Porsche introduced the Cayman mid-engine coupe in 2005.
The first Cayman appeared as the Cayman S, which Porsche presented in 2005 and sold for the 2006 model year. It was a fixed-roof coupe derived from the second-generation Boxster, retaining the Boxster family’s mid-engine layout while adding a stiffer fastback body and practical hatchback access.
The Cayman S used a 3.4-litre flat-six and was positioned as a focused sports coupe between the Boxster roadster and the 911 range. The standard Cayman followed later, in July 2006, with a 2.7-litre flat-six. That difference explains why some references mention 2006: they are often referring to the base model’s arrival or to the model year rather than the original public introduction.
The first-generation Cayman was internally known as the 987 Cayman or 987c and was manufactured by Valmet Automotive in Finland. Its mid-engine balance, shared components, and fixed-roof rigidity helped establish the Cayman as one of Porsche’s defining driver-focused models.