WITH a Golden Jubilee under way Porsche is in party mood and kicking off celebrations with a stunning new model which has just been named as the best performance car in the world.

The new Cayman scooped the World Performance Car title at the New York Auto Show alongside its convertible sibling, the Boxster.

The dynamic duo grabbed the limelight just as the Cayman goes on sale in Britain - and it is absolute class.

This new two-seater coupe is so good it is making serious inroads into the territory of Porsche's legendary 911 which this year is turning 50.

Powered by either a 2.7-litre or 3.4 flat six turbo engine the latest Cayman has real bite and cuts its own path in the high performance league.

What sets it apart is fantastic balance that translates into amazing handling.

With 275bhp on tap the standard Cayman manages 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds, topping out at 165mph.

The bigger engined Cayman S develops 325bhp which takes the 0 to 60 time down to five seconds and pushes the maximum to 175mph. Such is the power that 0 to 120mph flashes up in just 17 seconds should you find yourself on a race track.

In anyone's book that is serious performance and the new Cayman is not only quicker than its predecessors but also some 15 per cent more fuel efficient.

Porsche claims an average of 36.6mpg for the Cayman and 35.3 for the Cayman S with emissions of 192 and 206g/km but in reality you can expect around 27 to the gallon from both.

Automatic versions fitted with Porsche's seven speed PDK transmission are even quicker through the gears and slightly more economical while stop/start is fitted to all versions.

For something nudging the supercar zone that is remarkable economy.

Temper that with the fact that in development the new Cayman lapped the Nurburgring in seven minutes 55 seconds - four seconds faster than the lap time posted by the original 911 GT3 - and you begin to grasp its awesome capabilities.

Enhanced suspension settings and variable drive modes are available as an option yet we found the standard Cayman in regular set up to be smack on for some great British driving.

To prove the point we went coast to coast across Scotland in less than an hour travelling from the end of Loch Torridon in Wester Ross to the tip of the Cromarty Firth.

The roads across the Highlands are perfect for exploring the Cayman's qualities and not once did the car disappoint.

Brutish acceleration is available if needed, the sound from the engine and exhausts is terrific and the feedback is nigh on perfection. This is a driver's car of exemplary quality.

The weight distribution is now 46/54 with a rear bias increased by one per cent compared to the 2009 Cayman and with the engine slung low behind the cockpit the mass of the vehicle is concentrated in the centre.

Models fitted with Porsche's Sport Chrono handling pack have dynamic transmission mounts which stiffens the car even more when cornering.

The cockpit is intimate, plush yet sporty with high tech screens supplementing conventional instrumentation.

Sat nav will add more than £2,000 to the price and so will the clever handling system and the Cayman S we tried tipped the scales at almost £60,000 thanks to £11,000 worth of extras.

The standard Cayman is priced from £39,694 which is an increase of just £487 over the previous generation.

Its looks are as thrilling as the performance with the classic Porsche silhouette punctuated by deep air scoops to feed the engine. A graphic in one of the LED screens on the dash appears during start up as a reminder of the sensuous shape - just to whet the appetite.

Across the tailgate is a pop-up spoiler and although there is little space inside for coats or the like, luggage room is 150 litres under the bonnet and 275 litres at the back.

The front compartment will hold a couple of wheelie bags easily, the boot is more for softer holdalls and combined the luggage volume is similar to that of a family saloon which makes the Cayman a very practical sports car.

Underneath, the Cayman shares much of its fixtures and fittings with the new Boxster roadster which came on the scene last year and was one of the models which helped Porsche clock up a record 7,998 sales in the UK in 2012 - an increase of 25 per cent over the previous 12 months.

With their recent accolades the pair can only build on that.

Bragging rights will see many go for the Cayman S with its bigger engine, twin exhausts and slotted front air vents setting it apart but for British roads the regular 2.7-litre Cayman has more than enough to make it one of the greatest sports cars ever.