Tuesday 8th May 2007

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Official details and pictures

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Cabriolet weighs 70kg more than coupe

Last Friday we brought you the official photos of the new Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster, and now there’s this, the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet. Ultra rapid drop tops seem to be very much of the moment.

Although it’s less than half the price of the SLR, there’s no doubt that this 911 will still be one of the quickest convertibles around – especially point to point.

It uses the same flat six motor as the Turbo coupe, knocking out 473bhp with the aide of variable vane turbo technology that gives an immense delivery of torque over a very wide rev band.

Porsche claim a 0-62mph time for the manual ‘cab’ of 4.0 sec, just a tenth off the coupe. Order the Tiptronic S gearbox and that sprint drops to 3.8 sec.

0-62mph in under four seconds

The Turbo chassis has received steel strengthening inside the A pillars and general strengthening to the body to preserve as much rigidity as possible. Automatic roll-over protection bars are activated from behind the seats and six airbags are fitted as standard. Nevertheless, the Cabriolet weighs only 70kg more than the coupe version.

The three-layer material roof can be raised and lowered in around 20 sec and is fully automatic in operation.

Porsche has tuned the PASM dampers specifically for the Cabriolet and has tweaked the operation of the rear spoiler to extend an extra 30mm further into the air stream. With a drag figure of 0.31 – the same as the coupe model – Porsche claim the Turbo Cabriolet is the “only standard series convertible that generates negative lift over the rear axle”.

The Turbo Cabriolet is officially available from 8th September and will cost around £103,000. The purists may not approve, but after 20 years of the roofless 911 Turbo, this latest version looks like being the most fearsome yet.

 

 

[mat205125]

Best attempt the Porsche have made at a convertible. They've done a good job in limiting the Pie Ass Hunch Back look that the 911 has always suffered with when the roof is down.

Fecking awful colour though.

[MARKOMAH]

Agree with you about the improved shape; the static spoiler helps a lot in this regard.

I wouldn't order the banana yellow myself but it does show off the lines reasonably well.

[Vodka Margarine]

IMO the Boxster looks alot better.

I like the Porsche 911 but the cabriolet version doesn't appeal to me somehow. If I was to buy an open top I would have this:

[scotty_917]

the 'only' reason for the turbo cabrio is for those vain people with the 'look what I can afford mentality'!

[nbetts]

scotty_917 said:

the 'only' reason for the turbo cabrio is for those vain people with the 'look what I can afford mentality'!

I could not disagree more.

I love top-down motoring. I also love 911-Turbos. Therefore, why not have a 911 Turbo Convertible. It really is that simple.

[jezzaaa]

scotty_917 said:

the 'only' reason for the turbo cabrio is for those vain people with the 'look what I can afford mentality'!

Whoa - sweeping generalisation there! :-)

[MD San]

I'm sure that will be true in some cases but blasting along some great roads on a nice day with the roof down listening to that engine would be pretty feckin awesome!

[Thom]

Looks like a beach sandal.

[993rsdesperado]

Speed yellow - a little bit of porsche heritage shown in the launch pictures which is good, although most will see it as garish! Never been a fan of cab super cars, it's not to my taste to have that performance just to hinder it through lesser ridgidity. But I actually think this is one of Porsches best looking cabs ever. After the 356's of course.

[beyond rational]

To me it makes it look as if there is more car in front and behind the wheels than there is between them

[pasthim]

(Rich) hairdressers sign up here!

[chrisbr68]

Lovely car, would have one in a second. I used to dislike the idea of roof off driving, but I have changed my tune now - if you can afford one, why the hell not!

I hate the colour though I think it looks horrid!! Keep yellow for the yellowbird.

And with regard to the drop top aston, I would definitely pick this 911, I think although the aston is a nice car, it just looks a boring to me, and I only see them in BMW grey, blue or black it may as well join the back of the queue in the outside lane.

[edb49]

I'd prefer the coupe myself, but it's still a great car. Wonder if there will be a GT2 cab?

[993rsdesperado]

beyond rational said:

To me it makes it look as if there is more car in front and behind the wheels than there is between them

Haha. Yeah, I can see exactly what your talking about there, looks a little uncomfortable.

[scotty_917]

jezzaaa said:

scotty_917 said:

the 'only' reason for the turbo cabrio is for those vain people with the 'look what I can afford mentality'!

Whoa - sweeping generalisation there! :-)

I know! Just my opinion though?

[Frank1e]

Never been a fan of the 911 soft-top and this hasn't changed my opinion.

Definite posers car, not a drivers car.

[ASBO]

edb49 said:

I'd prefer the coupe myself, but it's still a great car. Wonder if there will be a GT2 cab?

Yep. At the same time as they bring out the GT3 cab too...

[fwdracer]

:adoptssirstirlingmossvoice:

Serious drivers.... Nothing to see here.... move along pur-lease...!!

Edited by fwdracer on Tuesday 8th May 12:43