatch with the heart of a Volvo was an easy pick for the Car of The Year finalists. The XR5 exploded on to the road in April and the waiting list has been growing ever since.Instead of using a four-cylinder engine as other hot hatches have, the XR5 has a five-cylinder engine with a turbo strapped on.The potent engine, which has 166kW and 320Nm of torque, came straight from Ford's Swedish friends at Volvo.It is a cracker engine, with low-down urge and a wonderful meaty exhaust note thanks to a large muffler that takes up the space normally used by a full-size spare (it now has a space saver).The XR5 has chunky 18-inch wheels, sports suspension and styling that means it is instantly recognised as a performance car.With a starting price of just $35,990, the XR5 is a strong contender for this year's biggest award.The finalists1: Audi Q7 TDI 4WD, $85,7002: Holden VE Calais V8 V-series sedan, $58,4903: Toyota Aurion Presara V6 sedan, $49,9904: VW Passat wagon 4-cyl turbo, $44,9905: Ford Focus XR5 5-cyl turbo hatch, $35,9906: Mazda3 MPS 4-cyl turbo hatch, $39,9907: Porsche Cayman S 2-door coupe, $148,5008: TBA9: TBA10: TBARemaining three finalists to be announced next Friday.

So hot right now, sideways in a Porsche Cayman. The backside kicks out on the diesel-sluiced corner, I hit the throttle, the Cayman twitches ... and a curt "pfft" implies that I did the right thing.Getting the nod to go faster, the right foot sinks to the floor — just as a black 911 spins a complete 360 right in front of the Cayman's sleek nose. We're all crossed up the wrong way, but a heart-in-mouth dodge spares me from shame and expensive dent work.Meanwhile, my passenger doesn't skip a beat; former pro V8 Supercar and Porsche racer Tomas Mezera, who famously walked away from a multiple barrel roll at Bathurst, has seen far worse. He calmly talks me through another lap, then encourages a long, controlled slide.It's not every day that everyman or everygal can commandeer a Porsche, let alone a 911 Turbo on a closed track with instruction from V8 Supercar and Carrera Cup hotties.Several marques offer driver days for preferred customers, but the Porsche Drivers Experience at Mt Cotton in Queensland is a chance for outsiders to get a glimpse of what they're missing.Even at $1265 for the day, the experience turns out to be good value and a super-effective PR exercise.The day begins with hot laps with said hot drivers; road laps with constant instruction and using markers and gates to get that apex just right; lots of sliding skidpan action; and culminates in timed speed trials around a gymkhana course with chicane, slalom and a gnarly corner or two.My first lap begins in the passenger seat with V8 Supercar driver Warren Luff, who does a few laps of the road track pointing out where to brake, where to glide and where to fang it.I jump into a new $335,000 997 Turbo and dutifully fang, so focused on the rushing surge of power that I miss the brake gate and — according to a screaming, spiky-haired Luff — hit the corner way too fast.Luff tells me to brake hard, way harder than I would have thought, and we proceed to float around the bend then floor it out of the corner.Must remember not to try this at home in the family wagon ...Then it's out of the Turbo and into the 911 Carrera S with ace driver Alex Davison, Lord of the Carrera Cup and V8 Supercar Dance.Davison urges me faster into the corners and way faster out. We fly through the gates and thunder past the waiting punters.By afternoon, the stopwatches have come out. I realise that I've come to the day completely unprepared mentally and physically for the speed (and the corresponding performance anxiety, which manifests as sweat).The time trials take place on the wet skid pan in a 911 and a Boxster. Points are lost for knocking hats over or not stopping within the garage, but the Boxster's brakes and cling-on dynamics are my friend.Waiting for the flag to fall, my heart hammers. The track is wet, the sun is hot, the top is down.We stick like glue to the first apex, and cane it through the chicane. Although the slalom slows my momentum, a final surge along straight tarmac brings the Boxster slam dunk in the middle of the four hats marking out the garage.No points lost, and a time that betters the good ol' boys and several others.The following flurry of trophies and backslapping means we all bond over best moments, then the fabulous day is officially over.Can someone please tell me why it has taken half my life to discover the joys of a skid pan?www.adrenalin.com.au/

1. What is the relevance of Porsche in 2006?"Porsche is about fun, entertainment, and self reward for hard work."2. So they are not just for people who cannot drive and have too much money? "It's those three headlines."3. What about the cars themselves? You now have the broadest range and a lot of people say the best cars."What has come to fruition now is the reward for us in the resurrection of the company since the early 1990s."The Boxster saved us from becoming dependent on somone else. We then had Cayennne which allowed us to re-invest in the broadest sports car range we have ever had."I think we can now say we have a very broad business plan which means we can weather the ups and downs in the segments in which we play. To some degree, you can say that we spent the last 13 years since 1993 in a fundamental restructure and a new strategic outlook which allows us to have some fun again and occupy some of the small niches in the market."4. For people who don't know what is the price of a Porsche in 2006?"The range starts in Australia at $107,500 for the Boxster 2.7 and goes up to $327,000 for the 911 Turbo which we are now launching."The Cayman S is from $148,500 and the Cayenne four-wheel drive is from $129,000."5. How many cars are you selling in Australia and what is a typical customer?"I think it depends on the segment, We have some customers who come and go out of the sporty sedan segments and sports coupe segments and to some degree still the competition for our cars lies within the other choices with that much money involved. So that might be an investment, a beach house, a boat or another hobby. "Having said all that, the customer remains a 40-year-old entrepreneur who has had their own business for 20 years. So they have paid off the house, put aside money for the kids education and now decided to reward themselves, whether it's a man or a woman."6. So what is the heart of a porsche today and do you ever see it changing."The heart of a Porsche is a sports car. Full stop. And that won't change."How do you define a sports car? It has to do with simple, innovative solutions to technical questions. It has to do with agility, honesty in handling, "I suppose really, the sum of what you experience is more than the sum of the parts in the car. There is no faking it with electronic gadgets and very, very clearly the engineers have put themselves into the cars."The life motive, if you like, is than anything which is done to the cars must result in better lap times during test runs on the Nurburgring test track in Germany. "I could go on and on. There are many things in Australia that we don't talk enough about, like the environmental friendliness, the fuel economy, the safety."Even with the Cayenne, you only have to pitch it against the direct competition in the market around any corner in the world and you get your answer on whether it is a sports car."