Cayman is Porsche’s new Black

PORSCHE’S third black-themed limited-edition has emerged in the form of the Cayman S Black Edition, first Australian deliveries of which will begin in September.

As with the 911 and Boxster S Black Edition specials that debuted at the Geneva show in March, the mid-engined Black coupe will arrive with a host of additions over its donor model for no extra cost – in this case the $147,500 Cayman R.

Like the Black Boxster – but not the 911 Black - the Cayman Black also comes with a 7kW performance hike, in this case thanks to the same 243kW 3.4-litre flat six that powers the top-shelf Cayman R ($165,000).

Peak torque remains at 370Nm for all three Cayman 3.4s, but the Black coupe is more powerful than the Black convertible, which shares its 235kW engine with the Cayman S, while the Boxster remains less powerful at 228kW/360Nm.

Like the Cayman R, the Cayman Black’s direct-injection boxer six makes its peak power 200rpm higher at 7400rpm, shaving one-tenth from the regular Cayman S coupe’s 0-100km/h time.

That now stands at 5.1 seconds in six-speed manual guise, or 5.0 seconds with the optional seven-speed PDK twin-clutch automatic – and just 4.8 seconds with the also optional Sport Chrono package’s launch control feature.

Top speed is a tidy 279km/h, but the lighter Cayman R remains the quickest Cayman with a best 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds.

As the name suggests, the newest Cayman is available exclusively in black exterior paint and comes with numerous black interior details, including dashboard trim, gearshifter surround and instrument dials.

‘Black Edition’ door sills are fitted, along with a Sport Design steering wheel and the Porsche crest on the seat head restraints, while the glovebox lid lists the limited-edition build number.

Other extra equipment includes bi-Xenon headlights with dynamic cornering lights, automatic anti-dimming interior and exterior mirrors and rain-sensing wipers.

The Cayman S Black Edition rides on black 19-inch Boxster Spyder wheels that are one-inch taller than the standard Cayman S wheels and half an inch wider than its optional 19-inch wheels, but are heavier than the Cayman R's.

Tyres are similar to the Cayman R’s though: 235/35 ZR19s at the front and 265/35 ZR19s on the rear.

With just 500 examples to be built for global consumption, the Cayman S Black will be more exclusive than both the 911 Black (1911) and Boxster S Black (987), which should be swansong variants of both models before their replacements appear later this year.

The next all-new Cayman should follow the next-generation Boxster on sale globally in 2012. Both mid-engined models are expected to be produced not at Porsche’s Zuffenhausen factory in Stuttgart but the ex-Karmann factory in Osnabrück.

Cayman sales have dipped by almost 19 per cent this year in Australia after remaining steady in 2010, while Boxster sales have climbed almost 12 per cent so far in 2011 after being up more than 30 per cent last year.