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Old 04-11-2004, 02:19 PM   #46
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Porsche 911 Targa

Highlights

911 with glass roof

More than 1.5 square metres of solid glass gives the new 911 Targa based on the 911 Carrera coupé a fully transparent roof opening up new perspectives to a new world. Never before has a Porsche 911 had this much glass. Simply pressing a button, the driver can move back the glass roof by up to half a metre, obtaining a maximum roof opening of 0.45 square metres. Like the windscreen, the glass roof is made of pretensioned, splinterfree laminated security glass. Another automatic feature is the cloth sunblind extending out beneath the glass roof to protect the driver and his passengers from excessive sunglare as well as cold temperatures.


Rear window folding open

The new Targa is the first 911 to feature a rear window folding open for extra convenience. After opening the closing mechanisms, all you do is briefly lift the heated rear window, two gas pressure springs taking over the rest. This gives you very easy and convenient access to the rear luggage compartment with up to 230 litres storage volume, conveniently taking up your cases, bags or other luggage. Two interior lights at the rear are automatically switched on when opening the rear window, providing adequate illumination in the dark for loading and unloading. And when closing the window, finally, you have the assistance of an electric closing aid.


The 5.2-second sprint

Despite the its somewhat higher weight versus the Carrera coupé, the Targa is an excellent sprinter. Acceleration from 0 – 100 km/h comes in 5.2 seconds and the speedometer reaches the 200 km/h-mark after just 18.3 seconds. Maximum output of the 3.6-litre flatsix power unit is 235 kW or 320 bhp at 6800 rpm, giving the car a top speed of 285 km/h or 177 mph.


Porsche 911 Targa

911 with Glass Roof and Folding Rear Window

The 911 Targa easily outperforms the Carrera coupé, that is the model which provided the basis for developing the Targa, when it comes to “topless” motoring: When the Targa glass roof is moved back almost without the slightest sound by two electric motors, the driver and his passengers will enjoy an open space almost twice the size of a conventional sliding roof. Simply pressing a button, you move back the glass roof by up to half a metre, obtaining a maximum opening of 0.45 square metres. A specially developed wind deflector prevents unpleasant air turbulence in the interior, allowing you to enjoy open air motoring even in cold weather. A highly effective sunblind can also be moved automatically beneath the sunroof. Made of a partly permeable black cloth, this very convenient sunblind keeps out excessive sunglare but helps to keep the car warm inside in cold winter weather.

Extra comfort provided by the folding rear window

The folding rear window is one of the highlights of the 911 Targa together with the glass roof. Featuring two gas-pressure springs hidden inconspicuously behind the black-painted window trim, the rear window opens up conveniently whenever required. This provides perfect access to the rear luggage compartment with a volume of up to 230 litres, taking up cases, bags or other luggage. The rear window is unlocked either by a button on the sidesill next to the driver’s seat or by remote control, the process of closing the window being facilitated by an electric closing aid.

Focusing on quality and safety

Like in the 911 Carrera cabriolet, a 30-millimetre-thick tube made of high-strength steel reinforces the A-pillars also extending back in the Targa from the roof frame to the C-pillars. The steel tube in the A- and C-pillars is welded to the body by means of junction plates. The third important support point for the roof is formed by the B-pillars leading up from the side section of the body to the roof frame, where the pillars are firmly welded. The high standard of body stiffness obtained in this way naturally also means greater active safety. In conjunction with the special chassis and suspension tuning incorporating in particular the anti-roll bars, the Targa offers the same sporting agility and driving pleasure on winding roads as the Carrera coupé. Like the windscreen, the glass roof is made of pretensioned laminated security glass passing all the standard crash tests and therefore overfulfilling all safety requirements the world over.

Targa driven by a 3.6-litre boxer engine

Within the engine bay of the 911 Targa you will find Porsche’s new 3.6-litre flat-six power unit developing maximum output of 235 kW or 320 bhp at 6800 rpm and accelerating the car equipped with manual gearbox to a top speed of 285 km/h. Acceleration to 100 km/h, in turn, comes in 5.2 seconds. Maximum torque is 370 Newton meters or 273 lb-ft at just 4250 rpm. Despite this supreme engine power and the “beefy” torque curve throughout the entire speed range, fuel consumption under the EC standard is a mere 11.1 litres/100 km or 25.4 mpg Imp. This superior fuel economy is attributable in particular to VarioCam Plus introduced by Porsche for the first time in spring 2000 in the 911 Turbo. Supplementing the VarioCam intake camshaft adjustment by adjustment of the valve lift on the intake side, this system incorporates switching cup tappets operated by an electrohydraulic 3/2 way switch valve. With different cam contours on the intake camshaft, the cup tappets switching to the various cams modify the valve lift curves of the engine accordingly.

Interior covered by glass

Inside, the 911 Targa differs significantly from the Carrera coupé particularly at the rear. With the folding rear window extending up further than on the coupé, the trim on the rear crossbar has been moved further to the back, increasing the capacity of the rear luggage compartment with the rear-seat backrests folded down by 30 litres to a total of 230 litres on the new model. The belt rollers at the rear are different in the Targa, fitted directly beneath the somewhat wider roof pillars next to the rear side windows extending up to a pointed end and therefore not requiring pivot points like on the Carrera models. The left- and right-hand belt roller housings furthermore offer sufficient space for one interior light each, which switch on when you open the rear window and provide good illumination of the rear passenger compartment
in the dark.
The other features and items inside the car are the same as in the 911 Carrera coupé, seats finished partly in leather, a three-spoke steering wheel, automatic air conditioning, heat-insulating glass, and on-board computer, a CD radio, electric window lifts, electrically adjustable and heated rear-view mirrors, central locking as well as an immobiliser and an alarm system with interior surveillance all coming, together with other items, as standard.

:arrow: Porsche Targa hi-res media pics
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Old 04-11-2004, 06:52 PM   #47
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Originally Posted by lakatu
St-Anger excellent write up on the 911 Carrera. I have a question about the relative performance of the current 996 to prior years 300hp 996 model. Sport Auto's Supertest shows the performance of the new 320 hp model recorded the same lap time on the NS (8'12") and was slower on the Hockenheim (1'17.1" verses 1'15.9"). All this despite all the improvements that you eloquently discussed including 20 more horsepower and larger tires and wheels; offset by 68kg more weight. What do you attribute this too? Could normal production variation account for such a difference?

I was wondering if someone who may have read that article may know if Sport Auto discussed why the newer model didn't demonstrate greater performance on the track? The older car seems to outperform the newer version in the corners while slower on the straights. Obviously the greater weight of the newer 996 hurts it in the corners. Also, I don't know the answer to this but the Pirelli's P Zero's the old 996 rode on may be better than the newer 996's Michelin Pilot Sport.
hmmm, you´re right, i´ve looked the lap times up myself again, i´ve both articles, but unfortunately not a single word from the editors why it´s, maybe not slower, but also not faster…
BUT, from what I know about both cars, which i´ve already driven, the old Carrera is a bit more gentle to drive, maybe not because of the 68kg, but i´ll try to explain…
first, we should mention that both cars had been equipped with the optional sport suspension, second, and now we´re talking about the latest Carrera only, the 320hp version not the 300 one, the dynamic vehicle behaviour at the limit has been pushed upwards a bit thus it´s now even more narrow than on the mk1 996 C2 and quite compareable with the handling of the 993… while drag throttle, the C2 has a strong tendency to understeer because of the special axle-geometry and the wide rear tyres, the mk2 C2 has 285, the mk1 “only” 265, both with 225 at the front, so to prevent understeering one´ll go off the accelerator to force the car into load-cycle change, and then again at full throttle, BUT this results in a quite undefined vehicle handling, because the car doesn´t really give the driver a notice when it´s near its limit, so one could easily loose it without some experience and practice…
so i think it´s obvious that such a handling characteristic isn´t very helpful for a good lap time at a narrow and kinda slow track like HHR…
hope this helps a bit….
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Old 04-11-2004, 06:57 PM   #48
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Thanks for adding the Targa just finished reading it and leeching the pics
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Old 04-11-2004, 07:11 PM   #49
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Originally Posted by TT
Thanks for adding the Targa just finished reading it and leeching the pics
you´re welcome m8, i just finished the one for tomorrow, Carrera 4...unfortunately i´ve found no good (media) pics of it, so maybe there won´t be any for this model, BUT C4S´ll be next with lot´s of pics...C4S is one of my favourite models
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Old 04-11-2004, 07:15 PM   #50
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thank you so much for all this info st-anger.i really enjoy reading.......well all of them.u must put a lot of work into these,i for one appreciate it.
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Old 04-12-2004, 05:48 AM   #51
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Porsche 911 Carrera 4

Highlights

Permanent four-wheel drive with perfect power distribution

The 911 Carrera 4 comes as standard with four-wheel drive. Variable distribution of engine power to the front axle by a viscous clutch in the front differential guarantees excellent traction and supreme driving safety on all kinds of roads and under all conditions, without the driver being required to adjust the traction control systems.




Porsche Stability Management

The 911 Carrera 4 is fitted as standard with PSM Porsche Stability Management serving to intervene in the engine management and brake system in order to stabilise the car in both longitudinal and lateral direction whenever the car is driven to – or beyond – the extreme. And PSM has been tuned by Porsche's suspension engineers to ensure that the sportin character of the 911 is not suppressed by premature intervention. Indeed, the objective in this process was to provide brief but essential assistance whenever necessary on all four wheels, should the car come too close to the laws of physics.
The springs, anti-roll bars and dampers are all specially tuned and modified to reflect the dynamic driving qualities of the four-wheel-drive model. Consistent adjustment of axle geometry to four-wheel drive and retuned elasticity on the front axle ensure neutral behaviour all the way to extreme limits, particularly in bends.




320 horses spread out on all four wheels

Displacing 3.6 litres and developing maximum output of 235 kW (320 bhp), the power unit ensures supreme performance also in the 911 Carrera 4, with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 40 per cent of the drive power going to the front wheels, depending on road conditions. Acceleration from 0 – 100 km/h, as on the rear-wheel-drive Carrera, is in exactly five seconds. At 285 km/h or 177 mph (six-speed manual gearbox), the top speed is also the same.




Discreet signs of distinction

Applying the principle of being “great to look at but even greater inside”, the Carrera 4 does not in any way flaunt its wares. The Carrera 4 model designation stands out in titanium colour on the engine compartment lid and is also to be admired on the black wheel hub covers. Further visible signs of distinction are the titanium-coloured brake callipers on the Carrera 4.




Porsche 911 Carrera 4

Traction on Four Wheels

The 911 Carrera 4 – both in coupé and cabriolet guise – comes as standard with four-wheel drive and PSM Porsche Stability Management electronic driving dynamics control. Benefitting from four-wheel-drive complete with a viscous multiple-plate clutch, the front wheels consistently convey a minimum of 5 per cent and, if required, a maximum of 40 per cent of the engine's drive power to the road. The focus, however, is not so much on traction, but rather on the wish to achieve supreme driving characteristics and road safety at all times. The viscous multiple-plate clutch is housed in the front axle drive unit, conveying drive power to the front axle and compensating for any difference in engine speed between the two axles. Like a multiple-plate lock, the clutch is made up of inner plates fastened to the hub and outer plates connected to the housing. Silicon fluid comes between the plates in a totally sealed compartment. As soon as there is a difference in speed, shear forces between the silicon fluid and the plates transmit torque and drive power to the front axle as required. One of the advantages of this special concept of four-wheel drive is that it avoids the car “pushing” over the front wheels in a bend, ensuring neutral behaviour in bends and, quite generally, under all driving conditions. A further advantage, particularly in a sports car, is the low weight, all components of the four-wheel-drive system weighing a mere 55 kilos or 121lb. This makes Porsche's dynamic four-wheel-drive system one of the lightest in the market.

Modified front axle

At the front of the car the entire body structure is modified to meet the additional drive requirements. This involves modifications in the area of the front axle itself and different design of the fuel tank with the same capacity as before. The emergency wheel has been replaced by a more compact folding wheel. Despite these changes, the capacity of the front luggage compartment is still100 litres.

PSM for extra driving safety

The combination of four-wheel drive designed consistently for sports motoring and electronic Porsche Stability Management (PSM) chassis and suspension control geared to the specific features of the car ensures not only a particularly high standard of driving safety, but also that driving pleasure so typical of the marque. This Porsche's engineers are able to provide by means of special control characteristics not to be found in similar systems featured in other cars. As a result, all Carrera models retain the agile, sporting and dynamic behaviour of a Porsche all the way to the extreme limit. Thanks to the substantial safety reserves offered by the suspension, PSM only has tointervene in the car's steering behaviour on dry roads when driven to the extreme under race-like conditions. Any minor deviations in directional stability caused by load changes or partial application of the brakes in a bend are corrected by PSM discreetly and almost imperceptibly. Porsche's engineers only allow PSM to intervene at an earlier point and more energetically on wet or slippery roads and, in particular, on varying road surfaces with different frictional values right and left. The PSM principle is based on two fundamental control strategies: The first feature is dynamic longitudinal control incorporating anti-lock brakes, anti-slip control and the automatic brake differential to ensure stable acceleration and application of the brakes on straight stretches of the road and in bends. The second crucial PSM feature is dynamic lateral control keeping the car on course even under high lateral forces in a bend. The corrections required for this purpose are provided by the specific application of individual brakes: Any tendency to oversteer with the rear end swerving round is counteracted by careful application of brake on the outer front wheel in a bend. Understeering, in turn, is prevented by applying the brake on the inner rear wheel. The dynamic longitudinal control systems are able to enhance these functions, E-gas allowing a change in the position of the throttle butterfly tailored in each case to individual, specific requirements. PSM uses a number of sensors and control functions to ensure its high standard of precision and control quality. The wheel speed sensors first introduced with ABS provide not only information on speed, acceleration and deceleration, but are also able to “sense” bends and their radius by checking the left-to-right difference in wheel rotation speed. Other control functions are performed by a steering angle sensor, a lateral acceleration sensor and a yaw angle sensor detecting any inclination of the car to drift on the road. All data determined by the sensors goes straight to the PSM “brain”, where the information received is evaluated within fractions of a second and instructions are transferred to the E-gas or the brake system. As a result, PSM responds much faster to threatening situations than even a routined driver. Drivers who nevertheless wish to experience the natural dynamic behaviour of their Carrera in extreme lateral acceleration on a race track may of course temporarily deactivate Porsche Stability Management via a switch on the instrument panel. And even then the thrill of motoring in sporting style does not become an excessive risk, since all the driver has to do when his car starts to swerve at an unwanted angle is kick down the brake pedal in order to reactivate PSM. But it is of course important to note that while PSM is able to extend the laws of physics in all cases, it cannot override these laws as such.

From 0 – 100 km/h in five seconds

The Porsche Carrera 4 models also come with the flat-six power unit now increased in size to 3.6 litres and developing maximum output of 235 kW (320 bhp). Top speed both of the coupé and cabriolet is 285 km/h or 177 mph. Accelerating to 100 km/h, on the other hand, the coupé is 0.2 seconds faster, completing this important sprint in five seconds.
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Old 04-12-2004, 07:27 AM   #52
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Many thanks!!! So much information
Part about lap times of 320 hp 996 and older one are a bit strange. I think if new car has bigger tendency to understear and it's more difficult to post faster lap times with it. I'm talking about experiensed drivers. Drivers like rest of us could go faster with new one.
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Old 04-13-2004, 05:46 AM   #53
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Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

Highlights

The subtle difference

The 911 Carrera 4S looks very similar to the 911 Turbo, as the front end has the same dark-finish air intake openings as the top model. A slight difference is visible at the spoiler lip, which is slightly raised in the center, thereby documenting the new, carefully controlled aerodynamic balance. The rear section of the body is 60 mm wider than on the Carrera models; and in the wheel housings the standard 18-inch alloy wheels in Turbo styling provide ample traction. Another subtle difference between this model and the Turbo becomes obvious at the rear: A Carrera spoiler is used instead of the extending divided wing, and includes a red light strip providing a visual link between the two rear lights. These detail modifications give the Carrera 4S a distinctly different, striking rear-end appearance.




Four-wheel traction

This model has a 235 kW (320 bhp) 3.6-litre flat-six power unit and standard four-wheel drive. With this technology and the viscous multiple-plate clutch, the front wheels deliver a constant minimum of 5 per cent of the tractive force to the road, rising to as much as 40 per cent if more is needed. The Porsche Stability Management (PSM) electronic dynamic driving control system, which, in conjunction with four-wheel drive, makes this a particularly safe car, is also standard equipment.




Top Porsche quality for suspension and brakes

The suspension of the 911 Carrera 4S has been lowered by 10 millimetres and is based on the 911 Turbo; including the brake system, the engine mounts and a front-axle pivot bearing optimised for good brake ventilation. This layout provides a unique combination of sport-style road behaviour, supreme handling and extremely high road safety. The wider rear track and the 295/30 ZR 18 rear tyres also increase the dynamic driving potential. The brake system adopted from the 911 Turbo is another top-level active safety feature. Compared with the Carrera models, the front and rear wheels are decelerated by larger, uprated four-piston fixed callipers and the cross-drilled, inner vented brake discs are larger in size. These measures ensure extreme braking power in even the toughest conditions such as motor racing. Like the 911 Turbo, the Carrera 4S is available as an option with Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes or PCCB for short, reducing weight by approximately 50 per cent versus conventional brakes with grey-cast-iron discs. Further advantages in public traffic are a long running life and absolute resistance to any corrosion.




Top-quality standard equipment

In addition to features that also appear on the Carrera models, the Carrera 4S has a metallic paintwork, an abundance of leather in the interior, an audio sound package and electrically adjustable seats with a memory function for the driver’s side. The seat memory can be activated via buttons on the door sill or with the remote-control ignition key.




Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

Carrera in Turbo-Look

The Carrera 4S leaves no doubt as to what inspired its design: the 911 Turbo. The rear fenders of the Carrera 4S increase its width by 60 millimetres compared with the 911 Carrera, creating ample space for the standard 18-inch alloy wheels in Turbo design with 295/30 ZR 18 tyres. The Turbo model’s typical air intakes in the broad fenders, however, are lacking. These large side openings are not needed, as the engine compartment has no charge-air intercoolers demanding an abundant supply of fresh air. This, along with other aerodynamic measures, results in the improved aerodynamic drag coefficient of Cd = 0.30. The engine cover on the 911 Carrera 4S has been matched to the wider rear end and, unlike the other 911 models, is made of glass-fibre reinforced plastic. This material is frequently used in Porsche’s motorsport activities and gives the designers and development engineers more freedom at the design stage. At the lower edge of the rear flap is a red light strip providing a visual link between the two rear lights. Another distinguishing Carrera 4S feature is the rear spoiler, adopted from the 911 Carrera, which extends automatically at 120 km/h for safe road behaviour at high speeds. Like the rear cover, the front end with its three characteristic dark-trimmed air intake openings has been taken over from the 911 Turbo, but modified slightly: Raising the spoiler lip in the centre adjusts front axle lift so that optimum aerodynamic balance between axle lift forces is obtained.

Top speed: 280 km/h

Compared with the Carrera 4, weight has gone up slightly, resulting mainly from the wider rear end and more powerful brake system. However, this has only a minor effect on the thrust available from the 370 Nm, 235 kW (320 bhp) 3.6-litre flat-six engine, which accelerates the car from a standstill to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds and gives it a top speed of 280 km/h. Despite this vast power output and the high, flat torque curve, fuel consumption according to the EU standard test method is 11.4 litres per 100 kilometres, an improvement of more than 7 per cent compared with the previous 993-series model with its 210 kW (285 bhp) engine at the rear.
This significant reduction in fuel consumption from the six-cylinder engine is mainly due to VarioCam Plus, which Porsche developed initially for the 911 Turbo, but which is now, with suitable settings, also used on naturally-aspirated engines in other 911 models. This system, which adds a valve lift changeover device on the inlet side to the VarioCam variable inlet camshaft system, consists of movable cup tappets actuated by an electrohydraulic 3/2-way valve. Different cam profiles are provided on the inlet camshaft and brought into action with the corresponding valve lift values by repositioning the tappets. One might therefore say that VarioCam Plus makes two engines out of one: the first has low valve lift and is ideal for city traffic and part-loads. The second engine, with greater valve lift, supplies three times as much torque within fractions of a second and is designed for top performance. The 3.6-liter flat-six engine has four oxygen sensors in the exhaust system – one control and one diagnostic sensor for each cylinder bank. Together with secondary air injection, modern catalytic converter technology using metal monoliths enables the 911 Carrera 4S to comply easily with exhaust emission limits worldwide.

Safe, reliable traction

The Carrera 4S has four-wheel drive as a standard in both the six-speed manual-gearbox and Tiptronic S versions. With four-wheel drive including a multiple-plate viscous coupling clutch in the driveline, the front wheels apply a constant minimum of 5 per cent of the total traction force to the road, but up to 40 per cent if more is needed. Rather than ultimate traction, the emphasis is on supreme behaviour and safety. In conjunction with four-wheel drive, the Porsche Stability Management (PSM) electronic dynamic driving control system makes driving particularly safe and is also standard equipment.

Same brake system as on the Turbo – and as an option with PCCB

With its Turbo brake system, the 911 Carrera 4S has the same excellent braking performance as the 911 GT2 and 911 Turbo. Unlike the Carrera models, larger uprated four-piston fixed callipers are responsible for deceleration of the front and rear wheels. The cross-drilled, innervented brake discs are of course larger than before: diameter at the front is 330 millimetres and width is 34 millimetres. The rear brake discs have the same diameter and are 28 millimetres wide. This system guarantees extreme braking power even in the toughest conditions such as motor racing.
As an option the Carrera 4S is available with PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes approximately 50 per cent lighter than conventional brakes with grey-cast-iron brake discs and reducing unsprung masses accordingly. Further advantages of PCCB brakes are their long running life in public transport and their absolute resistance to corrosion.

Standard equipment far superior to Carrera models

As far as equipment is concerned, Porsche leaves the exclusive position of the Carrera in no doubt, placing it very close to the 911 Turbo and therefore giving it a considerably wider
re of standard equipment than the other Carrera models. In addition to four-wheel drive and Porsche Stability Management, these include special 18-inch wheels in Turbo design and 295/30 ZR 18 rear tyres, a brake system increased in size, red brake callipers, metallic paintwork, an audio system with sound package, electrically adjustable seats with a position memory function and all leather upholstery and trim.


:arrow: Porsche Carrera 4 S Coupe hi-res media pics
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Old 04-13-2004, 06:14 AM   #54
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The C4S is for sure the most common 996 right now. And I really love it.. it's still on "this" side of the supercars territory IMO... but bloody effective anyway

st-anger THANKS
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Old 04-13-2004, 07:08 AM   #55
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Originally Posted by TT
.. it's still on "this" side of the supercars territory IMO... but bloody effective anyway
...definitely i´d love to have one
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Old 04-13-2004, 11:10 AM   #56
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I don't think somebody in full possession of his/her mind could refuse a C4S
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Old 04-13-2004, 06:05 PM   #57
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Aha finally I've come to the temporary end of this thread :-p
Took me a while to look at the pics & save all of the stuff in a document by car!!
Just had to do that Want to keep this stuff.

Very nice thread st-anger! Thanks for all the nice info.

Oh, and if I may give a remark about the styling of the 911... I like it, don't get me wrong, but those bulges in the rear bumper, round the plate... just seem out of place IMO!
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Old 04-14-2004, 11:01 AM   #58
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Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet

Highlights

Open for sports motoring

Like its coupé counterpart, the open-air Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, through its wider rear wheel arches flared by 60 millimetres or 2.36", makes a clear statement, emphasizing that the primary feature in this case is sporting grip on the rear drive wheels. Despite the only slight modification of axle loads and aerodynamic effects remaining only minor, the lowered chassis and suspension of the Carrera 4S are specially designed and tailored for the open body of the car. The result is very sporting and dynamic driving behaviour at all times providing excellent grip and roadholding particularly at high and very high speeds. Benefitting from this most sporting and dynamic concept, the Carrera 4S cabriolet combines utmost pleasure of dynamic motoring with the joy of driving in the open air.
Developing 235 kW or 320 bhp, the 3.6-litre flat-six delivers its power to all four wheels. Featuring four-wheel-drive technology with a viscous multiple-plate clutch, the drivetrain conveys a minimum of 5 per cent to the front wheels and, if necessary, increases this frontwheel power to 40 per cent. Another standard feature is electronic Porsche Stability Management (PSM) which, in combination with four-wheel drive, ensures a particularly high standard of driving safety on the road.




Roof opens also while driving

The soft roof of the open-air 911 Carrera 4S stands out not only through its superior quality and the special Z-folding mechanism, but also by its very special ability to open up at the touch of a button even while driving: Up to a speed of 50 km/h or 31 mph, the driver can operate the roof at any time simply by pressing a button. And even at this speed the soft roof takes only about 20 seconds to disengage at the front and fold to the rear, where it disappears completely beneath the roof compartment lid.




Stiffest bodyshell of all 911 Cabriolets

The bodyshell of the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet is based on its coupé counterpart, the main differences being specific body reinforcements, for example on the side-sills, additional junction plates and reinforcements of the door shaft behind the B-pillar, made for the first time on a Porsche sports car of high-strength DP600 steel and both welded and bonded in the interest of superior stability. All together, these modifications make the bodyshell of the Carrera 4S Cabriolet and the Turbo Cabriolet the stiffest body structure on all open-air 911s.




Same brake system as in the Turbo

The brake system also carried over from the 911 Turbo offers active safety of the highest standard. Compared with the other Carrera models, the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet features larger and reinforced four-piston fixed callipers on both the front and rear wheels, and it almost goes without saying that the cross-drilled, inner-vented brake discs are larger than usual. This ensures supreme brake power and very short stopping distances even under the toughest conditions.



Ceramic brakes as an option

As an option the new 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet can be fitted with Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) about 50 per cent lighter than metal brake discs. In conjunction with the brake pads also specially made in this case, the ceramic brake discs immediately developa very substantial and, in particular, consistent frictional coefficient during application of the brakes.




Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet

Wide – Dynamic – Open

The new 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet offers more than “just" a dynamic driving experience – quite simply because the outstanding driving dynamics of the car clearly underlined by the rear wheel arches 60 millimetres or 2.36" wider than on the 911 Carrera go together in practice with the very special experience of driving an open sports car of the highest calibre. The basic elements of this synthesis are already well known from the coupé version of the 911 Carrera 4S, including, inter alia, the 235 kW (320 bhp) 3.6-litre flat-six power unit, a six-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel drive, and the entire chassis lowered by 10 millimetres or 0.39". Specially tailored to the body of the cabriolet with its specific weight distribution, these drive and chassis components guarantee sporting and safe motoring up to the highest speed range. With the roof closed, the open-air Carrera 4S has a top speed of 280 km/h or 174 mph, that is the same as the coupé. And the two models also accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in virtually the same time, the cabriolet, at 5.3 seconds, requiring only 0.2 seconds more than the coupé on account of its extra weight of 70 kg or 154 lb.

All-round sports concept with safety reserves

One of the most significant characteristics both models have in common is of course the driving pleasure they both offer – a unique experience which cannot be expressed in figures alone: The lowered chassis and suspension, wide track and four-wheel drive offer a standard of longitudinal and lateral dynamics the driver and his – or her – passenger will perhaps enjoy most on winding country roads. Extra safety is offered in this experience by electronic Porsche Stability Management (PSM) featured as standard and, in combination with fourwheel drive, providing a particularly high level of driving stability. Opening the roof, the driver and passengers will enhance their driving pleasure to an even higher standard: The soft roof disengages in just 20 seconds, folding to the rear and disappearing beneath the roof compartment lid. Fully automatic, the roof also opens and closes while driving, allowing the driver to operate the roof at the touch of a button at any time up to a speed of 50 km/h or 30 mph. All Porsche 911 Cabriolets feature two rollbars to counter the risk of a rollover. Normally hidden inconspicuously behind the rear seats, the rollbars only move up when they receive a signal from a sway angle sensor indicating the imminent threat of a rollover.

Stiffest bodyshell of all 911 Cabriolets

The bodyshell of the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet is based on its coupé counterpart, the most significant differences being specific reinforcement elements replacing the stabilising effect of the metal roof. The side-sills on the cabriolet, for example, are reinforced by twice the usual panel thickness, with additional junction plates and shaft reinforcements behind the B-pillar. To achieve maximum strength and stiffness, the designers and construction engineers responsible for the reinforced shafts used high-strength DP600 steel for the first time on a Porsche sports car both welded and bonded at all crucial points. Benefitting from extrastrong adhesive bonds, the welding spots, forming a composite structure, are able to take up even more energy in the event of a collisions. In all, these modifications of the bodyshell make this – together with the body of the Turbo cabriolet – the stiffest and strongest of all Porsche 911 body structures.

Redesigned rear lid and roof compartment cover

Seen from behind, the Carrera 4S cabriolet stands out clearly from the other open-air Carreras not only through its rear wings 60 millimetres or 2.36" wider than usual. For the rear lid made, like on the coupé, of glass-fibre-reinforced plastic (GFP), is also a new design. Instead of forming a U-shape as in the past, the lid now extends round the retractable spoiler on all four sides, meaning that a narrow stripe has been added just above the spoiler. The rear spoiler itself as well as the row of lights between the rear light clusters again characteristic of the 911 Carrera 4S have been carried over without any modification from the coupé. A new feature, on the other hand, is the roof compartment cover integrating the third brake light now also characteristic of the 911 Carrera 4S.

Aerodynamic qualities comparable to the coupé

Top speed of 280 km/h or 174 mph clearly proves the superior aerodynamic qualities of the open-air 911 Carrera 4S: With its roof up, the cabriolet is exactly as fast as the coupé. And whilst the car's drag coefficient is influenced slightly by the fabric structure of the soft roof, the difference is virtually non-existent, both versions of the Carrera 4S completing their test in the wind tunnel with a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.30.

Brake system of the highest Porsche standard

With its Turbo brake system, the new 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet offers truly outstanding stopping power equal in virtually every respect to that of the 911 Turbo. Versus the other models in the Carrera range, larger and reinforced four-piston fixed callipers front and rear provide the necessary stopping power and deceleration. And it almost goes without saying that the cross-drilled, inner-vented brake discs are extra-large in width and diameter, measuring34 millimetres or 1.34" in width and 330 millimetres or 13.00" in diameter at the front. The rear wheels, in turn, come with brake discs of the same diameter, but reduced in width to 28 millimetres or 1.10". Clearly, modifications of this kind ensure truly outstanding brake power and performance even under the toughest conditions. The 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet comes on 18-inch light-alloy wheels with 225/40 tyres at the front and 295/30 tyres on the rear wheels. As an option the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet is available with Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) weighing approximately 50 per cent less than metal brake discs. In conjunction with brake linings also specially made in this case, the ceramic brake discs immediately build up a very high and, in particular, consistent frictional coefficient upon application of the brakes.

:arrow: Porsche Carrera 4 S Cabriolet hi-res media pics
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Old 04-14-2004, 11:17 AM   #59
TT
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And already the C4S cabrio! I hope to see more of them this summer! Only 1 so far, but well, not really the right moment to buy Cabrios... it just start now

Thank you st-anger. As always the write up is a please to read even if long and the pics are always superb
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Old 04-14-2004, 11:48 AM   #60
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Originally Posted by TT
And already the C4S cabrio! I hope to see more of them this summer! Only 1 so far, but well, not really the right moment to buy Cabrios... it just start now

Thank you st-anger. As always the write up is a please to read even if long and the pics are always superb
you´re welcome, i´m glad you like it...
right now i´m preparing the Cayenne ( S & TT ) writeup´s and the pics, and it seems like that there´ll be thousands of pics...
....hope imagestation won´t break down
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