This spiffy open-top Porsche makes a spirited pretence of sobriety when you’re headed for work, and transforms into a hard-nosed racing machine when you’re letting your hair down.
By javier alonso Esquerro
Who thought that losing a roof over your head could be so much fun: not even when you behold the fantastic looking 2012, Porsche Carrera S Cabriolet – superlatively striking with those classic 911 lines. With the top on, Porsche’s open version of the 911 Coupe would feel right at home in a corporate car park: it looks fast, but as refined and sophisticated as you can expect in a sportscar with a 400 horsepower heart.
But turn the key, glide on to open tarmac, retract the soft-top roof, and floor the gas pedal, and you unleash the car’s alterego – a no-holds barred true-blue racer which can rip from 0-100 kmph in 4.7 seconds. It speaks differently too: what was a warm gurgle at low revs turns into a full-throated sonorous roar as you hit the redline.
Aesthetically, the new 911 Carrera S Cabriolet has a much more compact look than its predecessor. Its structure is lighter and features an impressive chassis constructed primarily from aluminium. And yes, Porsche has stuck with the traditional canvas top (as opposed to the majority of its rivals who’ve opted for the retractable hardtop).
But it’s no compromise: au contraire, the hood, made from magnesium and covered with canvas fabric (available in four colours: black, blue, brown and red) is durable yet casually sporty. Electrically powered, it can be operated using the key remote or a button on the centre console, and opens and closes in just 13 seconds. It remains operable while the vehicle is moving, provided the car does not exceed 50 kmph. The multi-layer fabric top from the 997 model and earlier generations has been replaced by a much simpler and more effective structure.
The new 911 has a wider track at the front and a lower roofline, lending it a more dynamic and, sports-wise, more elegant head-
on appearance. While the new bi-xenon headlights are fitted as standard, the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), with dynamic cornering lights and speed-sensitive headlight control logic, is available as an option. The Porsche Carrera S Cabriolet comes equipped with 20-inch wheels as standard, larger than those of its predecessor, affording the convertible heightened sports authority. The tyres’ enhanced rolling surface improves both comfort and performance.
The vehicle’s interior design represents a clean break with the previous generation and features luxurious materials and finishes available in a number of colours. Notable additions include the centre console and its 4.6-inch screen. The seats offer 4-way electric adjustment and provide heightened comfort and an even sportier hold.
The performance, as can be expected, is absolutely stellar. The 400 horses on tap propel the car from 0-100 in a fraction over four seconds and the car pulls to a maximum G-inducing 301 kmph. Buyers can opt for a 7-speed manual gearbox or a double-clutch PDK (Doppelkupplung). The latter, together with the ‘Sport Chrono Plus Package,’ helps reduce fuel consumption and improve acceleration times. The vehicle’s fuel consumption is remarkably low for its performance, dipping down to 10 litres per 100 km with a manual gearbox and 8.9 litres /100 km when fitted with the PDK system. The best part about the Carrera S Cabriolet, something which it shares with most cars from the Porsche stable, is that it’s relatively easy to drive, and throw into corners, while maintaining an extremely high level of safety. It’s difficult not to be enticed by this car’s charms at first glance, and almost impossible after you take it for a spin. If you do decide to bring it home then be prepared to part with just over one crore rupees for the pleasure.