Porsche 991 Carrera S

Fresh air fun in the 991 911

New roof technology in a lightweight mixed construction or not: Ideally, the boxer concert in the Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet always takes place in the open air. Driving report of the fresh air newcomer, the 991 with 400 hp.

Some people experience their first midlife crisis on their 30th birthday, others really take off – like the Porsche 911 Cabriolet. In 1982, the first fresh air 911, called the 911 SC Cabriolet, was in the spotlight at the Geneva Motor Show. Highlights: 204 air-cooled boxer hp and a manually operated fabric roof with a plastic rear window that could be opened with a zipper. From March 2012, the great-great-great-great-great-grandson of the 991 series will also be able to win fans' hearts.

"The convertible share of the 911 is around 40 percent," says August Achleitner, head of the Porsche 911 series. To ensure that this is no different with the latest 911, convertible enthusiasts must internalize the tongue twister "panel bow roof". Unlike the 911 models of yesteryear, there is no longer a rudimentary fabric cap hidden behind the roof.

Unchanged 911 silhouette on the convertible

It's all in the mix: the 991 roof is a mix of fabric roof, folding roof and hardtop. Thanks to a completely new development, the current Porsche 911 Carrera succeeded for the first time in transferring the coupé line almost exactly to the roof curvature of the convertible. The drag coefficient of 0.30 with the top closed is only slightly behind the coupé value of 0.29.

The panel bow top features a solid roof surface that consists of four individual, connected elements. The front roof frame as well as the two central panel bows and the frame of the rear window are made of magnesium. Other aluminum parts complement the lightweight mixed construction. In addition, all frame components are kinematically coupled, which is why only one hydraulic cylinder per side is required to operate them.

Click, pull the switch on the center console – and the 36 kg roof structure (997: 42 kg) folds into the convertible top compartment of the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet in 13 seconds (997: 20 seconds) in a compact Z shape. The art of folding in the style of origami works up to 50 km/h.

Experience the authentic Porsche soundTurn on the ignition, turn the key: The 3.8-liter engine of the Carrera S Cabriolet rattles hoarsely and goes into alert mode in sync with the hairs on your neck. The higher the revs, the louder the storm of sound over the rear of the 911. A subtle whisper quickly turns into the sawing sound typical of Porsche. In a flash, the carpet of sound moves into the open interior like a tornado. An emotional symphony that makes it difficult to approach the average fuel consumption of 8.9 liters per 100 kilometers specified by Porsche at low revs.

The spontaneous response of the 400 hp naturally aspirated engine, already known from the Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupé, the greed for revs and lots of serpentines quickly make the name of the paint color "Racing Yellow" the program. With precise, electromechanical power steering, a firm but not rock-hard PASM chassis and the optional Sport Chrono package, the convertible follows in the footsteps of the coupé in terms of driving dynamics. However, the convertible, which is 70 kg heavier, will probably not reach the excellent records of the closed 911 in terms of transverse or longitudinal dynamics.

Porsche 911 Cabriolet to 100 in 4.3 seconds

With activated Sport Plus mode and PDK Launch Control start, the Porsche 911 sprints from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds (Carrera S Coupé: 4.1 s). The Vmax low-speed flight also ends two km/h earlier at 299 km/h. Stormy times for hairstyles in the cockpit? Only when the speed increases without a wind deflector. One push of a button and there is amazingly calm wind even at speeds of up to 200 km/h. Unlike its predecessors, the wind deflector does not require any tricky assembly before driving, but is fully integrated into the rear with a tensioning bracket. At the push of a button, the wind deflector swings open electrically in two seconds.

In contrast to its Swabian competitors, Porsche has dispensed with the comfort details that are typical of convertibles: "A neck dryer was never an option for us," says series manager Achleitner. In addition to the boxer concert in the open air, there is another reason to rarely drive with the top down. Unlike with the coupé, the view to the rear of the convertible is significantly restricted by the smaller rear window and the more delicate side windows. But there is no need to fear scratches when parking with the top down. The rear parking assistant is included as standard.

Translated by Google Translate