Open-air Porsche duo with all-wheel technology

Porsche has announced a new generation of open 911 versions with all-wheel drive. The 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolets will be shown for the first time in October this year with the 280 km/h Carrera 4 Cabriolet powered by the 239 kW (325 bhp) 3.6-litre six-cylinder boxer engine and the 288 km/h 4S model powered by the 261 kW (355 bhp) 3.8-liter engine. As is already the case with the coupé version of the Carrera 4, power transmission in the Cabriolets is by all-wheel drive with a Visco multi-plate clutch, which consistently brings between five and 40 percent of the driving power to the road via the front wheels.

The Carrera 4 Cabriolet is powered by the familiar 3.6-liter six-cylinder boxer engine, which has an output of 239 kW (325 bhp). The open all-wheel-drive sports car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 280 km/h. The 4S model is powered by the equally well-proven 3.8-liter engine, which has an output of 261 kW (355 bhp). This model sprints to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 288 km/h.

The body shell of the new open sports car models is 44 millimeters wider than on the rear-wheel-drive 911 Cabriolet, and due to its high degree of stiffness it combines the joy of open-top driving with the dynamics and driving stability of all-wheel drive. At the touch of a button, the fabric top opens and closes automatically in only 20 seconds at speeds of up to 50 km/h. At 42 kilograms, the convertible top weighs barely half as much as a comparable Vario folding roof, thus providing a lower center of gravity and a higher degree of lateral dynamics.

The new Cabriolets’ anti-roll-over system consists of super high strength steel tubes in both A-pillars, and two automatically extending bars behind the rear seats. Two head airbags complement the passive safety system. These are located in the door panel in the form of flat cushions that inflate upwards in the event of a lateral collision. This means that they provide a unique form of protection for the head, even when the top is down. Two chest airbags in the armrests and two front airbags complete the passenger protection system.

To improve active safety, the standard Porsche Stability Management system (PSM) has two new functions. Pre-filling the brake mechanism ensures more spontaneous deceleration if required, and the hydraulic brake power support, which works like brake assistance, helps to build up full brake pressure in emergencies. The Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) is available as an option on both new versions of the Cabriolet.

The chassis design corresponds to that of the conventionally powered 911 models. The standard Porsche Active Suspension Management system (PASM) in the 4S model provides a comfortably sporty basic suspension setting when set at normal, but when the sport button is pushed it triggers performance characteristics that are definitely more tightly tuned. In both positions, however, the setting is permanently geared to the appropriate driving style and the nature of the road. The active suspension system is available as an option on the Carrera 4 Cabriolet.

The basic Euro-price is 79,900 Euros for the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet and 88,700 Euros for the Carrera 4S Cabriolet. In Germany, the prices of the Cabriolet models (including sales tax and national requirements) are 92,865 Euros for the Carrera 4 and 103,073 Euros for the Carrera 4S.

The market launch of the new 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolets in Europe takes place on October 22, 2005.