The first-gen Porsche Boxter (986) was only sold as a convertible, but it received a hard-top coupe derivative for its second outing (987), and this was the first of the Porsche 718 Cayman generations. It was on sale in the US for from 2006-2008. The 987.2 from model years 2009-2012 wasn’t a redesign of the Porsche 718 Cayman but a major refresh, with more power and revised looks. For the 2014 model year, wholesale changes to the Porsche 718 Cayman formula resulted in a complete redesign that lost the much-criticized fried-eggs headlights. The move to the fourth-gen 982 for MY2017 was controversial for the demise of the naturally aspirated flat-six engines, with less charismatic turbocharged four-cylinders now doing duty. The flat six would return to the Cayman for the 2020 GT4.
2019-Now Porsche 718 Cayman 982 (4th Gen) Facelift
By the time the 2019 facelift rolled in, a 365-hp version of the 2.5L engine was used in the GTS, and a year later, the GT4 reintroduced flat six-cylinder power to the range with a 414-hp 4.0L engine.
Engine
Transmission
Drivetrain
2.0L Turbo Flat 4 Gas
6-Speed Manual
Rear-Wheel Drive
2.5L Turbo Flat 4 Gas
7-Speed Automatic
4.0L Flat 6 Gas
982 Generation 718 Cayman Production Years:
2024 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
2023 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
2022 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
2021 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
2020 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
2019 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
TRIM
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION
DRIVETRAIN
982 Cayman
2.0L Turbo Flat 4 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
982 Cayman T
2.0L Turbo Flat 4 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
982 Cayman S
2.5L Turbo Flat 4 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
982 Cayman Style Edition
2.0L Turbo Flat 4 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
982 Cayman GTS
2.5L Turbo Flat 4 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
982 Cayman GTS 4.0
4.0L Flat 6 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
2017-2018 Porsche 718 Cayman 982 (4th Gen)
The redesigned 982 went the turbocharged four-cylinder route, with a 2.0L engine with 300 hp as the base engine and a 350-hp 2.5L as the S engine, using the same transmissions as the 981.
Engine
Transmission
Drivetrain
2.0L Turbo Flat 4 Gas
6-Speed Manual
Rear-Wheel Drive
2.5L Turbo Flat 4 Gas
7-Speed Automatic
982 Generation 718 Cayman Production Years:
2018 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
2017 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
TRIM
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION
DRIVETRAIN
982 Cayman
2.0L Turbo Flat 4 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
982 Cayman S
2.5L Turbo Flat 4 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
982 Cayman GTS
2.5L Turbo Flat 4 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
2014-2016 Porsche Cayman 981 (3rd Gen)
For the 2014-2016 model years, the third of the Porsche 718 Cayman generations was on sale, reverting to a 2.7L base engine with 275 hp and a 3.4L engine in the GTS with either 325 or 340 hp. A six-speed manual was available, as was a seven-speed dual-clutch PDK.
Engine
Transmission
Drivetrain
2.7L Flat 6 Gas
6-Speed Manual
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.4L Flat 6 Gas
7-Speed Automatic
981 Generation 718 Cayman Production Years:
2016 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
2015 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
2014 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
TRIM
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION
DRIVETRAIN
981 Cayman
2.7L Flat 6 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
981 Cayman Black Edition
2.7L Flat 6 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
981 Cayman S
3.4L Flat 6 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
981 Cayman GTS
3.4L Flat 6 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
2009-2012 Porsche Cayman 987.2 (2nd Gen) Facelift
For the 2009 model year, changes to the Porsche 718 Cayman included more powerful engines, with the 2.7L growing to a 2.9L with 265 hp and the 3.2 increasing in size to 3.4L, with 320 hp.
Engine
Transmission
Drivetrain
2.9L Flat 6 Gas
6-Speed Manual
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.4L Flat 6 Gas
7-Speed Automatic
987.2 Generation 718 Cayman Production Years:
2012 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
2010 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
2009 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
TRIM
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION
DRIVETRAIN
987.2 Cayman
2.9L Flat 6 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
987.2 Cayman S
3.4L Flat 6 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
987.2 Cayman R
3.4L Flat 6 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
987.2 Cayman S Black Edition
3.4L Flat 6 Gas
6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Automatic
RWD
2006-2008 Porsche Cayman 987.1 (2nd Gen)
The first Cayman came with flat six-cylinder engines in either 2.7 or 3.2 liters, with either 242 hp or 291 hp and a choice of five-speed transmissions – a manual and an auto.
Engine
Transmission
Drivetrain
2.7L Flat 6 Gas
5-Speed Automatic
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.4L Flat 6 Gas
5-Speed Manual
6-Speed Manual
987.1 Generation 718 Cayman Production Years:
2008 Porsche 718 Cayman Review
TRIM
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION
DRIVETRAIN
987.1 Cayman
2.7L Flat 6 Gas
5-Speed Automatic 5-Speed Manual
RWD
987.1 Cayman S
3.4L Flat 6 Gas
5-Speed Automatic 6-Speed Manual
RWD
987.1 Cayman S Design Edition
3.4L Flat 6 Gas
5-Speed Automatic 6-Speed Manual
RWD
987.1 Cayman S Sport
3.4L Flat 6 Gas
5-Speed Automatic 6-Speed Manual
RWD