Meet the new kings of Porsche drop-tops: the new 911 Turbo Cabriolet and Turbo S Cabriolet. The turbocharged soft-top 911s are the fastest and yet most economical of the breed yet, sporting the same twin-blow 3.8-litre flat six as the coupe models, and a 195mph+ top speed.
What’s the spec of the new Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet?
Thanks to a 514bhp output, the all-wheel drive 911 Turbo Cabriolet hits 62mph in 3.5sec – that’s 0.3sec slower than the coupe, but a 0.2sec improvement over the old drop-top 911 Turbo. That’s not the fully story though: stick your 991 Turbo Cabriolet in Sport Plus mode (why wouldn’t you?) and the 0-62mph dash is dusted in just 3.3sec. Top speed is 195mph.
The 552bhp Turbo S is faster still: its 3.2sec 0-62mph sprint is a scant 0.1sec slower than its fixed-head stablemate. Porsche claims the new 911 Turbos are 15% more efficient than their predecessors too: claimed fuel economy is 29.1mpg, and CO2 emissions bely the cars’ ballistic performance, at just 231g/km. The Turbo S has a top speed of 197mph.
As with the coupes, four-wheel steering and a paddleshift PDK dual-clutch are standard-fit – there’s no manual transmission option. The 28mm stretch in body width is carried over too, making the 911 cabrio the widest soft-top 911 yet, and the active front and rear aerodynamics reappear too. Find out more about the new Porsche 911’s techno tricks by clicking here.
Anything special about the roof?
Like lesser soft-top 911 models, the 991 Turbo Cabriolet’s roof uses thin, solid panels in a lightweight magnesium frame. This preserves a coupe-like roofline when the top is raised, negating the ugly ‘hungry horse’ ribbing appearance created when the canvas starts to sag. Porsche claims this panelling method also makes the car more aerodynamic with the roof raised.
For maximum posing effect, drivers can lower the roof on the move at speeds of up to 31mph. The entire process takes 13sec, with the folded roof being stored in a compartment aft of the tiny rear seats.
Deep breath: how much?
Christmas bonuses at the ready: it’s the priciest 991-gen 911 yet. The regular Turbo Cabriolet will set you back £126,766: that’s almost £12,000 more than the 997 Turbo Cabriolet we tested back in 2010. Won’t settle for anything less than the priciest Porker this side of a 918 Spyder? Then the Turbo S Cabriolet is yours for £149,511: both are on UK sale in time for the least drop-top-friendly weather possible, in December 2013.