autoevolution
 

PORSCHE 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 5
First production year: 1998
Engines: Gasoline
Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
PORSCHE 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet (991) photo gallery

The 2012 Porsche Carrera 4 Cabriolet was that daily-driver supercar that could take its top off in 13 seconds and run away with its 350 hp delivered to its all-wheel-drive system. And that only a part of the fun.

Porsche always had open-top vehicles. Looking back, it had a glorious roadster over the years. Some of them were meant for racing and performance. But there was a switch toward the luxurious convertibles, with high-performance and able to be used as a daily driver car.

The 2012 Carrera 4 Cabriolet kept the same unmistakably shape of the timeless Porsche 911 design convertible since 1982. On the front, the same rounded headlights shape, but with LED lights, were like a trademark for the vehicle. Over time, the windshield became more angled to improve the aerodynamic and, in the rear, the sloped back with the engine compartment.

Inside the Carrera 4 Cabriolet, there were some luxury features. The leather-covered sport-bucket seats were covered in leather. The canvas top was hidden behind a large, rigid cover, behind the rear very small seats. The center console was higher to give the driver a sense of a single-seat racing roadster. For the sound system, the German car-manufacturer offered few options, including a premium sound system from Burmeister sound specialist. For the transmission, Porsche offered a 7-speed manual as standard or a 7-speed dual-clutch PDK system. The 7-speed manual had an interesting feature that prevents the driver to accidentally downshift from 7th to 4th, which could damage the engine.

full description and technical specifications
PORSCHE 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet (997) photo gallery

In 2004, Porsche launched a new generation of its well-known Porsche 911.

That generation was named 997 and it represented an important upgrade for the whole range, especially after the 2008 facelift.

After four years into production, a mid-life cycle refresh was ready for the market. Porsche had to improve its engines to make them cleaner and to respect the new pollution norms in Europe. It meant that it had to build its cars more fuel-efficient. As usual, the rest of the car suffered some minor changes too.

On the outside, the first difference was on the front bumper, where larger air-intakes were sculptured. The headlights were fitted with LED daytime running lights and an option for bi-xenon lamps was added to the list. The door mirrors were slightly redesigned. A new set of 18” light-alloy wheels was introduced for the Carrera 4. As usual, both versions 4 and 4S Cabriolet featured wider rear fenders. In the rear, the taillights received an LED design.

As any premium or sports convertible, the entire Porsche 911 cabriolet lineup featured a power-roof, which could cover and uncover the car in 20 seconds. The interior featured a new PCM (Porsche Communication Management), which supported the Apple CarPlay. For Android users, there was an app to download, but it didn't work as well as the iOS systems.

The Carrera 4 Cabriolet featured a 3.6-liter engine that cranked up 325 hp, 30 hp less than its 4S sibling, which had a 3.8-liter unit. Both versions were mated as standard to a 6-speed manual and an automatic (Tiptronic S) transmission was on the options list.

full description and technical specifications
PORSCHE 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet (997) photo gallery

With an all-wheel-drive system, many would think that it was designed for driving on loose surfaces, while with a soft-top, the direction should be opposite. But what if they were combined?

Soon after the Carrera 4 coupe was launched, its convertible version was on the market as well. It offered the same performances as its closed-version sibling, but with the addition of more fun for driving under the open sky.

The convertible version for Carrera 4 was developed at the same time with the coupe. Thus, the engineers installed on the coupe some reinforcements needed for the cabriolet. As usual, most of the body parts from the open-top version were carried-over from the coupe. The platform was strengthened to act as a chassis. The convertible was only 85 kilograms (180 lbs) heavier than the coupe, which made it as fast as the closed-version.

Inside, the Carrera 4 Cabrio featured the same options as the coupe, plus the wind deflector. That allowed a normal conversation even with the top down at highway speed. To cover or uncover the car, the electric system needed only 20 seconds at speeds up to 50 kph (31 mph). To protect the occupants, the 997 cabriolet offered reinforced bars and six airbags.

For the engine compartment, the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet 997 was fitted with a 3.6-liter flat-six that offered 325 hp. It was paired as standard to a 6-speed manual, while a 5-speed automatic with manual override (Tiptronic) was offered as an option.

full description and technical specifications
PORSCHE 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet (996) photo gallery

Designed as a grand tourer, the Porsche Carrera 4 Cabriolet was the base all-wheel-drive version for the open-top 911 range in 2001. It offered enough comfort to be used as a daily driver, on all weather.

The 996 Porsche was facelifted in 2002. Along with the coupe versions, the convertibles were reshaped. There was not a big difference on the outside. It was the same sports-car and open-top grand tourer.

From the outside, it was hard to notice the difference between the 1998 version and the facelifted model. The main difference was on the headlights. The 2002 model featured a clear lens for the entire lamp, while its predecessor featured a yellow lens for the turn-signals. The retractable roof was able to be stowed away in 20 seconds at speeds of up to 50 kph (31 mph) under a lid, like the rest of the 911 convertible range. With the roof up, the car was tested in the wind tunnel at speeds of up to 338 kph (210 mph).

Inside, the main difference was the stereo, which received a digital AM/FM stereo and a CD-player. Other than that, it was the same four-seat sports car built for two adults for long journeys. In the 911 coupes, the rear seatbacks could have been folded down to create a flat cargo floor. It was a good daily driver vehicle and even more relaxing on long journeys.

The drivetrain received a new 3.6-liter engine and it offered 20 hp more than the non-facelifted version. It was fitted with a standard 6-speed manual. The 5-speed automatic (Tiptronic) gearbox with manual override to change gears was on the options list. Due to its all-wheel-drive system, it could cope better with the bad weather than most of the sports-cars from that era.

full description and technical specifications
PORSCHE 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet (996) photo gallery

Designed as a grand tourer, the Porsche Carrera 4 Cabriolet was the all-wheel-drive version for the open-top 911 range in 1998. It offered enough comfort to be used as a daily driver.

The 996 Porsche was unveiled in 1997. A year later, the convertible version for some of the models was released, and the all-wheel-drive version was the Carrera 4 Cabriolet. It was a sports-car and a grand tourer. Unlike other GT vehicles, it was focused more on performance than on comfort and luxury items, and it was great in the winter as well.

From the outside, the big headlights were oddly shaped and that brought a lot of criticism from Porsche fans around the world. The bumper featured a simple grille design, with one horizontal slat. From the side, the flush bodywork, without any enlargements for the wheel-arches, offered a clean look. The retractable roof was able to be stowed away in 20 seconds at speeds of up to 50 kph (31 mph), like the rest of the 911 convertible range. With the roof up, the car was tested in the wind tunnel at speeds of up to 338 kph (210 mph), which was higher than what Carrera 4 could reach.

Inside, the car was fitted as standard with a stereo and air-conditioning. Since it was the base model in the stable, it didn't feature too many luxury items, but those were on the options list. The standard seats could have been upgraded to power-adjustable leather seats. The Porsche Communication Management system was offered as an option with a sat-nav system.

Under the engine lid, there was a newly-developed flat-six engine that offered 300 hp. It was mated as standard with a six-speed manual. A 5-speed automatic (Tiptronic) with manual override to shift gears was on the options list. The Carrera 4 was all-wheel-drive.

full description and technical specifications