The article was originally produced on March 11, 2012, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Porsche 911 Convertible

The new 911 with the model designation 991 has largely only received cheers and applause. Now the cabriolet version is here and Cars Collection received an exclusive invitation to test drive this shapely creation in Gran Canaria. The sun is shining and the temperature is around twenty degrees, perfect conditions for a roofless car in other words. To make the new 911 roofless only requires a push of a button and 13 seconds later you have the clear blue sky with the sun above you. Folding up and down can be done at speeds of up to 50 km/h. Porsche has promised a lot about the cabriolet version and to really let us journalists try it out, they start the test drive on a race track. 

In terms of quality, Porsche is undoubtedly among the absolute best, the new 911 Cabriolet is no exception and everything sits exactly where it should and with a perfect fit, no clap or squeak. The new 911 has become larger and more comfortable, something that can be experienced as both good and bad. So, for example, the center console has become larger and is very similar to the one in the Panamera. The instrument panel is also taken from there, with a multi-window to the right of the tachometer where you can get all the necessary information about the trip computer, navigation, tire pressure and more. However, why the 911 Cabriolet can be had with both the early pdk controls on the steering wheel and real paddles behind the steering wheel is puzzling. 

Something that is almost untouched since the first 911, which was presented in 1963 at the IAA, is the location of the engine just behind the rear axle and that it is a boxer engine. In 1963, the engine was 2.0 liters and 130 hp. In the new 911 Carrera S sits a 3.8 liter boxer six with 400 horsepower. If you choose the model without S, you get a 350 horsepower 3.4 liter engine. Porsche has worked hard to reduce consumption, this through the start/stop function and more. The result has been around 6.9 liters per 100 kilometres, which can be considered very good for such a potent car. To reach such low consumption figures, however, you have to drive very carefully, just the opposite of the type of driving that the small racing track on the coast of Gran Canaria invites.

Every time there is talk of cabriolet versions of performance cars, the so-called experts always snort and bring up arguments such as torsional stiffness etc. Of course they are right in many cases but not in this case, Porsche says that the new 911 Cab is 30% stiffer than its predecessor. After a couple of laps on the track, there is no doubt about this, the car feels as stable and rigid as possible when you provoke it through the curves and over the curbs. When the course is then changed to the sometimes frighteningly curvy mountain roads, the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet continues to impress, the nose steering in like a perfectly shot arrow from a bow in the middle of the dot every time. What impresses even more is the fantastic sound, Porsche has spent many engineering hours to achieve the perfect well-tuned soundstage. Something that is perceived as new is that Porsche allows exhaust puffs at throttle, a phenomenon that has everything to do with the trend as it is an easy match for the talented technicians to tune out. The car is also equipped with a so-called Sound Symposer that amplifies the sound from the engine into the passenger compartment.

What impresses the most about the new Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet is its versatility, you can glide in the city or on the country road and enjoy the sun and the wind that drowns you from above. But with a few simple button presses, you can turn the same car into a full-fledged, aggressive track car that is guaranteed not to tire ahead of you on fast tight corners at full speed. Many other cars would like a tired old dog to go to bed, while the new 911 Cabriolet is the happy labrador that stands with the Frisbee in its mouth, wagging its tail and wants to play more!

+ Versatile driving characteristics, stylish even with the top up, fantastic sound.

- It is unnecessary that the old pdk buttons remain as options.