The new 718 Cayman

Porsche 718 Cayman 2-litre (2016 MY)

So you think the Cayman is just a Boxster with a roof. Well, perhaps technically it is, but the two models are distinct in their appeal and in the way they deliver their excitement. If the open-top, wind in your hair thing is for you, then the Boxster will no doubt be on your shopping list. Although it wears the 718 moniker, the new Cayman has the looks of the 1953 Porsche 550-1500 S and if that ticks your box, then the 718 Cayman is probably the model for you.

Porsche 718 Cayman 2-litre (2016 MY)

In Porsche’s quest to downsize its engines while still providing more power than the model it replaces, the 718 Cayman comes closest to its ancestral roots found in the 550-1500 S in that it too is driven by a 4-cylinder engine. True, the throaty sound of the 2.7-litre six-pot boxer engine of the outgoing model was, and still is, a true classic sports car sound. But get used to it, Porsche engines are getting smaller while their vast experience in turbocharging is being brought to bear.