2006 PORSCHE CAYMAN ESP

· 48 ·Rear axle with McPherson struts and lateral control arms (Cayman S) Front axle with McPherson struts and lateral control arms (Cayman S)The new Cayman and the Cayman S |
Chassis
Suspension.
A mid-engined layout with low
centre of gravity provides the
perfect foundation for agile,
dynamic performance. Combined
with a rigid bodyshell construction,
the potential benefits are multiplied.
All it takes to reap those benefits
and apply them to the road is a
suitable chassis concept.
On both Cayman models, that
chassis is based on McPherson-
strut suspension at front and
rear. Proven by Porsche on roadand track, this simple combination
of coil-over struts and lateral
control arms is key to the
character of the car. When
designing the suspension, the
absolute priority was to bring
maximum drive to the road. This
immediacy of response shouldalso be matched by the quality
of feedback and comfort.
To achieve those objectives,
we’ve used a generous ‘track’
or distance between the wheels
on each axle. Springs, shock
absorbers and anti-roll bars are
rated for high-speed cornering.
Lightweight materials, intelligently
applied, provide a further
reduction in sprung and unsprungmass. Virtually all moving parts
on the axle assemblies are made
from aluminium.
The resulting chassis is equally
accomplished during high-speed
manoeuvres and in tight, twisting
bends. There is no unwanted
movement within the suspension,
and virtually no susceptibility
to pitch and roll under cornering,
acceleration and braking.
Performance is matched by
exceptional active safety on every
type of road. The stability of the
car is extremely good, enabling a
sensitive response in every road
scenario. In simple terms, that
means greater reserves of safety,
regardless of load, as well
as natural resistance to lift-off
oversteer. Cornering stability
is second to none, even during
racetrack use.
The optimum connection
between driver and road.
Chassis systems on the new Cayman and the Cayman S.
· 49 ·

· 51 · · 50 ·The new Cayman and the Cayman S |
Chassis
Steering.
What use is a perfect suspension
setup without equally effective
steering?
At Porsche, we design these two
key elements as one inseparable
whole. The steering system has
an immediacy and precision that
exactly complement thesuspension. Every steering input is
instantly converted into a positive
and accurate response. This is
achieved through a combination
of high-precision front axle
kinematics and power-assisted,
rack-and-pinion steering with
variable-ratio gearing. At the
straight-ahead position, the ratio
is less direct, enabling smoother
manoeuvres during motorway use.Turn the wheel harder, and the
ratio increases, allowing easier
cornering and parking.
This immediacy of response is
backed by excellent road contact
and a modest turning circle of just
11.1 metres. The result: even
greater comfort and active safety.The standard three-spoke steering
wheel offers generous height and
reach adjustment. The steering
wheel rim has a leather finish in
your chosen interior colour. Two
additional three-spoke wheels –
multifunction and sports – are
available as optional equipment
(see pages 107 and 109).
Wheels.
The new Cayman comes with
17-inch wheels as standard
featuring an attractive twin-spoke
design. The Cayman S runs on
18-inch wheels with five-spoke
styling derived from the Carrera
GT. Both standard wheels have a
lightweight construction and run
flush with the exterior of the car.
A range of 18 and 19-inch wheels
are also available as optional
equipment (see page 105). All
standard and optional wheels
come with anti-theft protection.
18-inch Cayman S wheel17-inch Cayman wheel
Tyre Pressure Monitoring
(TPM).
This optional system provides
early warning of any drop
in pressure via the on-board
computer display.
Cayman S

· 53 · · 52 ·The new Cayman and the Cayman S |
Chassis
Porsche Active Suspension
Management (PASM).
PASM is an electronic damping
control system. Available on
both Cayman models, it offers
continuous adjustment of
individual damping forces based
on current road conditions and
driving style. Agility and driving
pleasure are significantly
enhanced while retaining the
car’s natural ride quality. Equipped
with PASM, the car rides 10 mm
lower than with the standard
steel-sprung suspension.
The driver can choose one of
two setup modes, ‘Normal’ or
‘Sport’. While the first is a blend
of performance and comfort, the
‘Sport’ setup ratings are generally
much firmer, enabling greater
agility on the racetrack. In either
mode, the system responds to
changing loads by automatically
applying the optimum damping
rate on each individual wheel.
The rates are selected from a
range of map options which are
specially adapted to the unique
dynamics of the Cayman and
Cayman S.
The movement of the body is
continuously monitored under
acceleration, braking and cornering
manoeuvres, as well as on poor
road surfaces. Other sensors
provide additional information on
lateral acceleration, steering
angle, brake pressure and engine
torque. A dedicated control unitprovides real-time analysis and
damper adjustment as defined
for the respective setup mode
(‘Normal’ or ‘Sport’). The result:
greater stability and more
consistent occupant comfort.
If, when ‘Sport’ mode is selected,
the quality of road surface drops
below a certain threshold, the
system immediately switches
to
a softer rating and restores
the car’s traction and grip.
When the road surface improves,
PASM returns to the original,
harder ratings. The system
remains active in ‘Normal’ mode,
too, automatically switching to a
harder setup if the car is driven
more assertively. As the dampers
become stiffer, the car becomes
more stable and driver control is
improved.
Rebound in ‘Normal’ mode –
damper piston with bypass
valve openRebound in ‘Sport’ mode –
damper piston with bypass
valve closed
Compression in ‘Sport’ mode –
damper piston with bypass
valve closed Compression in ‘Normal’ mode –
damper piston with bypass
valve open

· 54 ·The new Cayman and the Cayman S |
Chassis
a more natural and involving
response to lateral and longitudinal
forces. Cornering agility is
considerably enhanced, with
greater scope for oversteer on
turn-in and exit. This additional
manoeuvrability is particularly
apparent in lower-speed sequences
and bends.
For maximum dexterity, PSM can
be set to standby while the car is
still in ‘Sport’ mode. PSM simply
monitors the forces acting on the
car and will only intervene in the
most critical scenarios, e.g., when
ABS assistance is required on both
front brakes.
To help you quantify this increase
in performance, the Sport Chrono
Package includes a compact timer
with swivel display which is
centrally located on the dashboard.
Functions are accessed via the
control stalk for the on-board
computer. Analogue dials measure
hours, minutes and seconds, while
a separate digital field displays
whole seconds, tenths and one
hundredths of a second. The digital
field runs in parallel with a second
digital display which is conveniently
located in the instrument cluster.
Sport Chrono Package Plus.
This enhanced Sport Chrono option
is available in conjunction with the
optional Porsche Communication
Management (PCM – see page 86).
It offers all the same functions as
the Sport Chrono Package as well
as some additional information
options and features.
‘Sport’ button on centre console
Lap or journey times can be
viewed, stored and analysed using
a special performance display in
PCM. The information available
includes time elapsed and
distance travelled on the current
lap, as well as the number of laps
completed and their respective
times. You can also view the
current fastest lap as well as the
remaining range till empty. Driving
times can be recorded for any
stretch of road, and benchmark
times defined. Other useful features
include a personal memory
function which is also controlled
via PCM. This can be used to store
personal preferences for a range
of systems, including daytime
running lights, ‘Welcome Home’
lighting, optional automatic air
conditioning and door-lock
settings.
· 55 ·
Sport Chrono Package.
Both Cayman models, like every
Porsche, have lots of performance
in reserve.
To help you explore even more
of that potential, there’s the
optional Sport Chrono Package.
This unique range of functions
provides simultaneous enhancement
of the engine and chassis for even
greater driving pleasure.
When you activate the package
using the ‘Sport’ button in the
Throttle response
in ‘Sport’ mode
Throttle
response in
‘Normal’ mode
Both sets of characteristics
are dependent on engine
speed.
Pedal travel (%)
(%) Torque
(as percentage of maximum)
Comparison of throttle maps in ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’ mode
centre console, the throttle
becomes more responsive, the
rev limiter becomes harder, and
the engine dynamics become
more like those of a racing car.
While this is happening, the
optional sports exhaust system
(see page 41) and optional PASM
are also switching to ‘Sport’ mode.
The baseline damper rating is
now considerably firmer, enabling
faster turn-in as well as better
road-holding and traction.On vehicles equipped with
optional Tiptronic S, the automatic
gearshift is noticeably more
dynamic. Upshifts and downshifts
are performed at higher revs with
a faster gearshift action. When
you lift off the throttle to slow the
car, engine braking is applied
sooner. There are no unwanted
upshifts in manual mode when
approaching the engine speed limit.
To minimise assistance from
Porsche Stability Management
(PSM – see page 64), its trigger
threshold is raised. The result is
Sport Chrono timer

· 57 · · 56 ·
SafetyPerformance is crucial in a
genuine sportscar. But then so are
all aspects of safety. At Porsche,
we believe that nothing is more
important than this balance of
power and control. The stability
of a car is inextricably linked
with its engine and chassis
performance. Neither can be
considered in isolation. Neither
is complete on its own. In the
Cayman and Cayman S, we’ve
used a comprehensive range of
protective features that are
designed around the driver and
passenger. Inherent within themare the very highest standards of
active and passive safety. Only
then do we arrive at a car that is,
in all respects, instantly Porsche.

4-piston monobloc brake calipers

Porsche Stability Management (PSM)

2 full-size front airbags

Porsche Side Impact Protection
(POSIP)

Porsche Ceramic Composite
Brake (PCCB – optional)

Bi-Xenon headlights (optional)

· 61 · · 60 ·The new Cayman and the Cayman S |
Safety
The brakes are cooled using a
special ventilation system which
channels air from the front
of the car to every part of each
assembly. This arrangement
ensures consistently high levels
of performance and durability,
particularly during heavy use.
The internally vented discs on the
new Cayman measure 298 mm
in diameter at the front of the car
and 299 mm at the rear. On the
Cayman S, the front diameter
is 318 mm. On both models, the
discs are cross-drilled to improve
wet-weather response and
minimise unsprung weight. The
calipers on the new Cayman
have a black anodised finish, while
those on the Cayman S are
painted red.
Standard brake unit (Cayman S) Standard brake unit (Cayman)Cayman
Braking system.
Both the Cayman and Cayman S
are exceptionally quick under
acceleration. Even more impressive
is the speed of response from
the standard braking system.
Several times more powerful
than the flat-six engine, the
brakes are crucial to the overall
performance of each car.
All four brake calipers have a
four-piston monobloc aluminium
construction. Key characteristics
include excellent rigidity, compact
dimensions and a very modest
contribution to unsprung weight.
The fast and positive pedal
response is eagerly assisted by a
powerful vacuum brake booster.

· 63 · · 62 ·
lighter than metal, but also
harder and more resistant to
high temperatures.
Within each disc is a system of
internal channels which provide
highly efficient heat dispersal,
particularly during heavy use. An
area of ongoing development,
we’ve now doubled the number
of channels and optimised the
airflow characteristics. With twice
the number of internal walls, thenew PCCB disc has even greater
structural stability. The ring of
vent openings around the outer
rim is one of the key distinguishing
features of this technology.
Matched to the disc is a special
brake-pad compoun d offering
rapid deceleration and consistent
friction properties. The front pads
are mounted in six-piston monobloc
aluminium calipers, while those at
the rear come in four-piston units.
Porsche Ceramic Composite
Brake (PCCB).
The Cayman S is also available
with a carbon fibre-reinforced
ceramic brake system: the
Porsche Ceramic Composite
Brake (PCCB). The PCCB disc is
made from a specially treated
carbon-fibre compound that is
silicated in a high-vacuum process
at 1,700 ºC. The result is a
product that is not only much
The overall response is fast and
precise, with only moderate pedal
force required. The front disc
diameter – 350 mm – is larger
than that of the standard metal
disc. The longer radius brings
increased leverage and therefore
additional performance.
Even at high temperatures, the
thermal resistance of the ceramic
disc ensures excellent dimensional
stability. The ceramic material istotally resistant to corrosion and
offers excellent acoustic damping
properties. Braking distances
are significantly reduced in even
the toughest road and track
conditions. Inherent fade resistance
ensures optimum balance when
slowing the car from high speed.
Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) The new Cayman and the Cayman S |
Safety
Cayman S
The key advantage of PCCB is
its ultra-lightweight construction.
Compared with conventional metal
discs, it offers a remarkable
weight saving of approximately
50 %.
As well as enhancing performance
and fuel economy, this represents
an enormous reduction in both
unsprung and rotating mass –
important factors when it comes
to handling, agility and comfort.
To find out more, see the latest
PCCB brochure.

· 64 ·The new Cayman and the Cayman S |
Safety
it can never suspend the laws of
physics, PSM does provide that
extra margin of safety whenever
you need it most. A key component
in PSM is a specially optimised
anti-lock braking system (ABS)
offering safer deceleration and
shorter braking distances. PSM
is also invaluable when applying
the throttle on low-grip surfaces.
Here, it uses the ABD (automatic
brake differential) and ASR
(anti-slip regulation) functions to
maintain traction and stability.
In order to retain the car’s natural
agility, PSM combines a high
trigger threshold with precision
input characteristics.
Porsche Stability
Management (PSM).
This automatic vehicle stability
control system is standard
equipment on both Cayman
models. Throughout each journey,
PSM uses a range of sensors to
monitor the direction, speed, yaw
velocity and lateral acceleration
of the car. Using this information,
it is possible to calculate the
actual direction of travel at any
given moment. If the car begins
to oversteer or understeer,
PSM applies selective braking on
individual wheels to restore
stability and optimum speed. WhileThe PSM threshold is raised
higher still when ‘Sport’ mode is
selected on the optional Sport
Chrono Package/Sport Chrono
Package Plus. The resulting
drive is much more involving,
particularly at speeds up to
around 70 km / h (44 mph). If
you’d rather enjoy the car
unassisted, the system can be set
to standby. When ‘Sport’ mode is
selected, PSM will only intervene
under heavy braking where both
front wheels are in danger of
locking. In ‘Normal’ mode, PSM
automatically becomes active
as soon as one of the front
wheels requires ABS assistance.The upper section of each door
features additional reinforcements
(3) which enhance the rigidity of
the car. This upper load path (4)
is used to channel energy into
the side of the car and thus
provide additional protection for
the passenger cell.
Passive safety.
Both Cayman models easily
comply with all statutory
requirements in respect of frontal,
side, diagonal, rear impact and
rollover protection.
The bodyshell structure contains
a highly resilient passenger
cell offering exceptional crash
protection. At the front of the
car, the cell is protected by a
patented system of longitudinal
and transverse members (1). In
the event of an accident, energy
is absorbed and distributed by
the front-end structure, thereby
minimising cell deformation.
Additional features include a
bulkhead cross-member (2) made
from super high-strength steel.
This element is designed to
absorb impact forces from the
longitudinal members and thus
protect both front footwells.
· 65 ·
Sheet steel
Tailored blanks
High-strength steel
Super high-strength steel
Aluminium
1
1
1
1
3
42
Cayman