The first pictures and details of the 2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet – the drop-top version of the German sports car maker’s latest-generation sports car icon – have been revealed.
As expected, Porsche opted for a soft top instead of the folding hard top utilized by some of the 911′s rivals. However, the new hood does not use the multi-layered fabric structure of the previous 997 model but composite materials that are supported by a new magnesium frame, which is said to reduce its weight. In addition, Porsche claims that the design allows the typical 911 roof line to be “retained in its entirety” on the Cabriolet model.
The new 911 Cabriolet shares the same platform, longer wheelbase (than the outgoing 997) and aluminum-steel construction as the Coupe.
The entry-level 911 Cabriolet, the Carrera, features a 257 kW 3.4-litre flat six-cylinder engine sending its power to the rear wheels via Porsche’s new seven-speed manual gearbox. The 911 Carrera S Cabriolet is serviced by a 294 kW 3.8-litre flat-six that’s also mated as standard to the manual, with a seven-speed ‘PDK’ dual-clutch auto optional for both models
The convertible is expected to debut at the 2012 Detroit motor show.
