Porsche 996 Turbo Cabriolet 2004

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Highlights

The fastest open-air flat-six

Now there is a new top model in the Porsche 911 Cabriolet range - a truly outstanding car with mighty air scoops at the front and on the sides to show the world that an open-air Porsche Turbo is back in the market after 14 years.Maximum output of the flat-six power unit with forced air feed from two turbochargers is 309 kW (420 bhp)at 6000 rpm.And the driver who prefers a more relaxed style of motoring from time to time will certainly not suffer with this high-torque power unit,maximum torque of 560 Newton-metres or 413 lb-ft being delivered consistently all the way from 2700 - 4600 rpm.

Breathtaking performance

The performance this gives the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is truly breathtaking in every sense of the word:Acceleration from 0 - 100 km//h with the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard comes in 4.3 seconds,the car boosting on to 160 km/h or 99 mph in a metre 9.5 seconds.This overwhelming demonstration of power and performance does not end until the 911 Turbo Cabriolet reaches its top speed of 305 km/h or 189 mph.

Six-speed gearbox or Tiptronic S

The Turbo Cabriolet comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox,but may be fitted as an option with Porsche's Tiptronic S automatic transmission.This five-speed automatic also featuring a manual gearshift via paddles on the steering wheel is specifically geared to the superior power and performance of the turbocharged engine,the gearshift points ad- justing infinitely to the driver's style of motoring and the route he is taking.

Four-wheel drive for optimum driving characteristics

Like the Coupé,the new 911 Turbo Cabriolet comes as standard with four-wheel drive com- plete with a viscous multiple-plate coupling conveying 5 per cent of the engine's power to the front wheels on a good road surface with firm grip.Whenever road conditions deteriorate, for example as a result of wet or slippery surfaces,up to 40 per cent of the engine's drive power is conveyed to the front wheels for superior traction at all times.

Guaranteeing a high standard of active safety

It almost goes without saying that the 911 Turbo in open-air trim offers the highest standard of body stiffness and driving comfort,like all the other models in the range.The bodyshell of the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is based on the body structure of the Coupé,the main differences being special reinforcements wherever appropriate to make up for the stabilising effect of the fixed roof.Like the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet already introduced,the new Turbo Cabrio- let,benefitting from a wide range of modifications on the body-in-white,comes with a body- shell among the stiffest of all open-air Porsche 911s.

Active safety in the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is enhanced significantly by PSM Porsche Stability Management featured as standard.PSM serves to stabilise the car both longitudinally and laterally by intervening in the engine management and the brake system as soon as the 911 Turbo Cabriolet exceeds its maximum limits when driven to the extreme.So in practice PSM does not in any way restrain the sporting character of the 911 Turbo.

To ensure supreme stopping power at all times without the slightest fading,the new Turbo Cabriolet comes with four-piston fixed-calliper brakes plus inner-vented,cross-drilled brake discs front and rear measuring 330 millimetres or 13.00"in diameter.Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB)are available as an option,setting new standards in terms of brake response,fading-free performance,low weight and a long service life.

Power roof also opening while driving

Driving comfort Porsche-style means not only an absolutely stiff and stable body,but also very easy and convenient control of all functions.Precisely this is why the driver is able to open and fold away the roof beneath the roof compartment lid within a mere 20 seconds, naturally with full power operation at the touch of a button.And he can do so while driving, opening or closing the roof at any time up to a speed of 50 km/h or 31 mph.

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Fresh Air and Muscle All in One

Enjoying the thrill of open-air motoring in combination with supreme power and performance - this is the unique experience offered by the new top-of-the-range 911 Turbo Cabriolet with Porsche's famous turbocharged power unit at the rear providing outstanding performance wherever you go.Maximum output of this horizontally-opposed six-cylinder boosted by two turbochargers is 309 kW or 420 bhp at 6000 rpm.And maximum torque of 560 Newton- metres or 413 lb-ft is maintained consistently from 2700 - 4600 rpm.

Not only the wide wheel arches extended 60 millimetres or 2.36"further out than on the 911 Carrera Cabriolet give this very special Turbo model its characteristic looks and design, but also the intake openings for the intercooling system on the rear side panels.Further features typical of this model are the charge air outlets on the lower side section of the rear body panel.Yet another characteristic feature is the retracting rear wing serving to reduce lift forces on the rear axle.In conjunction with the striking lip on the front spoiler,this ensures the necessary aerodynamic balance required on an outstanding sports car of this calibre with its supreme driving dynamics.

From the front the car's "thirst"for fresh air is obvious at first sight:Three large openings guide the flow of cooling air to the three radiators in front of the wheels and in the middle of the car.Two further openings in the front spoiler lip,in turn,ensure an efficient flow of fresh air to the high-performance brakes.

VarioCam Plus optimising valve timing and lift

Intake-side camshaft management on the turbocharged engine of the Porsche 911 is com- bined with valve lift control also operating on the intake side.With this system appropriately bearing the name VarioCam Plus,valve lift is masterminded by two interacting,switching cup tappets operated by two cams of different size on the camshaft.This not only optimises engine power and torque,but also reduces fuel consumption and exhaust emissions whilst improving motoring refinement at the same time.

Turbocharging for maximum power

Two turbochargers switched in parallel are crucial to the supreme power and performance offered by this outstanding six-cylinder.Drawing in air through a single-unit air filter housing, the turbochargers first compress the flow of air and then guide the ongoing stream through an intercooler in each of the wheel houses behind the rear wheels,after which the air flow comes together again in front of the throttle butterfly operated electrically.

As a result the performance offered by the new top-of-the-range Cabriolet in the 911 model series is virtually identical to that of the Turbo Coupé:with its six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard the open-air Turbo accelerates in 4.3 seconds from 0 - 100 km//h (Coupé:4.2 seconds).It then reaches 160 km/h or 99 mph in 9.5 seconds (Coupe:9.3 seconds)and rockets on to its top speed,with the roof closed,of 305 km/h or 189 mph, which is exactly as fast as the Coupé.Acceleration from 80 - 120 km//h in fifth gear,in turn, comes in exactly five seconds.

Four-wheel drive and PSM for outstanding driving characteristics

Like the Coupé,the new 911 Turbo Cabriolet comes as standard with four-wheel drive: Depending on driving conditions,the front wheels running on 225/40 ZR 18 tyres convey up to 40 per cent of the engine's drive power to the road.The focus,however,is not so much on traction alone,but rather on supreme driving characteristics and safety even in an extreme situation.

Active driving safety of the highest calibre is also ensured by PSM Porsche Stability Manage- ment fitted as standard:incorporating the most sophisticated sensors,the system "sees" whether the car is following the path determined by the driver.Should the car then swerve out of control in an extreme situation,the system applies the brakes specifically on indivi- dual wheels to restabilise and straighten out the car on the road.If even this is not sufficient, PSM will intervene in the engine management system to reduce driver power accordingly. This combination of four-wheel drive,PSM and a sporting suspension set-up guarantees ac- tive safety at the highest level.

Brakes like in motorsport - and available with ceramic discs as an option

The 911 Turbo Cabriolet naturally boasts Porsche's proven brake system with monobloc fixed callipers all round:Four-piston fixed callipers interacting with cross-drilled and inner- vented brake discs ensure superior stopping power both front and rear.

As an option the new Cabriolet is available with ceramic brake discs,Porsche Ceramic Com- posite Brakes (PCCB)being a combination of composite ceramic discs and six-piston fixed callipers on the front wheels and four-piston callipers at the rear.PCCB sets new standards in terms of brake response,fading-free performance,low weight,and a long running life. And in conjunction with the brake lining also brand-new,the ceramic brake discs immediately ensure very high and,in particular,consistent frictional coefficient during the process of deceleration.

Stiff body with rollbars moving up automatically whenever required

The bodyshell of the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet is based on the body structure of the Coupé.The main differences are specific reinforcements and strengthening body elements wherever required,serving to replace the stabilising effect of the fixed roof.To increase body stiffness,the body-in-white of the Cabriolet comes with reinforced side-sills featuring body panels and elements doubled in thickness,additional junction plates and so-called shaft reinforcements behind the B-pillar.Indeed,this is the first Porsche sports car to use ultra-strong DP600 steel at this point in the interest of maximum strength and stiffness.A further feature is that the shaft reinforcements are not only welded,but also bonded,this combination of joining technologies and the additional reinforcement provided by the bond serving to take up energy even more consistently in a collision.Benefitting from the sum total of these body modifications,the bodyshell of the new 911 Turbo Cabriolet is one of the stiffest open-air structures within the 911 model series,like the open-air version of the Carrera 4S recently introduced into the market.

Like on all Porsche 911 Cabriolets,two rollbars featured as standard efficiently protect the car's occupants in a rollover.Hidden discreetly behind the rear seats,the rollbars move up within split-seconds under spring pressure as soon as a sway sensor determines that the car might roll over.

Roof opening and closing even while driving

The 911 Turbo Cabriolet comes with a fully-retracting roof moving down beneath the roof compartment lid whenever opened.The entire process of opening or closing the roof is masterminded electrohydraulically within just 20 seconds.And the driver is able to operate the roof not only with the car at a standstill,but also while driving at a speed of up to 50 km/h or 31 mph.Even under these conditions,the entire process of opening the roof does not take one second longer,only the process of closing the roof requiring about six seconds more due to greater air resistance.A wind deflector and a hardtop both come as standard on the 911 Turbo Cabriolet.