2014 Porsche Cayman Preview: Los Angeles Auto Show

Porsche is all about building sports cars for people who are passionate about the brand. Of course, the German automaker also produces a few other vehicles that help support that passion. Getting back to the core of what makes a Porsche a Porsche, however, all comes down to pure driving engagement and bliss. The Cayman is one of the cars in the Porsche lineup that speaks to just that idea, and it's all new for the 2014 model year.

This is the third-generation Cayman, and the new car boasts a long list of improvements over the car it replaces. It's lighter, more powerful, faster, yet it also achieves 32 miles per gallon on the highway. This is a gateway Porsche, and it could lead to a life filled with more crest-wearing cars down the road.

What’s New for the 2014 Porsche Cayman:

• The 2014 Porsche Cayman dropped 60 pounds over the outgoing model.
• Power is up for both the standard Cayman and the S. The base model produces 275 horsepower, while the S produces 325 horsepower.
• 0-60 miles per hour performance is improved. The base Cayman makes the dash in just over five seconds, while the S can do it the mid-to-high four second range.
• Optional extras now include Adaptive Cruise Control and a Burmeister audio system.
• The wheelbase is longer, and the chassis is brand new.

New 2014 Porsche Cayman: Styling and Design

Porsche designers have taken the old Cayman and adapted it to fit inline with the changing look found elsehwere in the family. The nose is very similar to the one found on the new 911, while the rear end mimics the one seen on the new Boxster. It's a great mash up of styles, and it suits the Cayman to a T. The entire package speaks to sophisticated aggression that looks to be dying to hit the canyons on the drive home from work.

New 2014 Porsche Cayman: What’s Under the Hood

Porsche will offer up two versions of the Cayman to start; the base and the S. At this time, we've heard no word on a new R version, but we wouldn't be surprised to see one in a year or two. The base Cayman is powered by a 2.7-liter flat six, which is rated to produce 275 horsepower and can be equipped with either a six-speed manual gearbox or the telepathic PDK dual-clutch automatic unit. Stepping up to the Cayman S nets you a 3.4-liter flat six, 325 horsepower, and a top speed of 175 miles per hour. The same transmissions are available with the Cayman S.

New 2014 Porsche Cayman: Features and Technology

Porsche engineers have employed a handful of technological tricks with the all-new Boxster, and they involve the engine. Both the base and S models benefit from direct injection, as well as thermal management, electronic recuperation, and start/stop functionality. These all work together to help the 2014 Cayman achieve the best fuel economy it can.

It's not all about fuel economy though, after all this is a Porsche we're talking about. The Porsche Active Stability Management system is back for 2014, and allows drivers to select a driving mode that suits their mode, be it Normal or Sport. There's much more for the new model though, and it arrives in the form of the optional Porsche Torque Vectoring system. This brilliant little exta moves power between the rear wheels to ensure that the Cayman is cornering as quickly as it can.

New 2014 Porsche Cayman: What Autobytel Thinks

The new Porsche 911 is certainly a great car, but if we were spending our own money it would go towards the all-new 2014 Cayman. It may be the younger sibling to the king of the family, but the Cayman combines go-kart like handling with its wonderful flat-six snarl. And it does this for much less than the price of entry into the world of the 911.

We can't wait to get our hands on the wheel and our butts in the seat to give you a better idea of just how great we expect this new Cayman to be. For now, we will give it one gigantic thumbs up, and it might just be one of our favorites from the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show.