2004 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

From 1987 to 1989, the Porsche 930, as the first Turbo was code-named within the company, set milestones in the history of open-air sports cars. That original Porsche 930 Turbo Cabriolet had a 3.3-liter horizontally opposed “boxer” six-cylinder engine with only two valves per cylinder, yet it produced 300 horsepower and could sprint from a standing start to 62 mph (100 km/h ) in only 5.2 seconds on
its way to a top track-test speed of 161 mph (259 km/h).

For 2004, the new Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet draws its power from the same 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged engine as the Porsche Turbo Coupe, so it delivers 415 horsepower (SAE) and 415 lb.-ft. of torque.

The 2004 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe and Cabriolet are designed for long-distance comfort as well as high performance, with equipment such as a Bose® digital audio system, leather seating and available features like the Porsche Communication Management system with navigation and a 5.8-inch color monitor.

The 2004 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet comes with a fully automatic three-piece top that opens in a Z-configuration and folds down into a compartment behind the rear seat. Unlike most cabriolet tops that expose the inside of the roof lining when the top is retracted, Porsche’s Z-configuration keeps the inside of the roof protected at all times, takes up less space when the top is stowed, and provides
better protection for the heated rear glass window when the top is down.

The Cabriolet top is made of a high-quality fabric, with a special plastic material between the outer and inner layers providing superior sound insulation and heat protection.

A light but stable aluminum frame helps keep the structure stable and resistant to ballooning, even at very high speeds, and applies tension to the section of the roof between the windshield and the first bracket. The top has been tested in a wind tunnel at speeds of nearly 210 mph (338 km/h) without problems. The roof is fully automatic, operated by a hydraulic system and electric motors that lock the front roof bracket to the windshield frame. A microcomputer masterminds the smooth flow of all functions that opens and closes the top in 20 seconds.

All 2004 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolets come with both a standard wind deflector and an aluminum hard top. The wind deflector, made of two frames covered by a net fabric, extends over the area between the front seats and the supplemental safety bar cover and ensures a draft-free driving experience when the top is down. The wind deflector can be installed or removed in a matter of seconds and can be stored in the front luggage compartment.

The aluminum hard top is made from two shells riveted together and includes a parcel shelf that helps reinforce its structure. The hard top has a heated rear glass window, yet weighs only 71 pounds (32 kg), making it easy for a driver and passenger to install when they want the security of a hard roof over their heads. Whether the hardtop is installed or the soft top is up or down, the Porsche 911
Turbo Cabriolet provides outstanding protection for its occupants. The car has two supplemental safety bars that are discreetly hidden behind the rear seats. Should one of the angle sensors detect the imminent risk of the car rolling over, the safety bars automatically deploy.

The 911 Turbo Cabriolet body shell was developed along with the body of the new 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet and has substantial reinforcements to maintain its safe, stiff structure even without a top. Three-dimensional junction plates are integrated into the side sills and so-called shaft reinforcements, which are welded and bonded, are integrated behind the B-pillars to provide even more strength.
Providing such additional reinforcements was no easy job for Porsche’s development engineers, since the intake openings for the Turbo’s intercooler are located at exactly this point on the sides of the car, and the mechanical and electrical systems for the rear side windows are fitted in this area. To achieve
their goals, Porsche’s engineers used high-strength steel.

The 2004 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet is equipped with larger side airbags designed to provide protection for the occupant’s head, chest and hips in the event of a side impact, even when the roof is open and the side windows are lowered.