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The 991 Carrera S continued the time honored Porsche 911 tradition of growing in physical size and power. Over the years the 911 has continued its evolution from a pure sports car to a luxurious super-car and the 2012 Carrera S Coupe was no exception. The seventh generation 911 launched in 2012 and it sits on a new platform, with a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs. It also featured new headlights and taillights. Features a 3.8-liter flat-six engine mated as standard to a world's first seven-speed manual transmission.
The open-top 991 Carrera S Cabriolet requires an $11,600 premium over a comparable coupe; ta not-cheap $108,950 price point for those shopping. For that, you get the best overall open-top sports car around. With the 400-hp, 3.8-liter six and the benefit of the PDK automatic’s launch control, the Carrera S cabriolet should hit 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in the low 12s. Performance is on-par with the coupe on backroads so any fears that this is a soft-911 are thrown out the window. This is a serious sports car, sans roof.
Porsche purists might moan that the flat-six engine in the rear is no longer naturally aspirated, but with more power and torque, improved efficiency and some advanced interior tech giving this 911 an even bigger breadth of ability than before, this facelifted 991-generation model carries on where the old car left off. Sure, it’s lost a touch of that high rev zing from the old car, but if you add the sports exhaust, the bark from the engine inside and out is still intoxicating. And so is the speed. The 991.2 Carrera S is absolutely amazing on both road and track and still the best sports car around.
The switch to turbocharging delivers predictably faster acceleration, with 0 - 60 mph taking just 3.9 seconds with the PDK transmission and Sport Chrono optioned. The quarter mile is dispatched in 12.2 seconds and the top speed for the open top Carrera S is 190 mph. These numbers are pretty impressive for an open top 911 that is just as comfortable driving around town as it is on back roads on spirited runs. With the 991.2 Carrera S Cab, it can be argued that there is no real need dynamically to opt for. the coupe body. A great overall sports car that is fast, fun and happens to have no roof.
The Carrera S was the ultimate, naturally aspirated version of the Carrera 2. Porsche decided to offer something more to its customers when it launched the Carrera S version. It featured a stiffer and lowered suspension. Its wider tires made it better in the corners and faster around a race-track than its Carrera 2 sibling. The Carrera S took its bodywork from the Porsche Turbo. But it didn't get the turbocharger or the all-wheel-drive system. Its wider rear fenders and lowered stance than the Carrera lineup made it a desirable car for the Porsche fans. The engine was the same 3.6-liter naturally aspirated, but it was offered in the higher power output of 285 hp. The only transmission available was a 6-speed manual.
If the base 911 coupe doesn't do it for you, maybe the Carrera S coupe gets you over the line. For about $20k more, you get more horsepower, torque vectoring and bigger wheels. The Carrera S uses a version of the 3.0L twin-turbo flat-6 that generates 443 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. Torque vectoring allows different amounts of torque to be distributed between drive wheels on the same axle. This means the inside wheel can turn slower than the outside wheel for improved cornering.
The Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet also features a heated glass rear window and integrated magnesium support elements. The automatic fabric top opens and closes at speeds of up to 31 miles per hour in just 12 seconds – one second quicker than before. The 992 Carrera S Cabriolet gets a twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six with 443 bhp and 390 ft lbs of torque. That is 29 more horsepower and 22 more ft lbs of torque than the outgoing model.