The Porsche Cayman ($49,400) uses a 2.7-liter engine, a liquid-cooled boxer six making 245 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 201 pound-feet of torque between 4600 and 6000 rpm. A five-speed gearbox is standard. The five-speed automatic Tiptronic S transmission ($3,210) is optional. The front brake rotors are 11.73 inches in diameter and 0.94 inches thick, while the rears measure 11.78 by 0.79 inches. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard, with 205/55 front and 235/50 rear tires.

The Cayman S ($58,900) uses the same engine bored out to 3.4 liters; it's less stressed, with a slightly lower compression ratio and fewer horsepower per liter. It makes 295 horsepower, peaking at 6250 rpm. Torque is pumped up to 251 pound-feet, peaking at 4400 rpm and staying there to 6000. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, with the five-speed Tiptronic S ($3,210) optional. Brakes are bigger, with rotors that are 12.52 x 1.10 inches in front, and 11.78 x .94 rear; the 18-inch alloy wheels take 235/40 ZR18 front tires, and 265/40 ZR18 at the rear. The Cayman S also gets a nine-speaker Bose Surround Sound System.

Standard equipment includes power windows, cruise control, air conditioning, carbon-filter ventilation system, power leather seats, heated sideview mirrors, digital radio with in-dash CD and eight-speaker system.

Options include a choice of leather trim that can be ordered for virtually every interior piece of the car, including the dash, sun visors and steering column. There's also a choice of wood, carbon or aluminum trim, rear parking assist, heated seats, and a navigation system.

The main performance option is Porsche Active Suspension Management ($1990), which offers two shock absorber settings, Normal and Sport. Other options include bi-Xenon headlamps ($1090), 19-inch wheels and tires ($1550), and lightweight ceramic brake discs ($2000) meant to improve hard braking on the track. That's $2000 per wheel. There are always ways to spend money on a Porsche.

Safety features include anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, a tire pressure monitor, and six airbags: two in front, two thorax airbags mounted in the seats, and two head bags that deploy from the door windowsills.