Enthusiasts believe that the more stripped-down and pure a Porsche is, the tighter the bond between man and machine. Enter the Cayman R, an even more focused version of the Cayman. Engineers carved about 50 kg from the sportster by using lighter components. The interior door handles were removed and replaced by fabric pull loops. Even the air conditioning was sacrificed. Yet despite the pared-down features, the R costs significantly more than the Cayman S. Buyers do at least get another 7 kW from the 3,4-litre flat six (246 total). But really, what the Cayman R delivers is an unmatched driving experience. The steering provides the most direct and natural feel of any car we’ve driven. The suspension tune is equally brilliant on any surface, too. But the incredibly supportive and comfortable seats do tend to hold in the heat when there’s no air conditioning. Our advice? Wear shorts. – Ben Stewart

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