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July 23, 2003
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This Week:

• Highlights of the New Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

• Toyota ships first UK-made Avensis to Japan

• Mercedes-Benz E 55 AMG Estate: High-performance estate with dream figures

• Jaguar And Land Rover Announce Production Realignment For Halewood And Solihull Plants

• Michael Simcoe To Head GM Asia Pacific Design

• The New BMW X5 - major enhancements to the car that broke the mould

• The new GOLF - The First facts

• GM Reports Second Quarter Financial Results

• S2RV - Ford Smart Safe Research Vehicle: The Latest In Telematics And Accident Avoidance

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Highlights of the New Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

The Fastest Open-Air Flat-Six

Breathtaking performance

The performance this gives the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is truly breathtaking in every sense of the word: Acceleration from 0-100 km/h with the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard comes in 4.3 seconds, the car boosting on to 160 km/h or 99 mph in a metre 9.5 seconds. This overwhelming demonstration of power and performance does not end until the 911 Turbo Cabriolet reaches its top speed of 305 km/h or 189 mph.

VarioCam Plus for superior economy and clean emissions

The turbocharged power unit forms a perfect team with variable valve management and a variable charge cycle, making this high-performance power unit even more exclusive in technical terms. The system is made up of four valves per cylinder, infinitely controlled camshaft adjusters and switching valve tappets, and proudly bears the name VarioCam Plus. The result is optimum power and torque management, appropriate reduction of fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, and an equally appropriate improvement of motoring refinement.

Six-speed gearbox or Tiptronic S

The Turbo Cabriolet comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, but may be fitted as an option with Porsche's Tiptronic S automatic transmission. This five-speed automatic also featuring a manual gearshift via paddles on the steering wheel is specifically geared to the superior power and performance of the turbocharged engine, the gearshift points adjusting infinitely to the driver's style of motoring and the route he is taking.

Four-wheel drive for optimum driving characteristics

Like the Coupé, the new 911 Turbo Cabriolet comes as standard with four-wheel drive complete with a viscous multiple-plate coupling conveying 5 per cent of the engine's power to the front wheels on a good road surface with firm grip. Whenever road conditions deteriorate, for example as a result of wet or slippery surfaces, up to 40 per cent of the engine's drive power is conveyed to the front wheels for superior traction at all times.

Guaranteeing a high standard of active safety

Photos: Porsche

It almost goes without saying that the 911 Turbo in open-air trim offers the highest standard of body stiffness and driving comfort, like all the other models in the range. The bodyshell of the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is based on the body structure of the Coupé, the main differences being special reinforcements wherever appropriate to make up for the stabilising effect of the fixed roof. Like the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet already introduced, the new Turbo Cabriolet, benefitting from a wide range of modifications on the body-in-white, comes with a bodyshell among the stiffest of all open-air Porsche 911s.

Active safety in the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is enhanced significantly by PSM Porsche Stability Management featured as standard. PSM serves to stabilise the car both longitudinally and laterally by intervening in the engine management and the brake system as soon as the 911 Turbo Cabriolet exceeds its maximum limits when driven to the extreme. So in practice PSM does not in any way restrain the sporting character of the 911 Turbo.

To ensure supreme stopping power at all times without the slightest fading, the new Turbo Cabriolet comes with four-piston fixed-calliper brakes plus inner-vented, cross-drilled brake discs front and rear measuring 330 millimetres or 13.00" in diameter. Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) are available as an option, setting new standards in terms of brake response, fading-free performance, low weight and a long service life.

Power roof also opening while driving

Driving comfort Porsche-style means not only an absolutely stiff and stable body, but also very easy and convenient control of all functions. Precisely this is why the driver is able to open and fold away the roof beneath the roof compartment lid within a mere 20 seconds, naturally with full power operation at the touch of a button. And he can do so while driving, opening or closing the roof at any time up to a speed of 50 km/h or 31 mph.

(July 22, 2003)