Porsche's model offensive is continuing. Just a few months after the launch of the new 911 Carrera Coupé, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is introducing the new Cabriolet. Opting for the open-air 911, the sports car enthusiast again has the choice of either the 239 kW (325 bhp) 3.6-litre flat-six or the S-model with its 3.8-litre power unit developing 261 kW (355 bhp). As on the Coupé versions, Porsche has once again enlarged the range of standard equipment. The new Convertibles are equipped with features such as larger wheels, a wind deflector, PSM Porsche Stability Management and PCM Porsche Communication Management including Porsche Sound Package Plus (CD radio with nine loudspeakers). In the United States and Canada the 2005 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet and Carrera S Cabriolet will be introduced in mid March. The two Cabriolets will be introduced Europe-wide on 2 April 2005.

The Cabriolets naturally come with all the excellent driving dynamics already boasted by the Coupés. Benefiting from outstanding lightweight concepts, the basic version weighs a mere 1480 kg (3263 lb) (Carrera S: 1505 kg/3319 lb), thus ranking right at the top in its market segment also in this respect, both Cabriolets weighing just 85 kilos more than their respective Coupé counterparts.

As a result of their very good power-to-weight ratio and that typical Porsche suspension, these two open-air sports cars offer exemplary agility and dynamic handling particularly in bends. The Carrera S Cabriolet comes as standard with PASM Porsche Active Suspension Management available as an option on the 3.6-litre Carrera and offering an entirely new dimension in driving dynamics.

Both models have exactly the same top speed as their Coupé counterparts – 285 km/h (177 mph) and, respectively, 293 km/h (182 mph) – thus proving their outstanding aerodynamic qualities: Both versions of the Cabriolet have a drag coefficient of 0.29, ranking right at the top versus international competition also in this respect. The 3.6-litre version of the open-air Carrera (with manual gearbox) accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, the Carrera S Cabriolet completing this exercise even faster in 4.9 seconds.

The soft roof opens and closes fully automatically at the touch of a button in just 20 seconds, collapsing in Z-configuration within the roof compartment with the outer side of the roof facing to the top. The roof can be opened and closed while driving at a speed of up to 50 km/h.