Convertible Porsche
911
Porsche Introduces
Convertible 911 For 2008
By Anthony Fontanelle
The auto industry has always been a dynamic entity with car
manufacturers improving their models year after year. One of these
car companies dedicated to offering better versions of their
current vehicle models is the German brand Porsche.
The company's flagship for as long as we can remember is the 911,
and for the 2008 model year, they will be introducing to the market
a soft top version of the iconic model. This comes as no surprise
since for the past twenty years, Porsche has been offering
convertible versions of their flagship cars. The open top version
of the 911 offers good advantages over the coupe. It is a known
fact that convertibles have the most striking body style ever used
by an automobile. This open top configuration of the Porsche 911
does not negatively affect the performance of the car.
Differing on the configuration of the roof, the 911 coupe and the
convertible uses the same engine. The engine of both 911 units is a
3.6-liter six-cylinder boxer engine. The engine is boosted with
twin turbochargers and features the Variable Turbine Geometry which
enhances further its fuel efficiency. The
powerplant concealed by the 911 Coupe and Cabriolet can produce as
much as 480 horsepower. This amount of power complements the
lightweight design of the convertible, allowing it to go perform at
a high level.
 The torque produced by the standard
engine can further be enhanced with Porsche's "Sport Chrono
Turbo Package". With the optional package, the torque produced
by the engine will reach 680 Nm. With that much torque, the
Porsche 911 Cabriolet exhibits exceptional acceleration. With
a manual transmission,
the Cabriolet can reach speeds of 100 kilometers per hour from a
standstill and the vehicle can accomplish such a feat in just four
seconds. That time is shortened to just 3.8 seconds if the
Tiptronic S Transmission is used.
The top speed of the cabriolet is rated at 193 miles per hour or
310 kilometers per hour. At that speed, the Cabriolet will need
high quality brake components such as EBC
rotors to keep the car's power in check. While the
Cabriolet is engineered as a high performance sports car, its
fuel efficiency is quite a surprise. With its
high power output engine, the cabriolet is rated to have a gas
mileage of 21.9 miles per gallon.
While both the coupe and the cabriolet are designed to be
lightweight, the cabriolet is 70 kilograms heavier than the coupe
version of the 911. The 70 kilograms is the added weight of the
reinforcements necessary to reduce vibrations of the car's body
especially on high speed operation.
Another added weight to the cabriolet is the rollover protection
installed at the back of the second row of seats of the cabriolet.
This variety of protective features makes the 911 one of the safest
cabriolets in production today. Its soft top can be opened or
closed according to the driver's preference in just
20 seconds.
In terms of stability, the 911 Cabriolet handles and offers drive
comfort just like its coupe counterpart. What gives the cabriolet
its good stability is the Porsche Active Suspension Management. The
said feature is standard on all trim levels of the Porsche 911 and
in every body style. Other features which contribute to the
cabriolet's good performance are the Porsche Stability Management
and the Porsche Traction Management. The latter is a feature which
adjusts the power sent to the front or rear wheels according to the
demand of the road. An onboard computer gives and allows for an
instant reaction to the car's traction needs. This makes the 911
Cabriolet one of the most responsive all-wheel drive system.
Enhancing its performance further is the convertible's rear
spoiler. The integrated spoiler is automatically deployed when the
car reaches speed of 75 kilometers per hour or 120 miles per hour.
The spoiler creates a negative lift for the rear axle making it the
911 Cabriolet the only convertible with that distinction. All in
all, the Porsche 911 Cabriolet is one of the most advanced cars in
its segment and come the 2008 model year, this will be one of the
most sought after convertibles for
performance enthusiasts.
About the author:
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive.buff who grew up in
the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine
when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
| 
