Design
The 2006 Porsche Cayman’s designer says there are lots of beautiful cars on the road, and is first to admit that this is not one of them.
“There are lots of beautiful cars,” says Matthias Kulla, who led the 2006 Porsche Cayman design team. He admits that the Cayman S isn’t one of them. The roof’s profile seems a little too thick, the rear fenders too high and the functional vents just fore of the rear wheels a little awkward. “But,” he says, “we weren’t trying to build the most beautiful car, but the most emotional…the most memorable.” In that he succeeds. Once the initial shock of this unusual Porsche has worn off, the Cayman takes on its own identity. It grows on you, especially when you watch it move. It, like a skilled athlete in top form, becomes beautiful. Kulla says his objective was to make a car that would catch light and cast shade in different ways in different places so that with every look it appears new and fresh. Not wanting to merely mimic past Porsche design, he aimed to create distinctive elements, like those high rear fenders, which, incidentally, make the 2006 Cayman the only car with fenders higher than its deck. And, because the Cayman’s greenhouse sweeps well over the rear wheels, the whole effect is one of tensed, explosive energy. The 2006 Porsche Cayman’s interior is largely borrowed from the Boxster, with the exception, of course, of the large rear cargo area. In our well-optioned tester, the cockpit was like a leather-lined room, with high-grade hide stretched on every surface. Bits of aluminum trim provided nice contrast and the switchgear was solid, well-marked and arranged in an intuitive manner. The sport seats hugged like a prom date, but, unlike that overbearing person, didn’t become uncomfortable after a few hours. Back to that large cargo area, and the Cayman’s surprising practicality. Between its two cargo spaces, there’s 14.4 cubic feet of volume for carrying your favorite leather luggage – up to 9.1 cubic feet under the rear hatch and a 5.3 cu.-ft. well up front under the hood. All together, that’s just a briefcase less than a Toyota Camry. Indeed, there aren’t many true sports cars with the capacity for you and someone special to escape for a long weekend plus room for your golf clubs.
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