2012 Porsche Cayman

Do you love the Porsche Boxster's performance, styling, and price, but want a hard top? If so, the Cayman is what you're looking for. It's built on the same basic architecture, and in many ways, it's a great stand-in for its bigger, more expensive brother, the 911.

Few changes arrive for the 2012 model year, though a new Cayman R model joins the ranks. Not changing much is good news, however, as the Cayman is already a great car. Sexy lines, classic Porsche details, and the clear look of a dedicated sports car mark the outside, while inside, there's perhaps less Porsche heritage than we'd like, but it's a coherent, well-styled cabin, and highly customizable. 

Performance, as you'd expect, is fantastic. Grip is phenomenal, with or without the optional adaptive suspension, and power from the mid-mounted flat six sings. Steering is precise, the brakes deliver pedal feel that's rare outside the brand, and the PDK dual-clutch transmission clicks off shifts with unflappable ease. The 19-inch wheel upgrade adds style without destroying the ride quality, and the Sport Chrono package sharpens the whole car into a truly vivid experience. 

Three Cayman models are available: Cayman, Cayman S, and Cayman R. The base Cayman comes with a 265-horsepower 2.9-liter flat six-cylinder, while the Cayman S upgrades that to 320 horsepower and 3.4 liters. The razor-edge Cayman R, which strips out about 120 pounds by reducing features and content, gets a 3.4-liter six rated for 330 horsepower. 

Seating is perhaps the one weak point in the base Cayman configuration, with somewhat less bolstering than we'd like given the car's capabilities. The upgraded adaptive sport seats are much better, though the active bolsters during cornering can be distracting. Headroom is great, as the roof is higher inside than it appears to be outside, and the long-haul comfort in general is very high. 

Standard Bluetooth connectivity and a universal audio interface make the base-spec features list a bit more thorough, but cruise control is still an option, as is navigation, as are the adaptive sport seats, adaptive headlights, and adaptive suspension. Using some of the higher-tech optional features can be frustrating due to the button-heavy control scheme, but the LCD display is crisp and clear. 

The 2012 Porsche Cayman hasn't been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS, but all models include dual airbags for driver and passenger, pre-tensioning seat belts, side-impact protection, standard ABS plus stability and traction control, and optional dynamic cornering lights.

2012 Lincoln Navigator

Standing as one of the few stalwarts of the old guard of full-size SUVs, the stately Lincoln Navigator carries a full load of passengers readily, yet just as easily takes on the truck-like duties of towing. 

As a truck-based SUV, the Lincoln Navigator hasn't seen a need to change its appearance much over the years. It retains its tall, boxy, body-on-frame makeup and its heavy dose of chromed trim. Instantly recognizable and even iconic among some subcultures, the Navigator's styling cues remain true to the brand's heritage, with some elements traceable all the way back to the 1960s station wagon era. Not everyone will love the Navigator's bold look, but others will find it to be exactly what they're after. The same holds true inside, with retro-themed gauges and styling that still gets the job of conveying information done smartly.

Whether you choose the standard Navigator or the longer-wheelbase Navigator L, you'll get a 5.4-liter V-8 engine rated for 310 horsepower and your choice of two- or four-wheel drive. Both Navigators are able towers, rated for 9,100 pounds. Once you add in the Navigator's own 6,200-pound curb weight, however, a full load on the trail can put a strain on the engine, especially in comparison to modern heavy-duty trucks with similar towing capacities. Nevertheless, the transmission is up to snuff, shifting easily and keeping engine revs low. 

Handling is about what you'd expect of a large SUV: it's stable and solid, but there's plenty of body motion and nosedive in quick maneuvers and stops. Four-wheel independent suspension smooths out the ride and makes the most of the Navigator's abilities, however.

Inside, the 2012 Lincoln Navigator is more upscale than its close corporate cousin, the Ford Expedition. Noise insulation, higher-grade materials and more touchable finishes make the Navigator a true luxury-grade vehicle. A few small exceptions to the quality feel are the hard plastic trim elements, chrome-painted plastics, and sometimes cheap-feeling switchgear. Despite the small downside, there's not shortage of handy small storage spaces or cupholders.

Seating is comfortable and roomy throughout the Navigator, though the Navigator L offers better access to the third-row seats thanks to its 14.7-inch longer wheelbase. Some of the Navigator L's extra length also expands its cargo capacity, though both models offer plenty of room for the average family. 

When it comes to features and available equipment, the Navigator lives up to its exterior promise: plenty of space for plenty of stuff. The 2012 Navigator even offers a dash of high tech courtesy of the SYNC infotainment system, which includes Sirius Travel Link, voice-activated control of climate and navigation, and real-time traffic and weather searches. New for 2012, the SYNC system in the Navigator also features AppLink, which enables voice control of select smartphone apps.

Along with the SYNC system, HD Radio and power-deployable running boards are also standard. Other interesting features include a rearview camera system, rain-sensing wipers, capless fuel filling, Front Park Assist, heated second-row seats.

When it comes to safety, you might think the size of the Navigator alone would lend itself to near-invulnerability, but the two-wheel drive versions of the Navigator only score three out of five stars in the NHTSA's rollover rating. Four-wheel-drive models rate four out of five stars, however. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has published crash test ratings for the 2012 Lincoln Navigator. For 2012 the Navigator adds standard integrated spotter mirrors to improve safety when maneuvering the vehicle in tighter confines.

Porsche-VW merger looking more unlikely

Thursday, Mar 17th, 2011 @ 10:56 a.m.

Porsche was expected to fully merge with new parent Volkswagen by the end of the year, but the entire merger now looks to be on rocky ground. The deal is facing higher than expected legal and tax hurdles.

The original terms of the Porsche-VW merger called for the deal to be completed by the second half of 2011. However, German officials launched an investigation into two former Porsche chairmen, which Porsche said would push the merger back until at least 2012. Now it looks unlikely that the deal will get done at all.

Thanks to those legal troubles and additional tax complication, it looks unlikely that Volkswagen AG will fully merge with Porsche SE. However, VW still plans to take full control of Porsche AG – the automaker’s car-making division. VW currently holds a 49.9 percent stake in Porsche AG.

In case the deal doesn’t go through, Porsche SE is working on plans to attract investors as part of a stand-alone strategy.

References
1.’Porsche SE not…’ view

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