[Jeph]

Has anyone posted this release from Porsche yet? Sounds pretty promising!

Porsche Cars North America revealed today the first official news of a new sports car model based on the warmly received mid-engine Cayman S that was introduced to U.S. customers on January 15th, 2006.

The 2008 Cayman GR-P will boast an all new 401 hp 3.6 liter, normally aspirated engine that incorporates the use of gasoline direct-injection and shares much of its ancestry with Porsche's current GT3 power plant. The Cayman GR-P will be the first Porsche production model available with PMSG, Porsche Multi Shaft Gearbox. This new computer controlled manual gearbox will allow drivers to shift gears significantly faster than possible with current manual shift gearboxes.

"Positioned between the 911 and the Boxster, the Porsche Cayman S has established an overwhelming performance identity," said Peter Schwanzenbauer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "It has become clear and undeniable that the mid engine platform of the Cayman, Boxster, and Carrera
GT represents a solid and undiluted foundation on which to build Porsche sports cars of the future."

The new GR-P will be the first new Porsche model to break into the previously protected performance levels of the 911 model line, promising to sprint from 0-62 mph in just 4.1 seconds and able to reach a top speed of 197 mph.

Porsche feels that the cars will attract different and unique customers and compliment each other well within the overall product line. "The Cayman and 911 are unique enough to maintain their own customer base. The 911 will continue to serve as our luxury sports coupe, soon to be complimented by the Panamera luxury sport sedan. The Cayman fits well in the absolute performance category and the newly released Cayenne models stand alone at the top of the sport all-terrain vehicle category. We are very pleased with this alignment and applaud Porsche, AG for displaying such confidence in both sports car models. The GR-P will serve to strengthen Porsche's position as the world's premier sports car manufacturer," Schwanzenbauer remarked.

The Porsche Cayman GR-P will go on sale in the United States beginning October 12, 2007. U.S. and Canadian retail pricing will start at $79,401 and $112,007 respectively.