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Mid-Engine Design

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Mid-Engine Design CHRISTOPHORUS | 359 TO THE POINT TO THE POINT CHRISTOPHORUS | 359 “It’s the mid-engine design 359 TO THE POINT: that makes the Cayman what it is and ensures a special MID-ENGINE DESIGN driving experience.” Mid-engine sports cars have a long tradition at Porsche. The new Cayman interprets this technical concept to the benefi t of increased driving pleasure. Two experts compare notes on theory and practice: Hans-Jürgen Wöhler, director of the Boxster and Cayman series, talks with Porsche test driver Timo Kluck about dynamism, balance, and lightness. Timo Kluck: I have to say, Mr. Wöhler, that Wöhler: I’m happy to accept the compliment. ing itself into curves, for example—it doesn’t car that doesn’t overtax you, making for a ensure that there’s enough ground clearance, Wöhler: It has to do with the concept again, the Cayman has become very light-footed … Your impressions capture exactly what the throw itself out of curves. A high degree of good balance. It’s no coincidence that many and the springs, of course, have to travel as because it’s what creates the general condi- new Cayman is supposed to express. Its styl- dynamism always also means a high level of of the great racing cars are built on a mid-en- well. But with the boxer engine and its hori- tions. For us that means basing the entire Hans-Jürgen Wöhler: May I take that as a ing is even more dynamic, and it sits even stability and, therefore, an advantage when it gine principle. Th at, by the way, is one of the zontally placed cylinders, we’ve got the best vehicle—from the body shell to the tires— compliment? more solidly on the road. It has a much more comes to safety. In a mid-engine sports car, questions people ask me most often: What is conditions for getting as low as possible. on the centrally placed engine. We’ve im- extroverted character than before, and its you feel like you’re wearing a tailored suit. it about these centrally-placed engines? And And we’re constantly working on further de- proved the aerodynamics, and another thing Kluck: Absolutely! Among test drivers, light- presence is more expressive. Th at was a very how do you explain that to them? veloping the overall design. which is very crucial is that we’ve increased footedness means that the Cayman keeps the major step. Wöhler: It’s the mid-engine design that the strength of the shell yet again. I can only best possible grip even while changing lanes makes the Boxster and Cayman what they Wöhler: Th e mid-engine principle is clearly Kluck: When testing the car I was immedi- agree with your impressions. rapidly through a series of curves. Braking, Kluck: Th e interior appearance is also im- are. Th e direct connection between the driv- defi ned. It says that the engine sits between ately pleased to notice the longer wheelbase, turning in, riding the gas—I’ve just come pressive. I’ve tried to make the car skid out, er and the car results in a very special driving the axles, and—very important—that the which is better at absorbing irregularities on Kluck: My job is to experience these things from the Nürburgring, where I tried that out which is a matter of honor among us devel- experience. Th e driver sits essentially at the transmission is located behind the engine. the driving surface. Th at, plus the broader subjectively and then to evaluate them as right away on a few extreme parts of the track. opment drivers. You try to push into areas car’s center of gravity, and can therefore feel Th e aim of this is to position the center of front track, has optimized the axle place- objectively as possible for the engineers. Th e Even under those types of circumstances, the that no one actually manages in traffi c on very intensively how the car handles. gravity as low as possible. You hit a limit here ment, which means a signifi cantly higher new electro-mechanical power-steering sys- Cayman gives you a great deal of confi dence. the road. But the main thing that I’ve been because in order to keep the car suitable for level of comfort. And there’s no loss in liveli- tem, which I’m familiar with from the new As far as I’m concerned, there’s a really top- able to determine is that while the Cayman Kluck: You get a pure go-kart feeling, but at everyday use, which is what distinguishes ness, so the Cayman keeps its sporty charac- Boxster, adds an extra degree of driving notch athlete under that new exterior. is really forceful on the one hand, by throw- a rather high level. It’s a no-nonsense sports Illustrations by Jan Bazing the Boxster and the Cayman, you have to ter. Th at’s the most important thing for me. precision. Subjectively, I’d say it adds a huge HANS-JÜRGEN WÖHLER Timo Kluck (40) “You get a pure go-kart feeling, has been working as a test driver at Porsche for twelve but at a rather high level. years. His job is to push cars to It’s a no-nonsense sports the limit on the racing track in pursuit of perfect tuning. car that doesn’t overtax you. Th at’s a good balance.” Hans-Jürgen Wöhler (54) has directed the Boxster series since the end of 1998, and the Cayman as well since 2005. TIMO The engineer has worked at KLUCK Porsche for 27 years. 12 13 CHRISTOPHORUS | 359 TO THE POINT ZUR SACHE CHRISTOPHORUS | 358 TO THE POINT: HANS-JÜRGEN MID-ENGINE DESIGN WÖHLER “Th e share of aluminum is now 44 percent, which helps the Cayman hold the road even better than before.” degree. But the steering can’t be too fl exible is quite noticeable in how that interacts with Wöhler: Well, I can’t off er you a Panamera because then the centrally placed engine the output. on the basis of this platform. But we’re con- wouldn’t have such a presence. stantly thinking about individual use of this Wöhler: Th e share of aluminum in the new car. Take our intelligent packaging con- Wöhler: It’s defi nitely supposed to have a Cayman is now 44 percent, which is an im- cept with two luggage compartments, for presence! Of course, we could try to compen- pressive number. Th at, too, helps the car to example. We wouldn’t have had to do that sate for the properties of other engine designs hold the road better. And while we’re on the at all. But precisely this mixture of driv- with electronic driver assistance systems like topic of reduction: Th e start-stop function and ing pleasure and everyday usability is what traction control or variable all-wheel drive. the fact that the Porsche double-clutch trans- makes the diff erence. I’m convinced that we But you’ll always know when you’re driving mission lets you coast—both clutches disen- wouldn’t sell as many mid-engine sports cars a mid-engine sports car. gage when you take your foot off the gas— without this spatial design. And that’s why mean that we’ve gone all out in order to lower we’ve increased the luggage compartment Kluck: You’ll know it and you’ll hear it. emissions levels yet again. We’re talking here volume in the new Cayman. When I sit in a Cayman or a Boxster, I’m a about reduction in double-digit percentages. purist and I don’t need any music. Th e music Kluck: Th e main thing is that the engine I hear is the greater output. It’s a good feel- Kluck: All the things we’ve talked about thus stays in the middle … ing to know that the engine is right behind far are not initially apparent to customers. you. Th e car decouples the vibrations well, Hopefully, they’ll have the same sensation Wöhler: … You can count on that! and the sound is really good. Th at’s all I need that I did. Th ey’ll sit down in the Cayman when it comes to an entertainment program. and fi nd themselves immediately in the best Th e cars are pure, and there shouldn’t be possible seating position. Everything fi ts, and any distractions. Th e fact that the Cayman you feel at home right away. If I didn’t have Recorded by has lost a good deal of weight, by the way, two children, I’d drive the car every day. Reiner Schloz and Elmar Brümmer “When I sit in the new Cayman, the music I hear is the greater output.” TIMO KLUCK CAYMAN (TYPE 981) CO2 emissions: 206 g/km to 180 g/km, Fuel consumption (combined): 8.8 l/100 km to 7.7 l/100 km BOXSTER (TYPE 981) CO2 emissions: 206 g/km to 180 g/km, Fuel consumption (combined): 8.8 l/100 km to 7.7 l/100 km PANAMERA CO2 emissions: 293 g/km to 159 g/km, Fuel consumption (combined): 12.5 l/100 km to 6.3 l/100 km 14 15.
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