Less than two months after Porsche unveiled its new 911 Carrera 4 with all-wheel drive, the Stuttgart firm has released details of its Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S Cabriolets in soft-top mode.
Less than two months after Porsche unveiled its new 911 Carrera 4 with all-wheel drive, the Stuttgart firm has released details of its Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S Cabriolets in soft-top mode.
As with the coupé, the cabriolet has a wider track than its rear-wheel drive sibling and with its high level of rigidity promises drop-top driving at its best.
Perhaps more importantly though, is that the soft top opens and closes automatically at the touch of a button. The lightweight roof weighs only 42 kg and can open and close at speeds of up to 50 km/h and the action can be completed within 20 seconds.
The roll-over protection system uses high strength steel tubes in both A-pillars and two bars behind the rear seats that automatically extend when required. Two head airbags located in the door panel form flat cushions that inflate upwards in the event of a crash, even when the top Is down. Two chest airbags are housed in the armrests and two front airbags complete the safety features for passengers.
With this car, Porsche’s standard stability management system has two new functions, namely pre-filling the brake mechanism for sharper stops, and hydraulic brake support, which works like brake assistance and helps to build up brake pressure in emergency situations.
Porsche’s ceramic composite brake is optional on both versions of the new cabriolet, as is the Active Suspension Management system that allows you to adjust the suspension settings between normal and sport modes.
The chassis design corresponds with that of the conventional 911s and the engine line-up is nothing new, either. Porsche puts its known 3,6-litre six-cylinder boxer engine, with an output of 239 kW to work in the Carrera 4. This allows the cabriolet to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 5,3 seconds and reach a top speed of 280 km/h.
Equipped with the 261 kW 3,8-litre engine, the Carrera 4S s accelerates to 100 km/h in 4,9 seconds and is capable of speeds up to 288 km/h.
The new cabriolets will be launched in Europe in October this year.
