Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet revealed

Porsche has released the first pictures of the new 911 Carrera Cabriolet, which will debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

It arrives in UK showrooms on 3 March, with prices starting at £79,947 for the standard 350bhp 3.4-litre Carrera, rising to £89,740 for the range-topping 400bhp 3.8-litre Carrera S. There will be a choice of a seven-speed manual gearbox or a PDK seven-speed semi-automatic.

In keeping with tradition, Porsche has chosen a fabric top for its latest convertible, rather than a folding metal roof as fitted to main rival the Mercedes SL.

The folding mechanism is made of magnesium to save weight, while aerodynamics are improved by the smooth profile of the lowered roof.

What’s more, its shape has been carefully engineered to exactly match the plunging roofline of the coupe when it’s in place. The cabriolet features the same aluminium and steel body construction and advanced traction control systems as its hard-top equivalent.

There are no pictures of the roof mid-fold, but as on previous 911 Cabriolets, the electrically operated hood concertinas and is then stored beneath a cover ahead of the engine.

Porsche is promising that this 991 version will be the best-handling Cabriolet yet, thanks to its lower kerbweight, wider front track, stiffer body and longer wheelbase.

Carbon-ceramic brakes will be offered as an option to improve stopping power, while the rear wing adjusts its position when the roof is down to maximise downforce.

The car also offers a host of driver assistance systems, such as PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) and PTV (Porsche Torque Vectoring), which controls the amount of power fed to each wheel in order to increase cornering speeds.

The performance-orientated Sport Chrono pack lowers the car’s suspension by 20mm.

Both the 3.4 and 3.8-litre versions can return 30mpg thanks to a stop-start system and improved aerodynamics.

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