The cabriolet and four-wheel-drive Carrera 4 versions of the 996 were unveiled at the Paris Motor · Show in October 1998 for the 1

MY1999 The cabriolet and four-wheel-drive Carrera 4 versions of the 996 were unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 1998 for the 1999 model year. The Porsche Side Impact Protection System (POSIP) was introduced, as were clear indicator lenses front and rear to distinguish the car from the Boxster, and to counter criticism of the ‘fried egg’ look of the front lights. The cabriolet mechanism was fast, and could lower or raise in just 20 seconds. Cabriolets came with a removable hardtop, colour-coded to the bodywork. The cabriolet was around £6000 more to purchase than the Coupe equivalent. The 4 wheel drive system was available for both Coupe and Cabriolet, and was nearly £4000 more than the 2 wheel drive model. Various modifications to the front end were required to make room for the front axle final drive, which resulted in a smaller front luggage compartment, and the use of a deflated space-saver wheel under the floor of the compartment. The C4 was also available in tiptronic transmission for the first time. Engine management was by Bosch Motronic 7.2, which introduced drive-by-wire throttle control, often referred to as eGas. The four wheel drive system added 55kg to the overall weight, but performance figures were quoted identical to the C2 equivalent due to improved traction. The extra weight at the front end gave a weight balance of 40-60, compared with 38-62 for the C2. The 4-piston calipers manufactured for Porsche by Brembo were painted in a ‘titanium’ (silver) colour for the C4, as opposed to black for the C2. Perhaps the most significant introduction on the C4 was Porsche Stability Management (PSM). To quote the Porsche Service Information Document of the time: “PSM is an active control system for stabilising a vehicle at the limit of its driving dynamics capability. PSM includes functions such as ABS, ABD, ASR (traction-slip control), EBV (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), as well as a longitudinal dynamics control system MSR (engine drag torque control). In addition to this, the vehicle is stabilised at the limit of its driving dynamics capability within the transverse dynamics control system by FDR (driving dynamics control system)." From the outside there is virtually no difference in appearance, other than the Carrera 4 engine compartment badge, silver calipers, and a new design of 17” alloy wheels. MY2000 & 2001 Changes for Model Year 2000 Porsche included the adoption of Motronic 7.2 (eGas) to all Carrera models, and the option of PSM on C2 models, which had previously been offered with a basic traction control system based on ABS 5.3. In 2001 the luggage and engine compartment lids became electrically operated.