skip to main content

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Expert Rating: 5 out of 5

What is it?

The Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet is a great barometer of how the world is feeling. In the 1980s, the Porsche was all brash big spoilers and flash red paint. Now, the latest soft-top supercar from Porsche is an altogether more restrained looker, yet its performance climbs ever higher. There are subtle spoilers front and rear and the trademark wide rear wheelarches are present and correct, albeit more harmoniously integrated into the overall shape than in some previous Turbo models.

Lurking under the rear engine cover is a turbocharged 3.6-litre 'flat' six-cylinder engine that produces some 473bhp. That's enough to see the Turbo Cabrio from 0-62mph in four seconds flat and on to a 192mph top speed. Both of these figures are fractionally slower than the Turbo coupé model, but with the roof lowered the Cabriolet feels faster, as the wind tugs at your barnet. As standard, the Turbo comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, though buyers can upgrade for £1,920 to the five-speed Tiptronic S automatic. They can also spend £1,039 on the Sport Chrono Package Plus that introduces a Sport button to the plethora of other switches on the centre console. Press that button and the Turbo gains extra mind-rev oomph from 2,100- to 4,000rpm for even swifter overtaking.

The cabin of the 911 Turbo comes well equipped with climate control, electric windows and hood operation, CD stereo and Porsche Communication Management system to work the satellite navigation. There's also leather for the upholstery and a pair of rear seats big enough for a couple of small children, while a small but well shaped boot up front makes the 911 Turbo Cabriolet just about practical.

Is it any good?

This is one of those cars that impress however you drive. Toddle through town and you'll be amazed at how supple the suspension is and how easy a 192mph supercar can be to park. It is a practical car and relatively compact dimensions and light controls mean city driving is not the chore it can be in many other supercars. Just keep an eye in the door mirrors for those fat rear wheelarches when you come to tighter spots.

Where the 911 Turbo Cabriolet really stamps its presence on your mind, though, is when the traffic thins out and you have a twisty road to play with. The complete rigidity of the body - despite the soft-top roof - allows the car to deal with cracked tarmac with ease while it enters and exits corners with an assured poise few others come close to. The light steering gives a detailed account of what's going on and what's needed without the steering wheel become fidgety. Push hard and you'll find this 911 more than up to the task.

On country roads, the power from the turbocharged 3.6-litre engine whisks the car from corner to corner with unrelenting pace. The short gear lever for the six-speed manual 'box is a joy to use and flicks between the ratios in double-quick time. This, combined with the perfectly weighted and spaced foot pedals, makes the 911 Turbo Cabriolet a wonder on British back roads, yet it can also slink down the motorway with little more than a rumble from its fat tyres to interrupt the calm. Keep the hood up and the Turbo Cabriolet is a refined tourer with little more cabin noise than the coupé.

Should I call the bank manager?

With a starting price of £110,151, your bank manager had better work at one of the more understanding branches. It is debateable that there are other 911 models to deliver more value for money than the Turbo Cabriolet, but as an ultimate version of Porsche's supercar, the drop-top Turbo has a cachet all its own. It also manages to be (almost) socially responsible thanks to combined fuel economy of 21.9mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of 309g/km (328g/km for the auto). It can also easily achieve more than 300 miles on each fill of the 67-litre petrol tank, so this is one supercar you won't be stopping to replenish after each and every drive.

Summary

If the 911 Turbo Cabriolet takes the pulse of a generation, then we can rest easy that the world is in good shape. Yes, it's expensive and attainable only by a lucky few, but Porsche has made its top-spot cabriolet kinder to the environment, more efficient and still faster all at the same time. Progress has never looked so good.

Alisdair Suttie