The Sport Hockenheim suspension system has full metal rose joints, rather than rubber bushings that could contribute a vague feeling to the donor car's steering. And it's all adjustable. Center-lock wheels show how far 9ff has gone to reduce the unsprung weight--these things are a nightmare to get past the TV approval process and cost a fortune. Fatthauer is understandably proud of the achievement and is selling them like the proverbial hot cakes.
Aside from its racing technology, 9ff invests more time than most ensuring those stunning white wheels are aligned, as Fatthauer claims far too many people worry about race suspensions and then forget the basics. This attention to detail shines through everywhere at 9ff. When we arrived at the workshop, one employee polished our footsteps from the mirror-finish floor. I have seen this only once before--in McLaren's pit garage at a Grand Prix, back in the days when they were winning.
So the handling shouldn't come as a shock. The CR-42 contents itself with grip, grip, and more grip--all controlled with the fingertips as it hangs on at ludicrous speeds. And should you overstep the mark, the LSD will catch the car--which is a big, big deal.
Mid-engine cars have a much earlier and less forgiving point of no return when it comes to lateral slip, unlike the more adjustable 911. Take the stock Cayman past 30 degrees and it could bury you. The LSD fitted here means you can chuck the car in with confidence. It also makes Porsche's refusal to fit this kit seem doubly cynical. The diff takes a razor-sharp precision instrument and makes it fun; anybody who owns the baby Porsche should get one.
Thought that one area you surely couldn't improve on is Porsche's PCCB ceramic brakes? Think again; 9ff has beefed up the front buffers. Stepping on the middle pedal with any conviction now feels like a head-on collision, as the seatbelt cuts deep and eyes lunge for the windshield. Fatthauer actually prefers the steel units for fast road use--even he thinks the ceramic items might be a touch extreme.
The best part about this car is that it's a total sleeper. Only those with the inside knowlege will realize that this Cayman demands absolute respect and deference."This was always our philosophy," Fatthauer explains. "We wanted to build subtle-looking road cars with racecar performance. The Cayman is a perfect example. The basic aerodynamic work was good, so we don't need to put wings all over it."
A four-piece front spoiler and rear diffuser help suck the car to the deck deep in triple figures while saving weight. That and the wheels are the only subtle visual distinctions from the standard car. Plus the fact that this one has just made off into the middle distance.
Obviously, the monstrous mods come at a price. The full works car costs over $170,000--more than the 997 GT3 it recently went head-to-head with in an unofficial test. But bear this in mind: the GT3 didn't just lose, it was blown off the track. How hard is that to imagine?
The Cayman is a great concept and the Carrera a great car. By melding these ingredients together, 9ff has unleashed a truly explosive force. We say give a Nobel prize to Fatthauer--for services to gearheads.