2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Whenever a Porsche rep arms you a nifty monogrammed baseball limit, some automobile tips and a course chart at a model press preview, it can mean just one thing: it is the right time to put the top down, turn up the engine, hit the road and luxuriate in Zuffenhausen's latest convertible. In this instance it is the 911 Turbo Cabriolet, the ragtop form of Porsche's super-hot, 997-based coupe. How hot? Zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds hot! That's for Tiptronic S-equipped model, and for the third-generation Turbo Cabriolet, which is stiffer, sleeker, quicker and much more powerful than its soft-top predecessors, 1st of which bowed in 1987.

To state that Porsche just lopped the most truly effective off the Turbo coupe will be an oversimplification. There's much more to it than that, but most of reengineering for the bodyshell included stiffening the chassis so the doorways nevertheless close as well as the cowl does not shake like a wet puppy if the top is down. In summary, the adjustments range from the utilization of additional side-sill reinforcements, alleged combined dishes where the sills meet the A-pillars, and longitudinal hands that increase fore-and-aft across the human body of this automobile. Due to the using lightweight, high-strength materials, the Turbo Cabrio weighs in at only 154 pound. over its coupe equivalent. Yet its torsional and ray rigidity ensure it is probably the most rigid 2+2's in the world.

Just like the 911 Carrera Cabrio, the Turbo Cab's folding soft top weighs only 93 lb. and will be lowered or raised electrically at vehicle increases to 31 mph in about 20 moments. The three-layered top is a snug fit whenever closed, contributing to the automobile's 0.31 CD as well as its 193-mph top speed, each of which are just like the coupe's. So just why does not Porsche make use of a steel folding top like many makers, you may well ask? Because, says Porsche, a cloth top is less heavy, sits reduced the chassis and takes up less area than a metal roof, which allows all Cabrios to hold their particular 2+2 setup. By-the-way, an optional aluminum hardtop might be just the solution for your needs snowbelt dwellers.

Besides these modifications — also improvements to your bi-plane rear spoiler's raise system (which raises the most truly effective wing factor an additional 1.2 in.), the replacement of firmer springs to support the increased weight of this convertible top, and minor modifications into interior trim — the Turbo Cab is identical to the Turbo coupe. It shares the twin-turbocharged, 3.6-liter, 480-bhp engine, which shovels completely 457 lb.-ft. of torque (501 lb.-ft. as soon as the Sport Chrono Package turbo calibration is invoked); the same driveline in which hold, trip, dealing with and directional stability are controlled by a trio of electro-mechanical devices (Porsche Traction control, Porsche Active Suspension control and Porsche Stability control); equivalent 13.8-in.-diameter ventilated disc brake system front and rear; while the exact same 8.5-in.-wide front and 11-in.-wide back forged alloy tires (shod with 235/35ZR-19 front and 305/30ZR-19 rear tires).

2 days invested snaking through picturesque German country side and blasting down Deutschland's soul-freeing Autobahnen unveil much concerning the Turbo Cabrio. It really is tight, displaying no discernible cowl shake. It is tautly sprung, delivering a sports-car in the place of a boulevard trip, in the standard (not recreation) environment. It acts like a rear-drive automobile until the Porsche Traction control feature (PTM) determines that the forward tires need to share the strain. Also it hangs about the road like a pit bull and goes like a greyhound, despite the utmost effective down. A pop-up, mesh-covered wind deflector behind leading chairs lowers buffeting, but at triple-digit speeds, well, hold on to your cap!

With standard gear that includes leather upholstery and a navigation system connected to a vacation computer system and BOSE surround-sound stereo with CD player (Porsche Communication Management), the Turbo Cabriolet is a deluxe ride this is certainly as enjoyable heading for Nordstrom since it is lapping the Nürburgring — in 7 mins, 52 seconds, only three moments a lot more than the Turbo coupe, I might include.

Popular options that an enthusiast might want feature Tiptronic S, the activity Chrono Package, transformative recreation seats and Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, which together tack an extra 15 thou approximately onto the Turbo Cabriolet's $136, 500 base cost. Also remember $20 for that monogrammed 911 Turbo baseball cap.