Little known fact: The original Porsche 911 Cabriolet was kept under wraps at Weissach until New Year's Day, 1981, remaining a secret until Peter W. Schutz was installed as the new CEO. The Cabriolet-indeed all developments of the 911-were taboo under the old regime, which firmly believed that the 928 was the key to Porsche's future. What a wonderful thing, hindsight!
Today, it's difficult to imagine Porsche being without a softtop version of the 911, especially one as slick as the just-released Carrera Cabriolet. We got our first taste of the new open-air 911 variant on the wide-open roads of southern Spain, between Seville and the Mediterranean.
The Cabriolet is a mechanical clone of the Coupe, which means it numbers among its lengthy roster of standards the same wonderful 3.4-liter/296-horsepower SOHC flat-six engine, twisty taming MacPherson strut/multilink suspension, and healthy 17-inch wheels/tires. With the six-speed manual gearbox, the '99 Cabriolet commands $74,460, while the Tiptronic-equipped version goes for $77,880, both plus $765 in destination charges. Given that those figures also include a handsome bolt-on aluminum hardtop, sticker to sticker, the new Cabrio actually costs less than a comparably equipped version of its '98 counterpart.
Fully lined and insulated, the Cabriolet's new softtop is most capably abetted by the car's first-rate heating/air-conditioning package. The basic development work was entrusted to Car Top Systems (CTS), a company established jointly by Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. CTS also provides the articulation hardware for the Boxster and the Mercedes SLK. In Europe, the 911 system is the first that can be operated remotely by an infrared signal from the key fob; however, U.S. buyers will only be able to activate a conventional power top mechanism from inside the vehicle. Score one more for the product liability lawyers.
Safety is another concern with any open-top car, especially in rollover situations. Porsche engineers reckon they have the answer here, too. Behind the car's tiny rear seats are two spring-loaded, pop-up hoops strong enough to absorb the full measure of rollover loadings. Lap and shoulder belts both have pre-tensioner devices to ensure the occupants don't leave their inverted seats, and the car is, additionally, equipped with extra-large side airbags.
Based on the new 996 platform, the latest incarnation of the 911 Cabriolet is fitted with multiple chassis reinforcing elements that make it 36 percent stiffer in torsion than the previous 993-based Cabrio. While rough roads can still elicit a bit of cowl shake, the new softtop will more than hold its own structurally against other open vehicles and happily dispatches even the most challenging corners with the same aplomb as its closed counterpart.