Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is doubling the driving fun to be had from the new 911 Carrera by putting a Cabriolet alongside the Coupé. The debut of the new generation of the sports car classic is being followed only a few months later by the open-top models of the 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S in the new 911 design.

What the Coupé began with the new aluminium-steel body, the Cabriolet continues with the all-new, unique hood: As a result, the typical 911 roof line is initially retained in its entirety. Even when closed up, the Cabriolet cuts a fine figure. Intelligent lightweight design, even including the use of magnesium in the hood, ensures less weight and more sportiness, lower fuel consumption and greater comfort. With the open-top 911s as well, Porsche has managed to reverse the weight spiral and make the new Cabrio models significantly lighter than its predecessors.

Each of the two new Cabriolets has the same engine as its Carrera Coupé equivalent. The rear of the 911 Carrera Cabrio houses a 3.4-litre flat engine generating 350 hp (257 kW) of power driving the rear wheels through a seven-gear manual transmission. The open-top Carrera S comes with a 3.8-litre six-cylinder engine developing 400 hp (294 kW) and also a seven-gear manual transmission featured as standard. That means that the open-top 911s as well are distancing themselves even further from the competition in terms of efficiency; both models consume less than ten litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (NEDC). The Cabriolets as well have the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) available as an optional extra, delivering even lower fuel consumption and shorter acceleration times.

With the longer wheelbase compared with the predecessor model, the wider front track and the new electro-mechanical power steering, the new Cabriolets offer even sportier driving characteristics, greater precision and agility. Depending on model, there are other standard or optional active control systems available as well that further enhance the driving dynamics.

The 911 Carrera Cabriolet will be launched in Germany on March 3, 2012. The prices for the 911 Carrera Cabriolet start in Germany with 100,532 Euros, the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet starts with 114,931 Euros including value-added tax in both cases.

Story by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.

In Detail

type	Series Production Car
built at	Germany
price $	$ 96,200
price €/td>	€100,532
engine	Flat-6
position	Rear, Longitudinal
aspiration	Natural
block material	Aluminum
valvetrain	DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl w/Variocam Plus
fuel feed	Direct Injection
displacement	3436 cc / 209.68 in³
bore	96.98 mm / 3.818 in
stroke	76.20 mm / 3.00 in
compression	12.5:1
power	257 kw / 350 bhp @ 7400 rpm
specific output	101.86 bhp per litre
torque	390 nm / 287.6 ft lbs @ 5600 rpm
redline	7800
body / frame	Unitary Steel Monocoque
driven wheels	RWD
front brakes	Ventilated Discs
rear brakes	Ventilated Discs
front wheels	F 48.3 x 21.6 cm / 19 x 8.5 in
rear wheels	R 48.3 x 27.9 cm / 19 x 11 in
f suspension	MacPherson Struts w/Coil Springs, PASM Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar
r suspension	Multi-Link w/Coil Springs, PASM Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar
wheelbase	2451 mm / 96.5 in
front track	1532 mm / 60.3 in
rear track	1518 mm / 59.8 in
length	4491 mm / 176.8 in
width	1808 mm / 71.2 in
height	1298 mm / 51.1 in
transmission	7-Speed Manual or 7-Speed Automatic
gear ratios	3.91:1, 2.29:1, 1.55:1, 1.30:1, 1.08:1, 0.88:1, 0.71:1
final drive	3.44:1
top speed	~284.79 kph / 177 mph
0 – 60 mph	~4.8 seconds