Porsche Adopts Wilhelma Caimans

Press Release

Exotic encounter: Porsche Cayman S meets its "natural namesakes"

On the exact date of the launch of the Cayman S, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is undertaking a special kind of cooperation at its home location. From Saturday, November 26, 2005, the Cayman S will not just be in Porsche showrooms for the first time, ready to roll out to its new owners. At the same time, the South German sports car manufacturer will officially adopt a group of four caimans at Stuttgart's Wilhelma Zoo on this day. For five years, Marajo, Rana, Siri and Kaya – a male and three females – will be "adopted" by Porsche AG, which is supporting them with a sum of €10,000 Euros.

Just as the Cayman S is celebrating its debut, this adoption agreement is also a first – both for Porsche AG and the Wilhelma. This is the first time that Porsche has participated in this kind of animal welfare, and the first time in the history of the Wilhelma that an automobile company has adopted an animal.

The "broad-snouted caimans", native to rivers and swamps from Brazil to Uruguay, live in the Amazon House of the zoological botanical garden, where in future a sign on the enclosure will inform visitors of the "animal connection" with Porsche . "The caimans, species Caiman Iatirostris, are one of the world's most endangered species. We are all the more delighted to know that these animals now enjoy the protection and support of Porsche," said the Director of the Wilhelma, Professor Dieter Jauch, at the presentation of the adoption certificate to the sports car manufacturer.

As a part of the Boxster series, it is no coincidence that the Cayman S has taken its name from the animal kingdom: caimans belong to the family Crocodylidae, but unlike the much larger crocodiles are far more flexible, agile, and unerring with faster reactions. The "snappy" characteristics do not just apply to the new sports car.  As a company, Porsche itself is small, agile and highly flexible, which again and again has successfully stood as "David" against industry goliaths.

The new Cayman S is at Porsche dealers from tomorrow

The new Cayman S is revving up its engine: the sporty two-seater, developed on the basis of the Boxster series as a mid-engine coupé, will be in the showrooms of the 85 German Porsche Centers from tomorrow, November 26. With this new model, Porsche is closing the gap that has existed between the Boxster and the 911 Carrera to date, while at the same time sustainably extending its buyer base for classic sports cars.

Bernhard Maier, General Manager of Porsche Deutschland GmbH, has high expectations of the new model following the extremely positive customer response at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in September: "No Porsche has ever received such positive coverage in the international specialist media as the Cayman S. This is the reason why a lot of customers have already ordered the vehicle without having driven it. With this model, we can further enhance the attractiveness of our product range, and in doing so increase sales as well."

The Cayman S is powered by a newly developed 295 HP (217 kW) flat six-cylinder engine. With a manual transmission, the mid-engine sports car can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds (or from zero to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds), with a top speed of 275 km/h (171 mph). In Germany, the vehicle costs €58,529, including value added tax and country-specific requirements.

However, in addition to the caimans there is one more thing that connects Porsche AG with the Wilhelma – Porsche is not the only one to enjoy an excellent public image. In a survey, 3,400 people from Stuttgart were asked "What do you love most about Stuttgart?" – the Wilhelma was at the very top of their list this year.