New for the 911 Cabriolet

Different light units

The most striking feature of the 1999 model year Porsche 911 is the changed graphics of the light units. The indicator inserts in the headlights and side indicators are white and in the taillights white-gray instead of orange.

Litronic headlights with dynamic headlamp leveling

The 911 Cabriolet can be delivered with Litronic headlights on request from September 1998. Gas discharge lamps illuminate the lane brighter and more intensely, which significantly increases safety when driving at night. A further contribution to safety is the dynamic headlight range control, which not only takes into account the load status of the vehicle, but also changes in the body's inclination caused by driving dynamics. The halogen lamp (H7) for the high beam is surrounded by a particularly effective free-form reflector. When the headlights are dimmed, the low beam remains in operation, but its light cone is raised via the headlight range control in order to improve the area lighting. The Litronic scope of delivery includes a headlight cleaning system.

Individual sports equipment

The elements combined in the previous sports package can now also be ordered individually. Sports seats with reinforced lateral guidance and 18-inch turbo-look wheels with tire dimensions 225/40 ZR 18 and 265/35 ZR 18 are available separately.

The highlights

A consistent convertible design

The open version was part of the strategy of the extensive new 911 development right from the start. In the body design of the convertible, this comes from a new, perfect interpretation of the classic Expressing theme 911. The body construction sets standards in terms of rigidity and safety in open automobiles.

Standard: Electrohydraulic convertible top

The folding top of the new 911 Cabriolet opens - or closes - automatically in just 20 seconds. The corresponding command cannot only be triggered via a tip switch in the center console. Porsche is also the first car manufacturer in the world to offer the option of calling up the functions of the automatic roof via the remote control in the ignition key (does not apply to all national equipment) or with the key in the door lock.

Standard: Extendable roll bars

Two roll bars protect all four occupants of the 911 Cabriolet in the event of a rollover. The two high-strength tubular brackets made of steel extend by spring force when a rollover sensor reports a threatening list of the car, and lock mechanically.

Standard and only available from Porsche: Convertible-compatible side airbags

Porsche developed special side airbags Porsche Side Impact Protection System (POSIP) with a particularly large volume (30 liters) for the new 911 and Boxster. This dimensioning and the airbag: geometry ensure effective protection for the head and chest, even when the roof is open and the side windows are down. Porsche is the only manufacturer that offers convertible-compatible side airbags. These side airbags are standard on all 911 models.

At no extra charge: hardtop made of aluminum

The hardtop, which can be removed in a few simple steps, is included in the vehicle price. Despite the very stable double-shell design, the weight of the roof, including the heated mineral glass rear window, is only 33 kilograms, which enables effortless handling by two people.

Innovative folding system for the convertible roof

As with the Boxster, the roof of the 911l Cabriolet also folds in a Z-shape. This ensures that the outside of the convertible top material faces upwards even when it is open and the inner headliner remains protected from dirt.

Top quality soft top fabric

Traditionally at Porsche, a particularly high quality soft top fabric forms the outer shell of the convertible roof. On the 91l, a second layer of fabric covers the roof frame as the inner roof lining. The rear window made of scratch-resistant plastic can be replaced quickly and easily in the event of damage.

Top-class driving performance

The 911 Cabriolet is among the world's top open-top sports cars. The water-cooled six-cylinder boxer engine with a displacement of 3.4 liters and 300 hp (221 kW) gives the 911 Cabriolet a performance that only very few open-top production sports cars can achieve: 0-100 km / h in 5.4 seconds, top speed 280 km / h (275 km / h with Tipronic S) - thanks to a C_x value of 0.30, which is identical to that of the Coupé.

More space for all passengers

The longer wheelbase and the slightly larger interior width compared to the previous model also benefit the occupants of the convertible. The space is not only more generous at the front, the seats in the rear also offer growing Porsche drivers more legroom.

More luggage space improves the quality of travel

With its large luggage compartment at the front, which also offers space for standard suitcases, and a spacious storage area with the backrests folded down in the rear, the 911 Cabriolet outperforms most comparable sports cars in terms of the size of the luggage capacity.

Effective heating turns open-top driving into winter sports

The water-cooled boxer engine creates the ideal conditions for heating with high performance and constant efficiency. Above all, with the wind deflector up, a pleasant "working atmosphere" can be created in the open convertible even at lower temperatures.

The benchmark for perfection and safety

The Cabriolet is the second model variant in the new 911 series. The open sports car that Porsche has cultivated for 50 years has reached a new level of perfection here.

Due to the large number of its safety elements, the 911 Carrera Cabriolet is the international standard for active and passive safety in open sports cars.

The body structure not only offers very high strength, its construction is also designed for very targeted deformation in the event of collisions.

In addition to full-size airbags for the driver and front passenger, the Cabriolet has side airbags with a volume of 30 liters each as standard. The special feature: They guarantee comprehensive protection for the head, chest and arms even when the roof is open and the side windows are down. Porsche is the only manufacturer that offers convertible-compatible side airbags. In addition, the Cabriolet naturally has three-point automatic seat belts for all four passengers.

In 20 seconds, "topless"

There are two roll bars as standard, which are usually hidden discreetly behind the rear seats. They are extended by spring pressure when a tilt sensor detects the risk of rollover. In tests, the Porsche technicians were able to prove that the bars can protect all four occupants of a convertible from serious injuries.

When it came to the bodywork, the designers were able to let their creativity run free because work on the coupé and convertible began at the same time. This made it possible to match the profile of the open 911 more consistently than before to the unmistakable silhouette of the 911. The result is a more elegant convertible with a fully retractable roof that disappears under a flap when open. The the roof is opened or closed electro-hydraulically within 20 seconds, including the opening and closing of the windows. There are three options for activating these functions: using a pushbutton in the center console, using the remote control on the key (not available in all country versions) or by holding the key in the door lock in the locked position.

The development of the 911 Carrera Cabriolet is based on a close cooperation between Porsche AG and the company "Car Top Systems" (CTS), a Porsche subsidiary. The tops of the 911 and Boxster are manufactured by CTS in Korntal Munchingen and delivered to Porsche ready for installation. The standard hardtop was completely designed by CTS and is also manufactured there.

The design of the 911 fabric roof is of high quality, the outside is made of the elegant and indestructible material "Sonnenland". On the inside, the top frame is covered by a headliner, the acoustics experts reduced the wind noise of the fabric roof to a minimum with intensive precision work.

Hard top is part of the standard equipment

The standard scope of delivery of the Porsche 911 Cabriolet includes a hard top made of aluminum with a heated rear window made of mineral glass. The double-shell roof with a stiffening aluminum parcel shelf is characterized by particularly high strength, minimal wind noise and the low weight of 33 kilograms. Two people can handle it with little effort. It is reliably attached to the body in just a few simple steps, and the electrically heated rear window is automatically connected.

A wind deflector is available as additional equipment, which enables fast open-top driving without annoying turbulence. When not in use, the wind deflector can be stored in a pocket in the cover of the spare wheel.

In terms of its technology, the Cabriolet corresponds to the Coupé. The main components of the body, the chassis with the wheel suspensions made of light alloy, the water-cooled six-cylinder boxer engine and the power transmission through a six-speed gearbox or the five-speed automatic Tiptronic S are identical in the coupé and convertible. The Cabriolet thus offers all the advantages of the current 911 series:

The water-cooled boxer engine develops 300 hp (221 kW) with a displacement of 3.4 liters.

The modern design of the engine ensures low consumption and low pollutant emissions.

Driving safety and driving comfort benefit from a state-of-the-art chassis in which the load-bearing structures and all handlebars are made of aluminum.

The additional equipment program for the Cabriolet corresponds to the extensive range for the Coupé. The Porsche Communication Management (PCM) is particularly worth mentioning. The device, which is equipped with a screen in the middle of the dashboard, combines a whole range of functions, as in the coupé.

Technical Data