Porsche pulls the wraps off the 911 Cabriolet

While the world has still not gotten over the latest 992 gen 911, Porsche just revealed the 911 Cabriolet, continuing its tradition of introducing drop-top variants of the iconic car. It gets all the features of the coupe version apart from the new hydraulics responsible for opening and closing the roof quicker than ever before, claims Porsche. The fully automatic soft top has an integrated glass rear window. The roof can be operated at upto 50kmph and can be opened in around 12 seconds. The fabric unit gets magnesium structural reinforcements to prevent ballooning at high speeds. An electrically extendable wind deflector ensures that necks are shielded from wind impact.

The 911 Cabriolet shares the 444bhp 3-litre turbocharged flat six engine coupled to the 8-speed PDK transmission with the coupe version. The 911 Cabriolet shatters the 100kmph barrier in 3.9 seconds and tops out at 306kmph. A manual gearbox is also in the pipeline. The optional Sport Chrono package shaves off 0.2 seconds to the 100kmph run.

Porsche has not disclosed the weight of the 911 Cabriolet, but it can be expected to be 80kg heavier than the coupe, judging by the weight difference between the body styles in the 991.

For the first time, the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) sport chassis is available for the 911 Cabriolet. Based on the new MMB platform, Porsche says that the Cabriolet will have improved overall body stiffness over its predecessor, courtesy of a reinforced structure and with additional strengthening braces along the floor and firewall section, as well as core structural gains thanks to the new engine mounting points closer to the car’s centre of gravity. Porsche says the new engine mounting position gives the convertible better torsional rigidity than its predecessor.

The 911 Cabriolet features harder and shorter springs, more rigid front and rear anti-roll-bars. The chassis is lowered by 10mm. All these changes are done for better weight distribution, giving it a ‘neutral’ feel on the road, according to the company. The width of the car is same for both rear wheel and AWD models.  The Cabriolet will also get the Wet mode, apart from a host of driving aids and tech including rear wheel steering, PDCC active anti-roll system and active aero. Also shared are the interiors, with the 10.9 inch touchscreen infotainment system dominating the centre console. Additional info is also displayed on the two driver displays either side of the large analogue tachometer.

Prices of the 911 Cabriolet will start at GBP 102,755 for the Carrera S Cabriolet, a GBP 9645 premium over the Coupe, while the C4S starts at GBP 108,063. International deliveries will commence in the second quarter of the year.

Did you know that the first hybrid car on record was a Lohner-Porsche and it was equipped with all-wheel drive? Grab the Porsche special January 2019 issue of evo India for a detailed coverage of the latest 992 gen 911 along with a look at Porsche’s past.