Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet (2007): first official pictures

By Ben Whitworth

First Official Pictures

07 May 2007 02:06

Something brisk for the summer, then?

Brisk indeed. Porsche’s new £106,180 Turbo Cabriolet arrives here in early September and is powered by the same twin turbo unit that’s found in the coupe. The all-alloy flat six develops a mighty 480bhp at 6000rpm. Fitted with Variable Turbine Geometry turbochargers – Porsche is only car maker to nailed this tricky bit of technology for petrol-fuelled engines – the 3.6-litre engine develops 457lb ft of torque that kicks in at 1950rpm and plateaus right through to 5000rpm. Opt for the Sport Chrono Turbo Package (£1015) and you’ll get an overboost function that bumps up torque to 502lb ft under acceleration. Frisky.

Absolutely. Buyers will have the choice of either a six-speed manual or £1961 Tiptronic S transmission, driving all four wheels through PTM, Porsche’s Traction Management. This hyper-responsive electronically controlled multi-plate clutch set-up can shift torque between axles in under 100milliseconds. The result is phenomenal all-wheel grip. Gunned from standstill, the manual will claw its way to 60mph in 4.0seconds (Turbo Coupe 3.9seconds), while the quicker Tiptronic S version takes just 3.9seconds (Turbo Coupe 3.8seconds). Both cabriolets top out at 193mph – one mile an hour faster than then Coupe, and return 21.9mpg on the combined cycle (Turbo Coupe 22.1mpg).

By Ben Whitworth