Lowering the lid of the all-new Porsche 911 Cabriolet lets in the sunshine and all of the wonderful sounds coming from behind you.
If you go to the Porsche U.S.A. website and take a look at the 911 lineup, you’ll see a menu with seven variations of the outgoing 991.2 body style, ranging from the base Carrera to the GTS models to the almighty GT2 RS. Late last year, Porsche revealed the all-new 992 version of the 911 coupe at the L.A. Auto Show. Given how many different types of 911 Porsche will ultimately make, that was just the beginning of the 992. The S and 4S Cabriolet models MotorWeek recently tested in Greece are the next phase of the eighth generation of Porsche’s iconic sports car.
With its fabric top up, the Cabriolet is a looker and almost as quiet as its coupe counterpart. But it was made to let in the sunlight. According to MotorWeek‘s Ben Davis, “The top is functional art. It drops in a smooth 12 seconds at speeds up to 31 miles per hour.”
Most importantly, going roofless allows you to hear more of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six engine. Davis says, “You hear the heavy draw of the intake, the wispy cappuccino-like machine sounds of the turbochargers. It’s definitely a way to get a lot closer to your 911.”
The cockpit leaves a couple of things to be desired. Although the digital information screens that flank the analog tachometer are configurable and “still resemble the classic layout … from older 911s,” the steering wheel rim makes them a bit hard to see at speed. Davis is also frustrated by the fact that he has to dig through a menu to shut off the automatic start/stop system. Cars with the Sport Chrono package make it a little easier to deactivate by giving you the option to set it as disabled in the Individual drive mode.
Despite those gripes, Davis thinks the new 911 Cabriolet S twins are worth every penny of what Porsche is asking for them. Prices for the S Cabrio start at $126,100; 4S Cabrios have a base price of $133,400.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
