ALTHOUGH the Cayman still feels like something of a newcomer in the Porsche line-up it's actually been around in some form or other for several years.

The second generation model was launched in 2013, following a facelift in 2009, and would seem to have gone down well so far - it and the latest Boxster sharing the World Performance Car title at this year's New York Auto Show.

When the Cayman was first launched there were suggestions it offered an experience that was so close to the 911 there was no point buying the more expensive model.

A slight exaggeration perhaps but it kind of summed up just how good the Cayman was. And, if the original Cayman was good then the latest version is even better, showing it has certainly improved with age.

Porsche are past-masters when it comes to identifying new models that customers want to by and more pertinently perhaps has always ensured there's just enough to separate the Cayman and 911 in performance terms to ensure the 911 has just that little bit more.

Nonetheless when one considers the capabilities of the Cayman and all that Porsche sporting DNA it possesses, there's no doubting it's something of a bargain.

Looks-wise it might not have deviated greatly from that original blueprint of a slightly scaled-down 911 but under the skin developments have ensured the car has become faster, sharper, more agile - and even more economical.

It's still instantly recognisable as a Cayman but a closer look at its profile reveals quite a lot that is new.

It's front end is more imposing and other changes include higher haunches, bigger arches and a swept-back roofline. It also sits lower and all these design changes conspire to create a car that is both elegant and striking.

Sitting in the Cayman requires a degree of fitness and flexibility that made me start to wonder if it was as a result of getting older that I found lowering myself into the driver's seat a tad more difficult than last time around. On reflection I decided it was down to the fact it sits 11mm lower than its predecessor.

Once inside and ensconced in a seat that combines support and comfort splendidly the cabin is a pleasantly cocooned yet spacious place to be, so much so that once you're at home with where everything is you start to feel it's been made around you.

The instrumentation and switchgear has that Porsche family feel and is intuitive and easy to operate too. Overall it is simpler than the cockpit-style layout of the Panamera and Cayman but still sufficiently classy.

One of the unusual things about the Cayman is that it has two boots - a 911-stle one in the front that at 150 litres will swallow a small suitcase with relative ease or a rear one accessed by a hatchback opening behind the engine. Its capacity is an impressive sounding 275 litres, though that would involve filling the shelf space behind the seats to its utmost capacity.

Practicality is of course fairly low down on the list of Porsche-buyers and the defining feature of any model is how well it drives.

Engine-wise the standard Cayman has come full circle. Originally it had a 2.7-litre powerplant, which was replaced by a 2.9-litre unit in 2009. With the latest version it is a 2.7-litre once again but power is up from 265bhp to 275bhp.

While that might sound like much on paper, a lighter body structure that makes extensive use of aluminium and advances in engine technology generally mean it's significantly quicker.

It also delivers lower emissions and is more economical, thanks in part to the addition of a stop-start system, meaning it will potentially deliver 34.4mpg, up from 30.4. It will also take you from zero to 62mph in 5.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 165mph.

While the higher-powered 3.4-litre S certainly possesses an edge in performance terms in many respects the standard model feels like the consummate sports car.

The new construction, combining aluminium and high-strength steel, means it is significantly stiffer than its predecessor, something that is instantly evident on the open road and this, combined with an enhanced suspension system, makes for a car that is both composed and compliant and one that combines sure-footedness with sublime handling.

It delivers a driving experience that is lively and spirited but above all inherently rewarding and there's something about the raw simplicity of the manual version of the 2.7-litre base model that makes you wonder whether you'd want anything more.

A 3.4-litre S with a PDK automatic gearbox might be far more potent but it's also far pricier and there's a strong argument that in its most simple form the Cayman offers something that is essentially pure and pleasing - and with which it is difficult to find fault.