Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet (2007) CAR review

So the Turbo Coupe gets the predictable cabrio chop then…

Spot on. And at £106,180, this turbocharged, open-top, tech-fest is the flagship of today’s range. The only 911 topping £100k comes with a turbocharged flat six engine producing 480bhp, all-wheel drive, active suspension and every conceivable goodie: DVD navigation, leather comfort seats, Bose sound system. But there’s one crucial thing Porsche has forgotten to make standard – an eye-test before the keys are handed over. Believe you me, the way this thing piles on speed, you need perfect long-range vision to pick out upcoming obstacles. Blink and by the time your eyes readjust, you’ll be bearing down on hairpins or Smart cars or oblivious wildlife. It makes for an exhilarating drive…

How come it’s so quick?

The 3.6-litre flat six is breathed on by two turbochargers with variable turbine geometry, to optimise boost pressure. It’s only now, with the third generation 911 Turbo cabrio, that Porsche could implement variable vanes that can resist operating temperatures up to 1000-degrees in the exhaust flow. The benefit is a consant rush of torque, with a 457lb ft punch delivered consistently from 1950 to 5000 revs. Tick the one obligatory option box for the £1015 Sports Chrono Pack and there’s a turbocharger overboost function, which serves up an additional 0.2 bar and 44lb ft, and shaves a few extra tenths of the already eye-boggling in-gear acceleration. Zero to 62mph takes 4.0sec flat; don’t lift for another 8.0sec and you’ll hit 124mph or 200kmh. Top speed is 192mph.