It’s not easy to spot the external changes, but the new Cayman T’s most distinguishing features are 20-inch Titanium Grey alloy wheels and grey door mirror shells. At the rear, you’ll find the central, twin exhaust tailpipe is finished in black and the Cayman T logo is finished in Agate Grey. Overall, the look is pared-back, purposeful, enhanced by the lower ride height of the S. The same ethos continues inside, with a shortened gearshift, high-gloss black trim strips and Porsche’s Sports Seats plus. Door pulls are in minimalist nylon, and there’s a simple storage compartment where the infotainment goes in other models (though this is available as an option).
PERFORMANCE
With the 300PS 2.0-litre flat four from the 718 model Cayman sitting low and in the vehicle’s centre of gravity, you’re assured of an entertaining drive. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 5.1 seconds though if you opt for the PDK transmission and Launch Control you can cut this to 4.7s. Thanks to the turbo, the peak torque of 380Nm starts at just 1,950 and continues unabated up to 4,500rpm. Top speed is 170mph. Porsche’s Sport Chrono Pack is standard on the Cayman T, offering a choice of Normal, Sport and Sport Plus driving modes. The chassis features the lower ride height and stiffer springs of the S, there’s torque vectoring with a mechanical rear diff lock, and new dynamic gearbox mounts, the latter claimed by Porsche to improve precision and stability.
TECHNOLOGY
The Cayman T has plenty of high-tech systems to enhance grip, handling and stability but inside the cockpit has a storage space where the infotainment system goes on other models. This is all part of the purist intent for this model and helps to bring the all-up weight down to 1350kg. If you can’t live without built-in audio and sat-nav then the Connect Plus module is available, with Porsche Car Connect and Apple® CarPlay, LTE telephone module with SIM card reader, wireless internet access, online navigation and Porsche Connect services.
SAFETY
Porsche has pared down the Cayman T to offer a pure driving experience but that doesn’t include skimping on safety. Full-size driver and passenger airbags come as standard. The Porsche Side Impact Protection System (POSIP comprises side impact protection elements in the doors and two airbags on each side. There’s an integral thorax airbag in each seat side bolster, while the door panels each contain an upwards-inflating head airbag.
