Porsche’s new Cayman is a humdinger

It's been a long time coming, but the Porsche Cayman GT4is a Cayman with the attitude we've all been craving, says Richard Meaden in Evo magazine.

It retains the "approachability and inherent balance" we've come toexpect from the Cayman models, but the lower, wider stance, the "downforce generating aerokit" and "ballsier motor" make it feel "altogether more serious". This is a "welcome addition to Porsche's most illustrious breed" for "hardcore enthusiasts".

This is more than just a Cayman with a bit more power though, says Georg Kacher in Car. It's a "circuit weapon" all about pure peformance, not posing. The engine never seems to run out of revs when it does, chances are you'll have run out of road and the performance is "the stuff goose pimples are made of".

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"It really is quite special Its rare combination of huge grip and traction yet involving, intuitive handling make this car a remarkable drive, even by Porsche standards.

Is it really worth £9k more than a Cayman GTS? In a word, yes." It's good value, agrees Ollie Marriage in Top Gear: the driving experience means it can "hold its head high alongside some very serious metal indeed". It's a "humdinger".

Price: £64,451.Engine: 3,800cc, flat 6Power: 380bhp at 7,400rpmTorque: 310 lb ft at 4,750rpmTop speed: 183mph0-62mph: 4.4 seconds

A cheaper alternative

The performance is "blistering" and the drive "exhilarating". It's essentially a track car with number plates an expensive toy few will be able to justify. But it doesn't pretend to be anything else. "And for that, we love it."

As a practical proposition, forget it, says Paul Horrell in Top Gear. It's hard to get into, it's cramped, the boot is tiny. And the price looks steep.

But for a car that gets to 60mph in the low fours, and something with its handling finesse, the price is a "ridiculously little" sum to pay. "There are plenty of supercars that can do similar things on a track. But out on the road a quick Elise is like no other car."

Price: £43,500Engine: 1,800cc, superchargedPower: 217bhp at 6,800rpmTop speed: 140mph0-62mph: 4.6 seconds