The Porsche 718 Cayman has been named ‘Best Sports Car’ at the annual What Car? Car of the Year Awards held in London last night.
The latest and fourth generation of the mid-engined, two-seater sports coupé is distinguished by its distinctive athletic and purposeful appearance, with new flat-four turbocharged ‘boxer’ engines delivering upwards of 300 hp beating at its heart.
Since its debut in 2005, the Porsche Cayman has earned a particular reputation as a driver’s car among owners and fans alike. Now, the new 718 Cayman aims to once more set the class benchmark for driving performance. This latest recognition by the top-selling monthly motoring magazine is a further endorsement of this status.
Like the 718 Boxster, the new 718 Cayman models continue the tradition of the Porsche 718 mid-engined sports cars that won numerous races in the 1950s and 1960s, powered by four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engines.
The 718 Cayman is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine with turbocharging developing 300 hp (220 kW).
The magazine’s judging panel commented; “…with balletic handling and wonderfully accurate steering, (it) is the perfect recipe for having fun on the road. Put simply, the Cayman will make you want to get up early for a blast on a country road, plus it won’t get fractious on long motorway drives.”
The judge’s verdict was emphatic; “the Porsche is cracking value for money.”
In addition to the Cayman scooping the overall Sports Car Award, the new Porsche 911 Carrera PDK also placed first in the £50,000 - £100,000 category.
The 911 has been the world’s best-selling sports car for decades. The latest generation is equipped to extend this status ever ahead into the future. New highlights include innovative twin-turbocharged flat-six engines, an advanced chassis with an even greater spread between performance and comfort, and a new infotainment system. With the benefit of more than four decades of experience with turbocharging – in both motor racing and production sports cars – the new engines in the new 911 Carrera set benchmarks in terms of performance, driving pleasure and efficiency.
The road testers at What Car? observed that the 911 Carrera “handles superbly” and is “able to deliver a serious adrenaline rush.”
The core appeal of the rear-mounted flat-six engine in the 911 and its characteristic sporting driving experience resonate with owners and enthusiasts alike. This reputation for responsive and dynamic performance, forged both on the road and race track, coupled with unparalleled everyday usability, underpins the unstinting appeal of the 911.
And the What Car? judges agreed; “…one of the 911’s great strengths (is) the fact that it can thrill you one minute and pamper you the next. It’s one of the most well-rounded sports cars on the planet.”
In the separate category for SUV cars, Porsche also scored highly with the Macan S Diesel clinching top spot in the up to £50,000 price band.
As the sports car of the compact SUV segment, the Porsche Macan has been setting standards in terms of driving dynamics – on both paved streets and uneven terrain. The Macan combines the typical handling characteristics that Porsche has represented right from the outset: maximum acceleration and braking values, vast engine power, extreme agility and optimum steering precision. What's more, all of these features are teamed with a high level of comfort and everyday suitability.
With a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine and 258 hp (190 kW), the Macan S Diesel is the long-distance sports car. The engine accelerates from 0-62 mph in 6.3 seconds and can return up to 46.3 mpg (NEDC) Combined.
This positioning was endorsed by the What Car? judges, commenting that the Macan “offers a brilliant blend of luxury, performance and practicality” and its “precise steering and brakes make it far more driver-focussed than its rivals.”
“Ultimately, if you want a sporty, compact SUV that has a suitably premium badge, the Macan is by far the best choice…”