By Nick Syn

IN LINE WITH the company’s philosophy to cater to as many of its customers’ wants as possible, Porsche has just unveiled the four-wheel drive versions of the new 911 Cabriolet.

This brings the current 911 model line-up to eight. Not bad for a car that was launched barely a year ago. The new Cabriolets will be offered in Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S guises. Full-time four wheel drive is on offer with a viscous coupling ensuring that anything from five to 40 percent of the engine’s power can be transferred to the front wheels. The convertible roof is essentially the same as that on the standard Carrera Cabriolet, it can be raised and lowered in 20 seconds, and at speeds of up to 50km/h. The new Carrera 4 Cabriolets also feature the same safety systems as their rear-wheel drive stablemates.

These include extremely high strength steel tubes integrated into the windscreen pillars, which provide rollover protection. In addition (as in the standard Carrera Cabriolets) the C4 Cabrios have head airbags that deploy upwards from the door panels in the event of a collision, providing protection even with the roof lowered.

According to local distributor, Stuttgart Auto, the Carrera 4 Cabrios should make their local debuts at or about the same time that the Carrera 4 coupes make theirs. Which means that Porsche fans with a thing for traction and wind-in the-hair motoring should start gearing up to haunt the showrooms very soon. Prices haven’t been confirmed but 911 convertibles tend to carry a $30,000 premium over the equivalent coupes.