Resplendent in Ruby Star Neo, the 718 Cayman Style Edition certainly draws attention – which seems to be the primary reason for its existence
Words: James Fossdyke Images: Barry Hayden
The definition of style is ever-changing. After all, things drift in and out of fashion and favour with each successive change of wind direction. With this in mind, naming a new car Style Edition is a bold move, but perhaps we should give Porsche a bit of leeway with its striking new 718 Boxster and Cayman trim presentations? After all, this is the brand responsible for the 356 and air-cooled 911, cars favoured by style icons of the silver screen, including James Dean and Steve McQueen. And yet, it’s hard to look at the new 718 Cayman Style Edition and not feel confronted by the recent Barbiecore trend. I can almost hear Aqua’s squeaky bubblegum pop music as I write these words.
In fairness, Ruby Star Neo is inspired more by the gleaming annals of Porsche history than the archives of Mattel — as most of you will know, this particular colour is based on Rubystar Red, made famous by the 964 RS and 944 S2. Ruby Star Neo isn’t specific to the 718, though. This arresting hue is available across both the 911 and 718 ranges, but serves as launch colour for the Style Edition, which contrasts the bright paintwork with white wheels, white body stripes and white rear badge lettering.
As a result of Porsche also offering the Style Edition with black body stripes, black wheels and black badge lettering, you don’t have to stick with the colour scheme seen in our photographs, but let’s face it: white works brilliantly against Ruby Star Neo. All things considered, however, resale value will probably be higher if you stick with Guards Red or Racing Yellow paintwork, both of which are available alongside numerous other popular shades from the Porsche colour catalogue.
The divisive Ruby Star Neo might be the biggest talking point with this new Cayman, but it’s far from the only talking point. As standard, you get twenty-inch alloy wheels, black sports tailpipes and sparkling silver Porsche lettering across the tail. Buyers can elect to dismiss the body stripes (applied to the doors and frunk) or, as intimated, pick between a choice of black or white decals. No matter which accent you choose, you’ll get a coloured Porsche crest for each wheel, as opposed to the monochrome hub caps found on the standard Cayman.
Inside the car resides black leather with contrasting Chalk stitching and embossed Porsche crests on the head restraints. Illuminated stainless steel door sill protectors also feature, as does a heated steering wheel, complementing automatic mirror dimming and wiper operation. This is in addition to standard 718 Cayman features, such as the central infotainment system and an instrument display comprising a combination of analogue and digital dials. Apple CarPlay is also included as standard, along with Android Auto and heated seats.
As a result, the overall impression is much the same as that of the standard 718 Cayman. This is fine — the quality is good and there isn’t too much wrong with the styling, although the infotainment system is starting to show its age — but it means the Style Edition fails to feel any more special than a regular Cayman. There’s no major difference lifting the cabin any more than a few considered cost options can manage, although if you stick with the aforementioned decorative body stripes, you can see the frunk-stuck decal from the driving seat.
On a more positive note, the lack of major differences in the cabin means the Style Edition is just as practical as a standard Cayman, offering a 150-litre front luggage compartment and a further 150 litres between the rear window and the engine bay. In truth, the space isn’t massive, and bulky items will be tricky to squeeze in, but the 718 should be spacious enough for a couple’s weekend away. Not that practicality is really the point of any Cayman, special edition or otherwise.
The Style Edition’s two-litre turbocharged flat-four may not be the pinnacle of the range — this Porsche powerplant has been sneered at ever since the 718 Cayman’s introduction — but were it not for the six-cylinder engines in Caymans of old, it wouldn’t have too many detractors. Admittedly, the two-litre boxer is shown up by the normally aspirated four-litre flat-six powering the 718 GTS 4.0, but with 295bhp and a seventy-kilogram weight saving, the Style Edition is hardly a slouch. Our test car came equipped with the fabulous PDK seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox, allowing the sprint to 62mph from rest in 4.9 seconds (a two-tenth improvement on the optional manual gearbox), romping on to top speed of 170mph. This means the Style Edition is less than half a second slower to 62mph than the GTS 4.0 and just 12mph lower in the top speed stakes, not that many buyers will ever explore the true performance potential of this new Porsche.
The big difference, therefore, is the noise. The flat-four doesn’t sound spectacular, although being horizontally opposed, it’s nowhere near as dull as an inline-four in standard trim. Compared to a six-cylinder 718 Cayman engine, however, the two-litre unit sounds decidedly tame. This is despite the inclusion of the sportier tailpipes, which change note (slightly) when Sport or Sport Plus driving modes are engaged on the optional Sport Chrono package. Ultimately, this Cayman never feels as sonorous or as rich as the GTS 4.0.
The seventy-kilogram weight saving doesn’t only help when it comes to performance. It allows the Style Edition (and the basic 718 Cayman on which it is based) to be more economical than more powerful versions of the ‘baby 911’. For example, where a PDK-equipped GTS 4.0 will guzzle a gallon of super unleaded every twenty-eight miles, the Style Edition manages up to 31.7mpg (according to official economy tests). We found it even easier on fuel during a long journey, nudging 40mpg on the motorway. It’s worth noting how PDK-equipped 718 Caymans are (on paper, at least) more efficient than their manual siblings, despite the semi-automatic transmission adding an extra thirty kilograms.
This is a Porsche, which means we must address the question of handling. We’re accustomed to the fact every Cayman drives brilliantly, but take our advice and pay extra for the Sport Chrono package, which gives you access to various driving modes. In Sport, the car feels sharper and more eager, particularly with the PDK gearbox. Sport Plus, meanwhile, really makes this 718 come alive.
Our car was also fitted with the optional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system, which lowers ride height by ten millimetres and provides an adjustable damper setting. Combine the two systems and you can really exploit the Cayman’s abilities, which are more than plentiful. Make no mistake, with its relatively light engine positioned amidships, the Style Edition is a beautifully balanced car. Porsche’s sublime steering feel only adds to the sense of great control. And because this is one of the lighter Cayman models available, it feels more agile than its six-cylinder siblings. It isn’t a world of difference, but enough to feel a fraction nimbler when you push on.
This Cayman certainly gives you every encouragement to do so. With the dampers in their sportiest setting, the car feels incredibly tactile and responsive, while grip is ample, noted when the nose darts into corners. Even when you’re in comfortable cruising mode, this Porsche feels sharper than most sports coupes. Whichever way you cut it, the Style Edition is a stonkingly good Porsche, keeping the Cayman’s reputation intact despite the questionable colour scheme.
There is, however, a trade-off with PASM. While the Style Edition is remarkably supple when the system’s softer driving mode is selected — especially when compared to more aggressive Caymans and the 992-generation Carrera — the sportier damper mode is, well, quite stiff. You effectively trade a substantial chunk of comfort for a minor improvement in control and responsiveness. While this might be absolutely fine on a racetrack, the more savage ride quickly becomes tiresome on the road, especially in the UK, where potholes are rife.
Leave the dampers in their softer setting, though, and the Style Edition’s ride is near perfect. Despite the presence of larger wheels than those of the standard 718 Cayman, the absorption on offer is such that the Style Edition feels very comfortable, even on a long drive, although the supportive seats may be a contributing factor. Either way, the Style Edition makes a surprisingly pleasant long-distance companion. Road trips really aren’t as tricky as might reasonably be expected.
Until, that is, you get to a speed bump. Working on the assumption you approach humps in the road with a modicum of care, the previously mentioned ten-millimetre drop in ride height isn’t a problem, but even the most careful of drivers will occasionally find the underside of their new Style Edition scraping over the top of a sleeping policeman. In a car this bright, the resultant noise can make the car’s occupants feel decidedly conspicuous.
At least, by Porsche standards, they aren’t worrying about an especially expensive car. Granted, in anyone’s book, our test Style Edition’s recommended retail price of more than sixty-five grand isn’t cheap, but given the Cayman range extends well past the £100,000 mark, the Style Edition is one of the less expensive options. In fact, with a list price of £56,000 on the dot, this two-seater tin-top commands a premium of just £4,200 over the standard 718 Cayman. Given twenty-inch wheels are ordinarily an option costing almost £2,000, and not forgetting the heated steering wheel would be an extra £362, the Style Edition doesn’t appear to be bad value for money. As long as those are the options you’d choose, of course.
Our test car’s nine grand’s worth of additional kit didn’t include some of the gadgets we’d have liked, such as adjustable electric sports seats. And although Porsche has made a song and dance about Ruby Star Neo, it’s a £1,824 option. At least Guards Red and Racing Yellow are offered free of charge. In this context, it’s difficult to describe the Style Edition as truly great value for money. While £4,200 isn’t a huge amount of cash in the Porsche world, it’s enough to pay for a couple of choice extras on a boggo 718 Cayman.
All of which means the Style Edition doesn’t make much sense. In fact, the more we think about it, the more surprised we are Porsche bothered developing this Cayman. With a higher price tag than a basic 718, no extra performance and nothing to really make it feel more special, it’s a bit of a damp squib for anyone not excited by go-faster stripes. If you want a new Cayman with a few mechanical upgrades and a smattering of luxury equipment, you’re far better off buying a standard model and personalising it.
This sounds like more of an indictment of the Style Edition than it should be. This isn’t a bad car by any stretch of the imagination. It’s a new Cayman, after all, and even in two-litre form, the 718 is a brilliant sports car. We have no doubt the Style Edition’s looks will hold appeal in some quarters, too. There is a place for this car in Porsche’s current product range, if only to show prospective Cayman purchasers the various personalisation options available.
We’re also not oblivious to Porsche using the Style Edition as a way of proving the brand has retained its sense of fun. The paint job alone has caused a splash. When all is said and done, this is a good publicity stunt for our favourite manufacturer. The fact it’s a great car is a bonus – it isn’t the 718 we’d choose, but we’re glad it exists
