Porsche_US Cayman-S_2006

It’s not every day that Porsche designates a new production sports car. Fortunately for driving enthusiasts, this is not every day. For 2006, we proudly introduce the Cayman S: an unprecedented balance of breathtaking design, astonishing performance and inspired architecture. At its Frankfurt Motor Show debut, the Cayman S was hailed as “Best in Show” by AutoWeek magazine: instant acclaim for a car that is instantly Porsche.

Many a carmaker builds both race and road cars. What makes Porsche unique is our resolve to bring the best of both worlds together—to create uncompromised sports cars that can be enjoyed every day. In the Cayman S, Porsche engineers have built on ideas first tested on the track a half century ago.

In 1953, Porsche created the 550 Coupe, a closed-top version of the legendary 550 Spyder, specifically for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The streamlined hardtop gave the car additional top-end speed on the over-three-mile Mulsanne Straight. As with the 550 Spyder, the engine was located midship, which provided near perfect balance and razorsharp steering response.

A mid-engine, streamlined coupe design is all well and good in a race car. But in a road car, practical issues intrude—for example, cargo room, driver and passenger comfort, and engine access. The Cayman S solves these challenges with the same aplomb it brings to twisting mountain roads. Like the 550, it is a performance sports coupe with a free-revving, high-torque, mid-mounted engine. Unlike its long-ago inspiration, the Cayman S is extraordinarily practical in everyday use.

In the cockpit, with the gently domed roof overhead, the driver enjoys unexpected spaciousness. The beautifully integrated clamshell door provides easy access to a large cargo shelf and, for servicing, to the engine compartment located underneath. And there’s yet more cargo space in the forward trunk. The coupe body-style also contributes to the car’s outstanding performance. The body shape is so aerodynamically refined, the drag coefficient is just 0.29—low even by sports car standards. The extremely rigid bodyshell provides improved responsiveness and all-around driving dynamics.

Look at the Cayman S and you immediately sense Porsche’s love of curves. In fact, the body’s sinuous surface represents an ideal adaptation of the twists and turns of our favorite roads. Each meeting of convex and concave surfaces is designed to move air with the utmost efficiency. The fact that they move the enthusiast’s soul is merely a happy coincidence. Front view.

Tour its surfaces, and you’ll see what we mean. The massive air intakes channel cooling air to the car’s twin radiators and brakes. To visually minimize the openings, the fog lights and sidelights are neatly positioned within the radiator openings. The eye-catching, circular light units are elegantly placed via horizontal struts, designed as part of the body.

The lower apron provides downforce to keep the front end grounded at high speeds, while the low-lying front trunk lid reduces drag. The raked headlamps and wheel arches present an almost seamless surface to the wind.