With sleek design, features offering safety and convenience, and high performance all under one roof, the new 2008 Porsche Cayman S seems to be the full package in luxury sports cars. This model has a manual gearbox, which is driven through a dual-mass flywheel that minimizes noise in the drivetrain. Also, noise is further reduced by the gear linkage, which insulates the lever from the engine and gearbox.

The ‘08 Cayman S, which has a top track speed of 171 mph, uses a 3.4-liter, 6-cylinder engine that generates 295-horse power and 251 lb-ft torque, making it one of the most powerful Porsches out there. It also uses a 6-speed manual transmission with double inertia flywheel and hydraulic clutch. Tiptronic S transmission also is available on this model. This Porsche gets 28 mpg on the highway, which is impressive for such a sporty car.

Safety emanates from this vehicle, with features like dual-front thorax airbags and head restraints, and there’s also a weight sensor that helps avoid unnecessary airbag deployment by detecting the presence of a passenger. It automatically switches the passenger airbags off when unoccupied or fitted with a child seat. Side-impact protection and the child-friendly LATCH system also are available on this model.

The Cayman S is attractive with features like 18-inch alloy wheels that improve handling and traction, an automatically deployed rear spoiler and chrome exhaust pipe. Convenient features on the exterior include a rear window wiper, and the front end has prominent air intakes and lower spoiler edge painted in titanium color.

Porsche’s new 2008 Cayman S is powerful, sporty and safe, making it one of the most appealing models in the lineup this year.