Following either front fender rearward along the lower sill line, which bends upward just aft of the door, finds a unique vertically
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| Porsche says the unique vertically fanned engine vent enhances cooling. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
fanned engine vent, a truly unorthodox styling element that Porsche says enhances cooling. Follow that line upward, as the eye naturally does, and the car's most distinctive design element comes to light, an almost flat rear surface treatment. OK, it's not flat, being canted at an angle, but compared to most coupes that gently curve outward as they approach their backsides, or alternatively are chopped off abruptly before forming into a conventional decklid, the Cayman's rear hatch leaves the passenger compartment and immediately dives down deeply, a straight line from top to bottom, visually interrupted by the tall haunches of its rear fenders - which are actually higher at their peaks than the car's liftgate. It's an odd sight, at first, and
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| The Cayman's rear fenders are actually higher at their peaks than the car's liftgate. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
even more troubling because it looks superb, but in so doing hardly follows any conventional rules of automotive design. How refreshing! It also aids the Cayman in achieving its 0.29 coefficient of drag (0.30 for the Tiptronic equipped model).
Compared to earlier Porsches, the Cayman's interior is a sight for sore eyes as well. Gone are the brittle plastics that made the brand's rather pricy optional full leather package, which covered the dash, centre stack and console edges, door trim and other surfaces, a necessary addition. The full leather package is still available, and a wonderful upgrade, but it's hardly needed now that the plastics are top-grade, switchgear second to none and overall design a pleasure to the senses.
