Porsche 911 Cabriolet

Text: Jack Rix / Photos: Automedia

10th October 2011

The new Porsche 911 family will be bigger and more diverse than ever, and we've got first pictures of the second instalment - the new 911 Cabriolet.

Revealed at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, the new 911 Coupe goes on sale at the end of 2011, but Porsche will waste no time in bringing the Cabriolet to market. A debut at the Geneva show in March is expected, with UK sales starting soon after.

Our spy photographers caught this thinly-disguised prototype out testing with its roof in place, while our illustration shows the soft-top open to the elements. Although the lights are obscured by oversized stickers, it's clear that the Cabriolet will feature the same bigger headlights, LED daytime running lights and thin tailights as the Coupe, as well as a longer wheelbase than the outgoing car.

The Cabriolet will be a few kilograms heavier than the Coupe but will still be lighter than its predecessor by around 45kg, thanks to extensive use of aluminium in the body. The roof will be constructed from fabric stretched over semi-rigid panels to keep weight to a minimum and boost insulation.

The entry level model will feature a more efficient 3.4-litre flat-six engine, developing 20bhp more power than previously, at 345bhp. The direct-injection 3.8 in the Carrera S gets 394bhp. Performance will be better than ever; expect a 0-62mph time in the region of 4.5 second for the standard car and three-tenths of a second quicker than that for the 'S'.

And Porsche's model onslaught doesn't stop there. Following the Cabriolet in late 2012 will be the four-wheel-drive 911s. The grippier versions will be available in Coupe and Cabriolet form, and use the same 3.4 and 3.8-litre engines.

The 911 Turbo is scheduled to arrive in 2013 and will also use all four wheels to deploy its power, and a wider body. Offered as both a Coupe and Cabriolet, the power output from its turbocharged 3.8-litre engine is reported to be well in excess of 500bhp.

Beyond that, in late 2013 and early 2014, the first of the lighter, more focused models will arrive in the shape of the GT3. A roadgoing hybrid 911 is also slated to arrive around this time, taking its inspiration from the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car.