Porsche 911 992 Cabriolet

Porsche 911 992 Cabriolet

What is a superlative – well, while some kettles are better than others and all Hoover’s might be vacuum cleaners, not all vacuum cleaners are Hoovers… Rolls-Royce, for example, has become the superlative for the best of the best, peerless if you will. How often have you heard someone describe their brand new ultra-sonic vibrator 5000 toothbrush as being “The Rolls-Royce of toothbrushes” in a misguided attempt to explain just how marvelous it may be. Nobody straightens their curlies with a “Safeway” or a “Russell-Hobbs”, they use a GHD.

The simple reasoning behind this is that as time goes by and something becomes perfected, it becomes the benchmark in its segment, right from awful shoes – Crocs – to elderly walkers such as the Zimmer Frame.

New Porsche 911

It goes without saying that the Porsche 911 is the superlative sports car. It is to sports cars what the Golf GTI is to hot hatches and the Corolla to Ubers. One would hope then that the latest version of one of the world’s most beloved motoring icons is very nearly perfect, and while we haven’t laid hands on it, things are looking promising to say the least.

We’ve had a good few weeks to ogle over the evolutionary lines of the 992 Generation 911, but as a little new year’s gift to the world, Porsche have just pulled the covers off the 992 Cabriolet.

As with the new 911 Coupe, the Cabriolet features a wider stance across the range, traditionally reserved for four-wheel-drive versions only. This gives the new 911 Cabriolet a distinctive and muscular appearance that some may agree was lacking from the two-wheel-drive versions of the 991/991.2 911’s. The Cabriolet is exclusively available in Carrera S and Carrera 4S guises for the meantime.

The new Porsche 911 Cabriolet also has a new hydraulics system which is now able to retract the roof in just twelve seconds while magnesium bows within the roof prevent it from ballooning, something which occurs as a result of the low-pressure pocket which forms above the surface of the roof when moving at high speeds. An electronically extendable wind deflector also features as standard.

Engine

Power is provided by the same 2,981 cm³ turbocharged charged six-cylinder boxer engine as the Coupe with 331 kW and 530 Nm of torque from a low down 2,300 rpm. This is mated to an all-new 8-speed double clutch gearbox. This allows the iconic drop-top to hurtle itself to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds (3.7 seconds with optional Sport Chrono Package) for the Carrera S and 3.8 seconds (3.6 seconds with optional Sport Chrono Package), both reaching top speeds of over 300 km/h.

Other features include the PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) Sports suspension for the first time on a Porsche 911 Cabriolet which features more rigid front and rear anti-roll-bars, harder and shorter springs and a 10mm lower ride height. This helps to rein in the Cabriolet’s additional weight and provide a more neutral feel similar to that of the Coupe.

Adaptive cruise control and all of the new safety features found on the new 911 Coupe can be found here too. So, back to my previous point of appliances and superlatives – at what point are we going to start referring to all convertibles as 911’s?

Porsche 911 Cabriolet Pricing in South Africa

Pricing is R1 874 000 for the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet and R1 964 000 for the Carrera 4S Cabriolet.A 3 year/100 000 km Driveplan is included in that price.

Visit Porsche South Africa for more information.