Detroit 2012: Porsche 911 Cabriolet

Not a single "drops it's top" pun eluding to ladies riding in a Porsche in that headline.  Aww, dammit.  Ruined it already.  To the shock and awe of approximately three people, Porsche debuted the drop-top version of the new (991) 911 in the flesh today.

That means that everything which is new on the 991 Coupe is also new on the Cabriolet.  For gearheads, let's talk power.  If you want to ruin your Trump Toupee in a righteous hurry, either of the Cabrio's available engines will do it for you.  The base 911 Carrera Cabriolet has a 3.4L 24v flat-six, now with direct fuel injection.  This one's good for 350bhp,  and can be had with either a 7-speed manual (no typo) or the 7-speed PDK twin-clutch.  The manual will do 0-60 in 5.0, the PDK in 4.8 or 4.6 if you get the Sport Chrono package.

The more power hungry will get the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, which has a larger 3.8L 24v flat-six.  This direct-injected mill makes an even 400 horsepower, and is also available with the 7-speed manual or PDK.  0-60 times are 4.7s for the manual, 4.5 for the PDK, and 4.3 for PDK with Sport Chrono.  Top speed for the 3.4 ranges from 177-179, and the 3.8 will do 186-188mph, nearly as fast as a 996 Turbo Cabriolet.

So what's new or note-worthy?  Well, Porsche has been pounding the "Evolution, not Revolution" mantra into our heads for years now.  So there's no folding-metal hardtop for the 911, but the cloth roof has been redesigned.  The new Cabrio is 60kg (132lbs) lighter than the outgoing one, the wheelbase is longer, and the front track is wider.  Like the other 991's, the power steering is now electrically assisted, and you can get a torque-vectoring diff in the Carrera S.  The biggest visual change is the redesigned shaped of the roof and cowl, which gives the Cabrio a closer appearance to the coupe when the top's up.

But it's a 911 Cabrio!  Why would you ever have the top up?  Just take out one of your other Porsches when it rains.

Thanks to Kanishka Sonnadara for the live photos!