Hot on the heels of the new coupe, Porsche has revealed its new 911 Cabriolet model too.
The Cabriolet has been a fixture of the 911 range for almost 40 years, and the “992” generation continues that trend.
Like the coupe, the Cabriolet is wider and lower than its predecessor. Porsche has made the front and rear almost two inches wider than before. Notably, both rear- and four-wheel drive models now have the same body width — you won’t be able to tell them apart on hips alone any more.
The Cabriolet carries over other features from the coupe too. At the back, the only thing wider than the huge, variable-position rear wing, is the continuous light bar.
Of course the key difference is the folding roof. This features a new hydraulic system, reducing the opening time to 12 seconds — less than half of what it was before. The driver can also operate it at speeds of up to 31mph. It has a full glass rear window, and magnesium bows to prevent the fabric from billowing at speed.
At launch, you can pick Carrera S and Carrera 4S versions of the Cabriolet. These both use the same 444hp, three-liter, six-cylinder boxer engine. It features a new layout for the turbochargers and a new mounting position.
The key difference between the models is the all-wheel drive system of the 4S. This chops a tenth of a second from the 0-60mph time — 3.6s compared to 3.7s — but also lowers the top speed to 189mph, from 190mph of the S. That’s slower than the coupe versions in both cases, suggesting a weight penalty of around 200lb for the soft top.
For both models there’s a Sport Chrono Package which reduces the sprint by 0.2s. Remarkably, the 4S also posts a better combined fuel economy, at 26.1mpg (US). In both cases, the 992 Cabriolet uses an eight-speed PDK gearbox.
On the inside, the Cabriolet is little different from the coupe. It retains the same design, including the dead-ahead rev counter flanked by driver information displays. There’s a 10.9-inch infotainment screen in the middle of the dash. In fact, the only change is the extra controls for the roof and its latches above the A-pillars.
The Cabriolet also keeps the standard brake warning and assist system. This uses a camera system to detect possible collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians to warn the driver and apply emergency braking if required.
There’s also a standard park assist system, as well as a “Wet Mode” system which detects surface water and adjusts the control assists appropriately. Porsche also makes a night vision thermal camera available as an option.
You can order the 992 Cabriolet now, with first deliveries expected in the summer. Pricing starts at $126,100 (£102,755 in the UK) for the Carrera S, with the 4S coming in at $133,400.
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