Does Downsizing Ruin The Cayman?

The 718 has finally succumb to the future of downsizing and a flat flour engine now occupies the mid ship location previously reserved for Porsche’s glorious Flat 6. Sure the Flat 6s used in previous Caymans were great engines but they are sadly not long for this new world of Turbo charging and decreased displacements. We will miss their smooth power delivery and willingness to rev of the old engines, but can the added power and efficiency of the new Flat Fours make up for this loss? In his latest One Take Matt Farah takes the new Cayman S for an extensive drive to find out.

The Cayman has always been a car for people seeking out a Porsche driving experience but unwilling to spend the extra money on a 911. This entry-level sports car offered by Porsche is hardly a sacrifice, and is dynamically better off than its more expensive sibling thanks to its mid engine layout. The Cayman was a lucky car since it did not have decades of heritage to live up to, and could focus more on being a great car rather than pleasing brand purists. Up until now nobody ever complained that Porsche was losing sight of this models heritage until the introduction of the new engines.

See since the Cayman has always had a Flat 6 in the past, this new idea of less cylinders is too much change for the typical Porsche enthusiast. However, if you haven’t noticed, Porsche will always sacrifice heritage for better performance and efficiency. Sure they sell cars like the 911R but they are clearly more interested in making efficient cars and looking toward the future with models like the 918 and Mission-E concept. The Cayman 718 is simply keeping up with the brands continued pursuit of better performance.

The new Flat Four engines are more powerful and efficient than their 6 cylinder ancestors and use decades of forced induction experience to make them serious performance engines. Although they sound more like a Subaru than a Porsche they promise a bright future for those inclined to modify their cars in the pursuit of greater performance. Its always sad to see a great naturally aspirated engine die, but the future looks promising for Porsche enthusiasts if they can stomach a $50,000 four cylinder coupe.