Porsche 911

Porsche's claim is a bold one - that this is the fastest, most rewarding and safest soft-top 911 ever. It's every inch the driver's car the standard 911 is, and as such just as desirable, if not more so. But is it worth the £7,000 premium the firm charges for losing the roof? We are not convinced!

Could this be the breath of fresh air that Porsche 911 fans have been waiting for? Historically, the soft-top version of the sports car has always been more expensive than its coup� counterpart - yet, in the eyes of many, this model is less desirable. That's certainly the case on the second-hand market, with demand for tin-top 911s being considerably higher than it is for convertible variants.

The problem is, the 911 has always been a machine designed to deliver the ultimate in driving enjoyment. So, by lopping the roof off the car's monocoque structure, some of the rigidity and sharp body control for which the coup� has long been highly regarded is lost.

Or it certainly was in the past. But Porsche says that this all-new model, based on the 997, is the best open-air 911 ever, and that owners can enjoy wind-in-the-hair thrills without detracting from the driving experience.

These are bold claims, but within minutes of turning the ignition key, it's easy to see that they are not without substance. The newcomer really is as good to drive as the fixed-roof version, with phenomenal levels of grip, no evidence of any scuttle shake or body flex and incredible steering feel.

With the roof folded down, there is a fair amount of wind noise, but most of the air is deflected over the cabin and there is very little buffeting. Press the button to electronically raise the roof - which can be done at speeds of up to 30mph - and you are soon nearly as snug as you would be in the coup�, although at high speeds you do hear wind drumming on the canvas.

Engineers at Porsche have also paid a lot of attention to ensuring that the soft-top is super safe - there are pop-up rollover bars which raise automatically in the event of an accident, while the A-pillar contains specially strengthened steel bars to add further protection should the Cabriolet flip over.

Also included are head airbags - a world first in a soft-top machine. The bags are concealed inside the door trim panel, and automatically inflate upwards to the roofline of the car, whether the lid is raised or lowered.

Two versions of the 911 Cabriolet will be available when it appears in British showrooms in April. The entry-level Carrera is powered by a 3.6-litre flat-six engine, developing 325bhp, and costs £65,260.

Meanwhile, the top-of-the-range model - the Carrera S driven here - comes with a 355bhp 3.8-litre flat-six. The latter will weigh in at £72,230, which means neither version represents great value for money.