This minimal mass above the beltline, when the top is closed, helps contribute to the Turbo · Cabriolet's low center of gravity, a

This minimal mass above the beltline, when the top is closed, helps contribute to the Turbo Cabriolet's low center of gravity, another important contributor to the car's stability. The folding roof opens or closes automatically via a center-console mounted button, so either driver or front-seat passenger has access to it. Though it opens and closes most quickly when the car is at a standstill, the roof may be operated while the vehicle is moving at speeds up 30 mph (50 kmph). Naturally, windows are automatically opened or closed by the roof mechanism as needed. The entire operation takes about 20 seconds when the car is not moving. As with previous models, a removable hardtop is available as an option. Family resemblance Folding top aside, the new Turbo Cabriolet shares the Turbo Coupe's exterior features, including the iconic front air intakes and oval Bi-Xenon® headlights. Other Porsche 911 Turbo model hallmarks include LED directional indicators mounted in the front side cooling-air openings and the horizontally split air intakes for the turbocharger intercoolers mounted aft of the doors. Like the Turbo Coupe, the 911 Turbo Cabriolet comes standard with leather upholstery and interior trim as well as a Bose® surround sound system with a seven-channel digital amplifier and 13 speakers. The Turbo Cabriolet also features Porsche Communications Management (PCM) including a navigation system as standard. Body Details Building on a solid foundation Mechanically and aesthetically, the newest 911 Turbo Cabriolet shares a great deal with the current 911 Turbo Coupe. Beneath the metal, however, are critical differences as Porsche engineers created an open-top body to meet their own exacting standards. These standards mandated a body shell with the necessary structural rigidity to deliver Porsche level high-speed handling, over-the-road comfort and occupant protection, while still being light in weight to maximize the engine's awesome potential for breathtaking acceleration and agility at speed. The result is a Cabriolet body with a class-leading torsional rigidity of 9000 Nm/degree. Yet, the newest Turbo Cabriolet weighs merely 155 pounds (70 kg) more than its Turbo Coupe sibling. In fact, the 997 Turbo Cabriolet actually weighs less than the 996 Turbo Cabriolet it replaces, despite the new car's added features and technologies. The manual gearbox version is 11 pounds (5 kg) lighter; the Tiptronic S model 22 pounds (10 kg) lighter. Unbending principles demand a rigid structure Porsche engineers insisted that the floor and side panels are both spot welded and bonded for extra strength. They attached additional side-sill reinforcements at the floor's outer edges. These are plates welded into the side sills and to triangular joint plates at the door-hinge pillars at the rear and the A-pillars at the front. More structure is gained through the use of longitudinal arms, front and rear, along the car's body. These arms are of tailored blanks made of high- and ultra- high strength steel, laser welded.