We wring out the 2012 Porsche Cayman R at the test track to see how it stacks up against the Cayman S from which it sprang.
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00:00 The Porsche Cayman S follows a simple recipe for concocting driving pleasure.
00:12 A communicable chassis mixed with exceptional reflexes and a dose of horsepower.
00:17 It's the car from which the new 2012 Porsche Cayman R sprang, which is a remarkable specimen
00:23 in its own right.
00:24 And we're happy to report our 2009 Best Driver's Car Champion has gone hardcore with a capital
00:29 R.
00:30 Like the Cayman S we tested two years back, the Cayman R we ran came equipped with a 7-speed
00:35 PDK.
00:36 Saying this $3,660 twin-clutch beauty changes gear quickly does it little justice.
00:42 Each upshift resounds with a distinct pop that only a twin-clutch can provide.
00:47 Even the most partisan three-pedal devotees with their power shifting and clutch sidesteps
00:51 will find it hard not to be impressed.
00:54 It's smart, too.
00:55 Left to its own devices and software logic, the auto works really well, holding the gear
01:00 in corners and shifting with impeccable timing.
01:04 But of course, you'll want to play with the PDK's steering wheel-mounted push-button controls
01:08 and sample-improved dynamics.
01:14 As you know, the Cayman R focuses on weight reduction.
01:18 Porsche didn't just loosen the S's collar, but got it to strip down.
01:22 At 3,083 pounds wet, the Cayman R is 93 pounds lighter than the S we tested, thanks to the
01:27 removal of several key components.
01:30 With 330 horsepower bristling from the 3.4-liter flat-six mounted amidships, the Cayman R possesses
01:37 10 additional horses over the S, thanks to a freer-flowing exhaust setup and unique engine
01:42 tuning.
01:43 Torque holds the line at 273 pound-feet.
01:46 Although 10 ponies may not seem like much, the R will launch control itself from 0 to
01:51 60 miles per hour in 4.2 seconds, two-tenths of a second quicker than the S.
02:00 The head start pays off in the quarter mile.
02:02 The R achieves a 12.7-second run with a trap speed of 111 miles per hour flat.
02:08 The test numbers are tight on braking and handling as well.
02:11 We discovered the S was shorter from 60 to 0 miles per hour, 103 feet, versus the R's
02:16 108 feet.
02:18 But rest assured, both stopping distances are quite good, and the 5-foot delta could
02:22 come down to tire differences.
02:24 Bridgestone Potenza RE 050 A's on the R, and Michelin Pilot Sport on the S.
02:29 Lateral grip measured basically identical.
02:32 The R produced an average of 1.01 g to the S's 1.0 g.
02:37 Both Caymans finished the figure eight in 24.5 seconds, which is on par with the Ferrari
02:42 Enzo.
02:43 As recorded, the differences are all small, and in some cases, nearly negligible.
02:48 At their most basic levels, the base R commands a $4,200 premium over a base S. So is it worth
02:55 it?
02:56 That depends.
02:57 The Cayman R is louder, the simply adorned cabin gets hotter more easily, and the ride
03:02 will beat you up on harsh pavement and lengthy distances, which is a consequence of the higher
03:07 spring rates and shocks with firmer damping.
03:10 Strictly by the numbers, it presents a tough sell.
03:12 But after you drop into the superbly bolstered seat and click the three-point seatbelt into
03:16 place, all answers will be found.
03:19 Sport and Sport Plus buttons manipulate throttle response and PDK behavior to perfection.
03:24 The entire car works as one ingenious unit as you feel the front wheels bite through
03:28 the hydraulically assisted steering while deciphering the back end via the seat of your
03:33 pants.
03:34 The rear begins to come around, you goose the throttle a little bit, and the mechanically
03:37 locking rear differential does its job as you briskly negotiate the car to your destination.
03:42 No fuss, no drama, just a lot more exhaust noise.
03:46 We definitely need more cars like these.
03:48 [Music]