Porsche Cayman 981 (2012-2016)

Official photos: 2012 November 28, GTS 2014 March 19
Premiere: 2012 November 28 at Los Angeles Auto Show, GTS 2014 April 20 at Auto China in Beijing
Market launch: 2013 March 2 (as a 2014 model), GTS 2014 May

Technical specification

Modification	Engine	kW	lb-ft	Nm	Brakes mm	Gearbox	0-60 mph	0-100 km/h	mph	km/h	DIN kg	DIN lb	W/lb	W/kg
Cayman 981	2.7B6	202	213	290	315/299	manual 6-speed	5.4 sec.	5.7 sec.	165	266	1310	2888	69.9	154
						PDK 7-speed	5.3 sec.	5.6 sec.	164	264	1340	2954	68.4	151
Cayman 981 S	3.4B6	239	272	370	330/299	manual 6-speed	4.7 sec.	5.0 sec.	176	283	1320	2910	82.1	181
						PDK 7-speed	4.6 sec.	4.9 sec.	175	281	1350	2976	80.3	177
Cayman 981 GTS	3.4B6	250	279	380	330/299	manual 6-speed	4.6 sec.	4.9 sec.	177	285	1345	2965	84.3	186
						PDK 7-speed	4.5 sec.	4.8 sec.	176	283	1375	3031	82.5	182

DIN weight = car with 90% fuel, no driver, no cargo. Weight of German versions with standard equipment.

2012 LA Auto Show, Porsche Cayman 981 — 2012 November 28, LA Auto Show, Cayman 981 unveiled by Porsche CEO Matthias Müller© LA Auto Show

Body

Compared with the previous generation, the wheelbase was extended by 2.36"/60 mm. The bodyshell was a composite construction of aluminium and steel. Aluminium accounted for around 44%. The doors and lids were made entirely of aluminium.

The mirrors were mounted on the doors for better aerodynamics and lower wind noise. The external window trims were black as standard, but could be ordered in aluminium finish. The standard model came with the halogen headlamps and the S with xenon gas lamps as standard.

Technology

Since the 987.2 generation, the engine had integrated dry-sump lubrication, which ensured a reliable supply of oil even when the car was experiencing powerful lateral acceleration. The oil tank was located in the engine.

Even though the PDK gearbox has 7 speeds, top speed is reached in the 6th gear. For minimizing the CO2 emissions, the PDK has the coasting function, which means that when the throttle pedal is released, the engine is decoupled from the transmission to lower engine's revolutions.

The steering system in the 9x1 cars was already electromechanical. Whereas a conventional hydraulically assisted steering system draws engine power continuously, the electric motor uses energy only when you actually steer. Optional speed-sensitive Power steering Plus made manoeuvring and parking easier.

As an active safety feature, the car came with engine drag torque control (EDC) which, like in the 987.2 cars, precharged the brake system when needed. If you suddenly released the accelerator pedal, the braking system became precharged so that the brake pads were already in light contact with the brake discs.

Electrical systems

Thanks to selective recharging, the engine had a bit more power as the battery was recharged by the alternator predominantly under braking.

The electric parking brake was released automatically as you pulled away with your seat belt fastened. A hill hold function was integrated as standard, even for the manual gearbox cars. As soon as sufficient torque was available, the brake was released and the vehicle moved off.

The standard start/stop function switches off the engine when you stop, select neutral and release the clutch pedal. In cars with PDK, it is simply a case of applying and holding the brake. The engine will restart as soon as you operate the clutch or, in cars with PDK, release the brake. The start/stop function can be deactivated and reactivated using a button on the centre console. The function is deactivated automatically in the event of extreme outside temperatures, low battery charge or activation of the Sport-button. The Sport-button on the centre console is fitted as standard. When selected, the engine reacts even more directly to the accelerator pedal and the rev-limiter is set higher.

The cruise control was still optional, reminding that someone would order the Cayman for racing only and therefore doesn't need it. The cruise control can be activated between speeds of 18-149 mph/30-240 km/h. Also available was the adaptive cruise control. When installed, the radar sensor inside the front bumper scanned the road ahead up to a distance of 200 m/600 feet. If the vehicle ahead slowed down, adaptive cruise control decelerated the car accordingly. The system was capable of even taking the car down to a halt if the deceleration wasn't too fast. If the system detected that your vehicle was approaching the vehicle in front too quickly, it issued an audible and a visual warning. This was accompanied by a brief application of brake force.

As standard, the glove compartment contained an audio interface, which enabled to connect an external audio device or USB stick. A 6-disc CD/DVD autochanger integrated into the PCM was available as an option. By means of the USB socket, it was also possible to download the performance data saved by the optional Sport Chrono Package, as well as data from the optional electronic logbook. In the opposite direction, you could transfer up to 10,000 audio tracks in MP3 format to the internal hard drive of the PCM. When playing recognised podcasts or audiobooks, the cover art was displayed.

Weight

While the 911 coupé of the same era was 70 kg/154 lb lighter than the 911 cabriolet, this is not the case with the Cayman as it was built on the Boxster's floorpan. The Cayman weighs as much as the Boxster.

Good value

With comparable equipment level, the 911 991 Carrera 3.4 was 33% more expensive than the Cayman 981 S 3.4. The Porsche rear seats for your kids are really expensive, but then again sex never was cheap.

Technical comparison Cayman 981 GTS vs. 911 991 Carrera Coupé

	No. of seats	Gearbox	Engine	kW	lb-ft	Nm	0-100 km/h	mph	km/h	kg	lb	W/lb	W/kg
Cayman 981 GTS	2 seats	manual 6-speed	3.4B6, mid	250	279	380	4.9 sec.	177	285	1345	2965	84.3	186
911 991 Carrera Coupé	4 seats	manual 7-speed	3.4B6, rear	257	287	390	4.8 sec.	179	289	1380	3042	84.5	186

Porsche Cayman 981 GTS front spoiler — GTS© Porsche

Luggage compartments together have a combined capacity of 275 litres© Porsche

The rear wing deploys automatically at 74 mph / 120 kmh© Porsche

Single exhaust pipe shows the 2.7-litre engine© Porsche

Invitation to a very special experience© Porsche

Black instruments of the 2.7-litre version© Porsche

Porsche Cayman 981 instrument cluster — Titanium-coloured tachometer face of the Cayman S© Porsche

Standard, multifunction and Sport Design steering wheels© Porsche

Cayman is a 100% driver's car and drivers love to drive, not to be driven, so the right choice is the manual gearbox and the clutch pedal© Porsche

"Sport"-button in a Porsche is as weird as a "Luxury"-button would be in a Bentley© Porsche

Porsche Cayman 981 interior mirror, garage door opener memory — Garage door opener memory buttons I II III© Porsche

Even if the navigation module is not specified, the touch-screen comes as standard.© Porsche

Automatic start/stop function helps to produce less CO2 © Porsche

Porsche Cayman 981 two-tone interior — Not very German...© Porsche

Porsche Cayman 981 seats, standard, sport, sport plus, adaptive — Standard sport seat, fully electric sport seat, sport plus seat, adaptive sport plus seat© Porsche

These rollers run 12"/30 cm behind the back of the driver© Porsche

As Caymans were more expensive than their open versions - Boxsters - the Caymans were equipped with tuned versions of the Boxster engines.

Cayman 981 and 911 991 Carrera engine comparison. The 3.4-litre units are the same except the power is electronically limited in the Cayman S and GTS compared to the 991 Carrera. Without the electronic cut-down, the 3.4-litre prototype engine developed around 261 kW.

Dynamic gearbox mount which comes in the Sport Chrono Pack© Porsche

Cayman, Cayman S/GTS and optional ceramic brakes© Porsche

Optional Porsche Torque Vectoring means the rear inside corner wheel is slightly braked for the car to turn in more easily. The package includes the limited slip differential which is helpful in accelerating out of the corners.© Porsche

Designer Anthony Hatter speaks about his creation. His most famous work was the 993.

PDF

Cayman 981

10/2012 · English

Cayman 2.7
Cayman S 3.4

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Cayman 981 Tequipment

3/2013 · English

Interior and exterior equipment incl. wheels, car covers, child seats, cleaning equipment etc.

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Cayman 981 Exclusive

11/2014 · English

Factory personalisation options, interior and exterior, SportDesign package, painted wheels...

Porsche Exclusive history

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Continue to Cayman GT4 or to Cayman e-volution

Anniversaries: Aug, 19 – 82nd birthday of the type 64 (1939); Aug, 23 – 25th birthday of the Boxster (1996); Aug, 29 – 56th birthday of the 906 (1965); Sep, 03 – 146th birthday anniversary of Ferdinand Porsche (1875); Sep, 04 – 2nd birthday of the Taycan (2019)