Porsche Cayman News

...yet business should still refrain from being pessimistic, says the head of Porsche.Dr Wendelin Wiedeking, the president and CEO of Porsche, believed that the economy was 50 per cent psychology and that negative attitudes based on poorly thought out assumptions would exacerbate the situation."I am everything but a pessimist," he says, "so I can only warn everyone even in the current market to see the future only in a dark light."However, Dr Wiedeking says the symptoms of the financial crisis could not be ignored.He pointed to "unsolved problems" that some manufacturers had been "neglecting for years" as having the ability to threaten the existence of some companies."It is a fact that this crisis will see both winners and losers," he says.Dr Wiedeking, speaking at the launch of a new-generation Porsche Boxster, says he was taking from personal experience.Porsche had experienced near bankruptcy in 1993 that resulted in the death of two models the 944 and 928 and the birth of the Boxster."The 928 and 944 no longer contributed to our profits," he says."We urgently needed a fresh product. Porsche was worth 300 million Deutschemarks and we needed an investment of 1.5 billion Deutschemarks to create a new model."The Boxster concept was shown at the 1993 Detroit motor show and the public embraced the car. It started production in early 1996 and until 2008 and consistently exceeded sales forecasts."We have sold up to 28,000 Boxsters and (its fixed-roof twin) Caymans a year and they have become an indispensable part of our product portfolio," Dr Wiedeking says.For 2007/08, Boxster and Cayman sales fell to 21,747 as the model ended its first generation lifespan."But this was still the third-best result ever since the start of Boxster production in 1996. And this figure is all the more remarkable considering that the global economy slumped significantly last year as a result of the crisis in the financial market.""We have learnt from the corporate crisis we experienced ourselves in the early 1990s and we have done our homework."We at Porsche have the definite intention together with Volkswagen to be among the (corporate) winners."Even though this year we will not be achieving the record sales, revenues and profits we saw a year ago, we are still looking ahead full of confidence."Through our share in the Volkswagen Group now more than 50 per cent we have secured our business case on a long lasting, ongoing basis." 

What should have been the main attraction in the car world was reduced to a sideshow as the heads of America's Big Three sat down in Detroit on the same day to beg for the billions they need to stay in business.There was plenty of shiny new stuff but all the talk was doom and gloom, even from car chiefs who do not have the same live-or-die pressures as General Motors, Ford and Chrysler."I think it is fair to say this is the worst we have seen," the head of the world's fifth-largest carmaker, Carlos Ghosn of the Nissan- Renault alliance, says as he delivers the keynote speech at the opening of LA '08."And we are not certain. Is this the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning?", Ghosn says of the critical cash crisis which is affecting nearly everyone in the car world.Still, there is plenty of new stuff and news on the strangely subdued stands in downtown LA.The latest Ford Mustang, for a start.And then the world debut of the latest Mazda3 and Lexus RX, the great looking new Nissan 370Z, the updated Porsche Cayman and Boxster, and even a droptop Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4.It's no surprise, either, that some of the special impact in LA is reserved for cars which are chasing the elusive path to a future beyond petrol that satisfies American lawmakers' deepening desire for transport without emissions.The Mini E is the obvious champion, but LA also has the electric Mitsubishi i-MIEV which is likely to become Australia's first plug-and- go volt car, and all sorts of new-and-old battery-powered concept cars from the Big Three and a growing number of hybrid production cars including the Mondeo-sized Ford Fusion.As well as the radical looking Honda FC Sport Concept, which was done to prove that a hydrogen-powered future car does not have to look as boring or family as the company's upcoming Insight or the benchmark Toyota Prius.The show is a mis-hit for General Motors, which canned its concepts and parties, although Ford stays totally committed with a Mustang which makes the running for an event which typically draws around one million visitors in a city which is the car capital of the USA and, by extension, the world."I think there is a mixed emotion at the show," says J Mays (SUBS: CORRECT), the design director of Ford Motor Company."You still have to try and tug hard enough on the heart strings that people forget about the purse strings. It's a yin-and-yang situation."Looking over at his Mustang, and across to the Honda FC, Mays expresses what many people are thinking. Even at a time when it is more politically correct to attack the car chiefs, and their private- jet flights to Washington, than to talk about a show which takes another important step towards the world beyond petrol."Automobiles are escapism. It's not just transport," says Mays."People ask if it's appropriate to launch the Mustang at his time. Damn right it is. It puts a smile on your face and enhances your quality of life."That is definitely true of the Mustang, which still looks muscular and fresh despite a chassis which trails well behind the Ford Falcon, and the open-air Gallardo and even the second-generation Nissan Cube, which could just make it to Australia one day.And the 370Z looks tauter than today's 350, with the promise of more go and much better cabin quality, and the Mazda3 is fresh and happy.The Mini E looks just like the regular petrol-power car but is a milestone car which has the power and range to win people to electric."It's an important time in the history of the global car industry," says Carlos Ghosn.He worries about the impact of the global recession, and the money pressures on carmakers trying to evolve faster than ever before, and the challenges of safety and emission regulations.But, just like the cars on the LA Show stands, and the regular car people who flood in once the doors are open, he is bottom-line upbeat and bright."The one thing that is certain, absolutely certain, is that people will continue driving cars. Cars have no substitute. We have convergence on the issues, but divergence on the solutions," Ghosn says.And that is pretty much the way things looked in LA. 

It has taken inspiration from the red-hot 911 GT3 RS to create a car which promises more power, punch and pace.But the dream machine is a nightmare for fans in Australia, as there is no chance of the Cayman S Sport making it downunder."It won't be coming. We're not taking it," is the blunt bottom line from Paul Ellis, spokesman for Porsche Cars Australia.It's the second time in recent weeks that a go-faster hero car from Europe has missed the boat, following the RenaultSport Megane R26 R.In the case of the Porsche, only 700 cars are being built and most are already committed to homes in Europe, the USA and the Middle East.The Sport is the first significant tweak on the Cayman, which was launched in the back end of 2005 using a combination of parts from the baby Boxster and the flagship 911, but with a unique body and handling which is the sharpest in the Porsche family.The Cayman Sport has not been recognised with an RS badge but the look and two of the colours - electric orange and kermit green - come directly from the track-ready GT3 RS.The key to the upgrade is a 3.5-litre flat six which has been tweaked for 225 kiloWatts, but the car also gets standard Porsche Active Suspension Management for a lowered look which trims 10 millimetres from the ride height.There are also five millimetre spacers behind the wheels to push the special 19-inch SportDesign alloys deeper into the arches. And Porsche claims more grip from the rubber on the road.The mechanical picture is completed with a sports exhaust that punches a pair of exhausts out from the tail.The Cayman Sport also picks up Bi-Xenon headlamps, the Sports Chrono package which includes a stopwatch in the dash, and sports leather seats.The visual upgrade runs to blacked-out alloys, mirrors and air intakes, as well as a black-accent pack in the cabin and alcantara trimming for the steering wheel and handbrake lever.Apart from the RS orange and red colour combinations, the Sport can be splashed in black, Guards Red, Speed Yellow, Carrera White and Arctic Silver paint.And each car touts its place in the 700 run with a plaque on the glovebox. 

You can have them all for a fraction of the price.P1 is a multi-million dollar version of a car-rental company but you need to be quick if you want to be a part of the action.Less than a year after launching its Melbourne office, memberships in the exclusive and expensive rental company are running out.More than 135 Australians have signed up and the company will limit its membership to 200 to make sure there are enough cars to go around.“We'll never go above 200 members,” says James Ward, general manager of P1 in Victoria, “basically to maintain a ratio of five new members for each new car.”Though only 29 vehicles are spread across the company's three Australian locations — in Richmond, Sydney and the Gold Coast — the quality of the cars and motorbikes has seen the company lay out $29 million on equipment.Set up by former Formula One world champion Damon Hill in 2000 in Britain, the club came to Australia in December 2006. The Richmond branch opened last March.Members can join for $4550 and pay annual charges ranging from $27,000 to $36,500 to have access to a dream garage.P1's roster includes three examples of the Lamborghini Gallardo, a Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari 430, Ferrari 575M, Aston Martin DB9, Bentley GT Continental, Porsche 997 GT3, Porsche Cayman S, Audi RS4 Avant, Lotus Exige, Hummer H2, and a Ducati 1098 and BMW K1200 for bikers.Packages give customers a bank of points to use through the year.As is befitting the cost, the company offers a range of services. They drop off the cars anywhere they are required and can store and wash the customer's personal car.“It's as much about the car as it is about the service,” Ward says . “It's whatever suits our customers.” 

To borrow from Spinal Tap, it's like how much blacker can Porsche's limited edition Cayman be? And the answer is “none — none more blacker”. The uber-exclusive Cayman S Porsche Design Edition 1 is a limited-edition all-black that goes on sale early next year.Only 777 such sports coupes will be made, of which “10 or fewer” are likely to be allocated to this market, says Paul Ellis, spokesman for Porsche Australia.Exclusivity is further guaranteed by a price tag of $172,900 and the standard Cayman S starts from $148,500.While the 911 series remains Porsche's halo car and the purists' choice, the Cayman has won plaudits since arriving in Australia early last year.The blacker than black exterior treatment is intended to emphasise the purist nature of the 217kW Cayman S, while acknowledging the work of the famous Porsche Design and the Chronograph 1 timepiece designed by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche and intended as an accessoire for Porsche drivers.Porsche spotters will tell you, whether you want to know or not; the watch was Porsche Design's first product. Made by the Swiss watchmaker Orfina, it was launched in 1972 and differed to other chronograph wristwatches as its case and bracelet were made out of, you guessed it, matt black chromed steel.The bespoke treatment of the Cayman also extends to the inside where special black leather and Alcantara upholstery harmonises with refined details such as the instrument dials, the layout of which reflects that of all Porsche Design chronographs. The body is lowered 10mm and the exterior is further set off by the 19 inch 911 Turbo wheels and matte black accent striping on the doors, hood, roof and rear deck.The noir theme extends the centre console, dashboard and door trims glisten in black, while the three-spoke sports steering wheel, the gear lever, the handbrake grip, and the roof lining are adorned in black Alcantara.Mechanically, the special Cayman runs the same mid-engined 3.4-litre six, driven through 19 inch wheels (with 235/35 tyres up front and 265/35s behind). The suspension is lowered by 10mm and standard Porsche Active Suspension Management adaptive damping with Sport mode. 

Physics tells us that even a Ferrari pushed to the extreme will eventually lose its grip on the road, often with cataclysmic results.It happens when the gravitational force acting on the car exceeds the driver's desire to go in the other direction.We know because we found the limits of the bright yellow Porsche Cayman that we were driving on Dubai's $150 million grand prix circuit last week.The beauty of race tracks, at least modern ones that is, is that they are designed for this eventuality, with run off areas where cars can slide harmlessly to a halt without hitting anything.My little "off" happened on a section of the circuit doused with water, part wet and part dry, to make things that little bit more challenging.Reaching the apex of the corner, I applied too much throttle too soon (at least that's the way I remember it) forcing the rear of the car to flick sideways.I watched as the Porsche in slow motion described a full circle around me before coming to a rest.Intact, but with a slightly bruised ego, I was able to drive off again, hardly missing a beat.In fact, it was over so quickly, that no one realised it had even happened - but they say confession is good for the soul.We were in the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of Pirelli tyres to test their new high performance P Zero.The Italian manufacturer reckons the P Zero is the best performance tyre in the world and it is a claim I find difficult to dispute.The Dubai circuit was divided into a number of areas, each with a different exercise designed to highlight the advantages of the tyre.At each stop there was a smorgasbord of cars from which to chose, but before we got started we treated to some hot laps in the V10 Lamborghini Gallardo,At full noise, in the hands of a professional driver, it's an experience one is not likely to forget in a hurry.As a matter of fact, I recorded the event and it is destined to live for evermore as a ring tone in my mobile.The most telling exercise of the day was one where we drove around and around in a tight circle on a wet and slippery section of track.Two Audi TTs were provided for the exercise, one fitted with P Zeros, the other with a competitor's tyre.At the risk of sounding like an advertise- ment, they were like chalk and cheese - the P Zero had appreciably more grip.We were able to drive a number of different cars on the day, not all of them fitted with Pirellis.They included Audi's S8, Porsche Carrera and Cayman and Boxster and Benz's S 65 AMG, CLS 63 AMG and CLK 63 AMG - to name a few.Although by no means the most powerful of the group, the Porsche Boxster shone on the track, with its sharp handling and responsive six pack.Pirelli is marking the launch of the new P Zero - the fourth since the birth of the original back in 1987 with the Ferrari F40 - with the release of a short film.Called Mission Zero, it's directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Uma Thurman and is a kind of a car chase minus the rest of the movie.It features a yellow Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder - finished of course in Kill Bill Yellow.

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/