Following the debut of the coupe model, the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet and the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet are making their world debut, with sales in the United States to start in spring 2012. The biggest difference with the roof compared with previous generations is its combination of composite materials and fabric. For example, with the roof of the new 2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet closed, the car’s iconic profile is retained in its entirety.
The vehicle blends the aluminum and steel chassis of the standard 911 with a folding top manufactured from a slew of lightweight materials, including canvas magnesium and advanced high-strength steel to keep weight as low as possible. To cut down on wind noise and help the cloth top maintain its shape, Porsche fitted a hard composite panel between the layers of cloth above the front seats. Only 11 seconds are required for the roof to go up or down, which you can do at speeds of up to 37 mph.
The 911 Carrera Cabriolet is powered by a 3.4-liter direct-injection flat-6 engine that makes 350 horsepower, enabling 0-60 acceleration in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 177 mph. The 911 Carrera S Cabriolet gets a larger 3.8-liter version of the boxer six, rated at 400 hp, providing 0-60 acceleration in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph. A seven-speed manual transmission is standard, with Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch unit optional.
On sale in the spring of 2012, the 911 Carrera Cabriolet’s base price is $97,300, while the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet begins at $108,800. [Autoblog]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYqr1r51egU[/youtube]
