DRIVEN + VIDEO: So, How Is The All-New Porsche 718 Cayman S? Still A Thrill?

Last year when we started seeing and hearing the all-new engines for the Porsche Boxster and Cayman we got a bit excited. That's because we knew they would be lighter and more powerful.

So far, so good!

There was just one problem when started getting better listens of the soundtrack. It was a four-cylinder motor, which is — frankly — not good. Though many automakers are able to do magical things with the power output and responsiveness, there's just no way out of it. Four-cylinder mills sound completely sh!t.

Though the 718's units are flat fours that tend to have a unique tone, it's been beat to death with an ugly stick. The all-new Boxster does not have that certain something that made it amazing. Hint: That little panache was the unreal six-cylinder.

Putting that aside, Autocar recently had some wheel time with the all-new 718 Cayman S. Considering how impressive it is as a handler, we were curious to learn more about whether or not it's still a thrill to pilot without that amazing six-cylinder wail.

Kick back and listen to Matt Prior lay it all out for you to play it out.


Porsche has launched the 718 Cayman, and we've driven it on the some of the finest roads in the UK.

Like the 718 Boxster we drove a few months ago, Porsche has given the 718 Cayman a four-cylinder turbocharged engine, rather than the old, soulful six-cylinder. Does it matter as much here? Or is the four-pot really a fine replacement?

We find out, and wonder: if the 718 Cayman still is as close as you can get to being the perfect sports car, what from Porsche's huge options list would you need to tick to make it the optimum version of it?

Which Cayman would you have?

MDarringer - 7/10/2016 10:58:14 PM

+1 Boost

They should have called it a 914...no one knows what a 718 is.

carloslassiter - 7/11/2016 10:01:11 PM

+2 Boost

Porsche needs to slot another model in between the Cayman and the 911, but be sure to make it look identical to both of those so no one can tell which one is which. Of course customers will still buy the 911, because it says "911" on it.

mini22 - 7/12/2016 11:43:38 PM

+1 Boost

Well it will offer all the performance one should need. It should be very fast around a race track. However for someone who has owned and enjoyed sports cars for a long time they might miss the proper engine noise that previous Boxsters and Cayman's have made. If they don't auto cross or do any track driving they might look at Jaguar, Corvette or even a Mustang GT 350. The experience including the noise becomes that much more important. The Boxster and Cayman now fail in this respect.