If life is a journey, wouldn't it be a tragedy not to enjoy it to the full? Perhaps it's this - admittedly somewhat philosophical - outlook that best explains the desire for an open-top 911 Turbo.

• 

Concept
The styling is dynamic without being fussy. Sporty without being ostentatious. In short, no gimmicks, no showiness, no doubts.

The side air-intake grilles in the front apron have titanium-coloured painted slats. To the right or left respectively of the grilles are the daytime running lights, positioned low down. Like the indicators, they utilise LED technology to provide increased illumination and give a characteristic look. Optional dynamic cornering lights are an additional safety feature (standard on 911 Turbo S models).

Glancing over the sides of the 911 Turbo models, you will notice the linear, no-frills twin-spoke design of the 911 Turbo II wheels. Elements of the spokes and wheel rim have a high-sheen finish. The wheels are forged and the sophisticated technology facilitates a lightweight, yet highly rigid design.

On the 911 Turbo S models, the forged aluminium wheels in the RS Spyder design with a central locking device provide a good glimpse of the yellow brake calipers of the standard Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB).

The rear features LED taillights that extend right round to the wings where they taper to a point. The LED brake lights respond extremely quickly, thereby increasing active safety. In other words, the traffic behind is warned sooner.

The two tailpipes are positioned neatly in the recesses of the rear apron and provide a visual reminder of the engine’s increased power.

A characteristic feature of the 911 Turbo is the rear wing, which extends at 120 km/h, retracting again when vehicle speed drops to around 60 km/h. The drag coefficient is just 0.31 (Cabriolet models: 0.32).

The interior design is also characteristic: sporty, uncluttered and ergonomically refined. Careful consideration has been given to the interior geometry and there is a generous amount of occupant space. The gear lever design is exclusive to 911 Turbo models equipped as standard with the manual gearbox. Reserved for 911 Turbo S models is the two-tone leather interior with contrasting seams on the seats, door panels and dashboard.

If life is a journey, wouldn’t it be a tragedy not to enjoy it to the full? Perhaps it’s this – admittedly somewhat philosophical – outlook that best explains the desire for an open-top 911 Turbo.

Drive
On the 911 Turbo models, DFI injects the fuel with millisecond precision directly into the combustion chamber at up to 140 bar via electromagnetically actuated injection valves, thus ensuring homogeneous distribution of the air/fuel mixture and consequently efficient combustion.

In the direct injection system, the EMS SDI 3.1 engine management system adjusts the injection timing individually for each cylinder and the injection quantity for each cylinder bank. This optimises both the combustion curve and fuel consumption.

Dual injection is implemented at engine speeds of up to 3,200 rpm and triple injection up to 2,700 rpm to ensure faster catalyst warm up after a cold start and more torque in the upper load range. The required quantity of fuel is distributed to two or three successive injection processes per cycle.

DFI improves the internal cooling of the combustion chamber by forming the mixture directly in the cylinder. This has made it possible to increase compression (9.8: 1), resulting in more engine power and even greater efficiency.

Chassis
Fitted as standard to 911 Turbo models, the 19-inch 911 Turbo II wheels seamlessly combine function and design.

The car has 8.5 J x 19 wheels at the front combined with 235/35 ZR 19 tyres. At the rear are 11 J x 19 wheels with 305/30 ZR 19 tyres. The wheels are forged, of course, to reduce weight and unsprung masses. The material is also very strong, making it possible to achieve a fine spoke wheel design which provides better ventilation of the brakes.

The five-spoke design is stylish and distinctive. The linear twin spokes have a high-sheen surface finish, contrasting with the titanium-coloured base paint. Part of the wheel rim also has a high-sheen finish.

The 19-inch 911 Turbo II wheels. Proof that dynamism can be expressed visually.

Reminiscent of the classic RS Spyder design, these forged aluminium wheels with a motorsport-derived central locking device are available on request for the 911 Turbo models and are fitted as standard to the new 911 Turbo S models. By reducing rotating masses, they deliver an even more agile driving experience. Benefiting from innovative ongoing developments to the engineering conventionally used only in a racing environment, the striking central locking devices offer effective protection against corrosion and are easy to clean.

Alternatively, the 19-inch 911 Turbo II wheels are available for the 911 Turbo S models at no extra cost.

(TPM) Tyre Pressure Monitoring, included as standard equipment, warns against tyre pressure loss.

The driver is informed via the on-board computer display. The driver can check the pressures of all four tyres from the instrument cluster. Each time the tyres are re-inflated, or whenever a wheel has been changed, the updated tyre pressures are displayed quickly – for increased comfort and safety.

Included as standard equipment, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is an electronic active damping system. It offers continuous adjustment of the damping force on each wheel, based on current road conditions and driving style.

At the press of a button, the driver can choose between two modes. While ‘Normal’ mode provides a blend of performance and comfort, the ‘Sport’ setup mode has a much firmer range of settings. The system responds to changing road conditions and/or driving style by continuously varying the individual damping forces within the parameters defined for the selected setup mode (‘Normal’ or ‘Sport’). Pitch and roll are reduced, whilst contact of each wheel with the road is optimised.

Steering
Sensitive and direct, the power-assisted steering also offers accurate feedback from the road. For a sportscar, driver effort is minimal. In short: all the precision of a race-designed system, yet perfect for everyday road use.

One of the key features of the steering system is the variable-ratio gearing. Around the straight-ahead position, the ratio is less direct, enabling smoother manoeuvres on the motorway. It also reduces the risk of excessive steering inputs which could destabilise the car at high speed. Agility and feedback, however, are maintained.

Turn the wheel harder and the ratio becomes more direct, enabling better control through low-speed corners as well as easier parking manoeuvres. The turning circle is a modest 10.9 metres.

Safety
PSM, an automatic vehicle stability control system designed to aid the driver in critical road scenarios, is fitted as standard. Sensors monitor the direction, speed, yaw velocity (speed of rotation around the vertical axis) and lateral acceleration of the car. Using this information, it is possible to calculate the actual direction of travel at any given moment. If the car begins to oversteer or understeer, PSM applies selective braking on individual wheels to restore stability and optimum speed. Whenever PSM is required to intervene, an indicator light in the cockpit flashes.

When accelerating on wet or other low-grip surfaces, PSM combines with PTM and uses the automatic brake differential (ABD) and anti-slip regulation (ASR) functions to maintain traction and stability. Included as standard equipment, PSM assists with high-precision inputs that enhance the agility of each model. When ‘Sport’ mode is selected on the Sport Chrono Package Turbo with dynamic engine mount system, the PSM threshold is raised higher still to enable greater driver involvement – particularly at speeds of up to 70 km/h.

PSM includes ABS to help minimise braking distances. System inputs are smooth and precise for greater driver comfort.

The new 911 Turbo S models are equipped as standard with a braking system that has already proved it can withstand even the toughest racing conditions, such as those encountered in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. That system is the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB). PCCB is available as an option for 911 Turbo models.

The ceramic discs have a diameter of 380 mm at the front and 350 mm at the rear. The discs are made from a specially treated carbon-fibre compound that is silicated in a high-vacuum process at 1,700 °C. The resulting material is not only much harder than metal, it is also more resistant to heat.

Even at high temperatures, the thermal resistance of the PCCB disc ensures excellent dimensional stability. The ceramic material is totally resistant to corrosion and offers excellent acoustic damping properties.

The pads are mounted in six-piston monobloc aluminium fixed calipers at the front, with four-piston units at the rear. The resulting brake forces are both extremely high and remarkably consistent. The pedal response is fast and precise with only moderate input required.

PCCB enables shorter braking distances in even the toughest road and race conditions. Excellent fade resistance ensures greater balance when slowing from racetrack speeds.

The key advantage of PCCB is the total weight saving of approximately 50% over metal discs with similar construction and dimensions. As well as enhancing performance and fuel economy, this represents a major reduction in both the unsprung and rotating masses. This, of course, produces additional benefits in terms of comfort and road-holding on uneven road surfaces as well as general handling and agility.

Please note that circuit racing, trackday use and other forms of performance driving can significantly reduce the service life of even the most durable pads and discs. As with conventional high-performance braking systems, we recommend that all brake components be professionally inspected and replaced where necessary after every track event.

The reinforced bodyshell contains a highly resilient passenger cell offering exceptional crash protection. At the front of the car, the cell is protected by a patented system of longitudinal and transverse members (1). In the event of an accident, it disperses the force of the impact and minimises deformation of the passenger cell. Additional features include an ultra-rigid bulkhead cross-member (2) made from super high-strength steel. This element is designed to absorb impact forces from the longitudinal members and thus protect the front footwells. The reinforced doors (3) also contribute to the overall rigidity of the car. An additional load path (4) is used to channel energy through the upper part of the shell and thus further protect the passenger cell.

In minor collisions, easily replaceable impact absorbers (5) protect the bodyshell.

Comfort
The comfort seats fitted as standard in the 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo Cabriolet models feature full electric adjustment of fore/aft position, height, backrest angle, squab angle and lumbar support (also available at no extra cost for 911 Turbo S models).

The high side bolsters provide excellent lateral support, without restricting occupant comfort. The generous range of adjustment options on the standard seats means that virtually every driver can find the ideal position, regardless of physical build. A memory function stores personal preferences for seat position, lumbar support and exterior mirrors.

Available as a no-cost option, these mechanical sports seats offer firmer upholstery as well as higher side bolsters on the backrest and squab for added lateral support. The fore/aft position and height are manually adjustable, while the backrest is electrically controlled.

Adaptive sports seats are fitted as standard in the new 911 Turbo S models (optional for 911 Turbo models). They offer individual electric adjustment of fore/aft position, height, backrest angle, lumbar support, squab side bolsters and backrest side bolsters for maximum comfort on long-distance journeys or lateral support on the racetrack.

The additional memory function covers both exterior mirrors and all seating positions on the driver’s side, except side bolster settings.

Fitted as standard, PCM is the central information and communications system. It is both multifunctional and very easy to operate.

The main feature is the 6.5-inch touchscreen for intuitive control.

For radio listeners, there is an FM twin tuner with RDS, which constantly scans for the best signal for the selected station, and up to four radio aerials for optimum reception.

For all 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S models the six-disc CD/DVD auto-changer is equipped standard. In combination with the standard BOSE® Surround Sound System, replay music from audio and video DVDs in 5.1 Discrete Surround Format.

The standard GPS navigation module has a hard drive with map data for most of Australia. When viewing a map, it is possible to select either a 3D perspective or a 2D display.

Electronic logbook The optional electronic logbook enables automatic recording of mileage, route distance, date and time, starting point and destination for each journey.

TV tuner A TV tuner, available as an option, receives unencoded analogue and digital television broadcasts (DVB-T) to provide entertainment between journeys. For your safety, the TV picture cannot be displayed while the vehicle is in motion.

Voice control system Almost all of the functions of PCM can be controlled via the optional voice control system. The main menu item is read aloud exactly as it is displayed on the screen and the voice control system recognises commands or number sequences, irrespective of the speaker. It gives audible feedback and guides you through the functions. There is no need to ‘train’ the system. Phone book entries can be retrieved, a radio station selected or the navigation destination entered directly by speaking whole words.

Telephone module for PCM* The standard GSM telephone module offers convenience and excellent reception. By inserting a SIM card directly into PCM’s integral SIM card reader, calls can be made using the hands-free facility. For even more convenience, the Bluetooth® capability of a mobile phone can be used to make calls via the SIM Access Profile (SAP). Once automatic pairing is complete, the mobile phone’s aerial is switched off to conserve battery charge and the phone operates via the car aerial. Depending on the mobile phone model, this gives access not only to the numbers on the SIM card, but also to the phone’s internal memory. Depending on the phone, it can also be controlled using PCM, the optional multifunction steering wheel or the optional voice control system, without it ever leaving your pocket.

In addition, the telephone module enables you to establish a Bluetooth® link with those mobile phones that only support the Handsfree Profile (HFP). In this case, the GSM connection is always established through the aerial of the mobile phone. PCM acts as a hands-free system and you can leave the mobile phone tucked away. On request, a cordless handset for the telephone module is also available. However, the handset cannot be used for Bluetooth® links established using the Handsfree Profile (HFP).

* Telephone module in HFP mode: The use of a mobile phone inside a car may cause an increase in the interior electromagnetic field strength and, accord- ingly, in the electromagnetic radiation to which passengers are exposed. The use of the telephone module for PCM via Bluetooth® SAP connection or with inserted SIM card prevents exposure to electromagnetic radiation as only the car’s external aerial is ever used.

Colours
Two Tone Interior Colours

1) Two-tone interior: black leather finish on dashboard upper section including instrument shroud, dashboard forward section including front passenger airbag cover, steering wheel rim and airbag module, door upper panels, rear side panel upper sections, A-pillar/windscreen top trim, B/C-pillar trim (Coupé). All other surfaces in chosen combination colour.

2) Rooflining in Alcantara (Coupé) or black fabric (Cabriolet).

3) Soft-touch paint in interior colour; sun visors and inner door sill guards with black film finish.

4) Soft-touch paint in interior colour or black; sun visors and inner door sill guards with black film finish. 5) Soft-touch paint in interior colour or black; sun visors with black film finish, and inner door sill guards with film finish in interior colour.

Natural Leather Interior

1) Rooflining in Alcantara (Coupé) or black fabric (Cabriolet).

2) Soft-touch paint in black; sun visors and inner door sill guards with black film finish.

3) Soft-touch paint in interior colour; sun visors and inner door sill guards with black film finish.

Exterior Colours

Black, Guards Red, Carrara White, Speed Yellow, Basalt Black Metallic, Platinum Silver Metallic², Dark Blue Metallic, Ice Blue Metallic³, Macademia Metallic, Meteor Grey Metallic, Aqua Blue Metallic, Porsche Racing Green Metallic, Cream White, GT Silver Metallic, Amethyst Metallic², Ruby Red Metallic

Hood Colours

Black, Stone Grey, Metropole Blue, Cocoa