2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

To serious car enthusiasts, the arrival of a new 911 turbo is a very special event, and last year we saw the debut of the sixth generation turbo coupe. But while many well-heeled Porsche-files rushed to their dealer, with many dollars in hand, a select group held back, waiting for the 2008 Turbo Cabriolet that they knew was soon to follow. And it looks like their patience has been rewarded; with the most sophisticated turbo drop top yet.

When it comes to care-free high-performance driving, a Porsche 911 and the open air is an irresistible combination. Add the testosterone of the 911 Turbo to the mix, and you get a truly awesome automotive experience.

With only 300 cars coming to the US, the 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet is one very exclusive drop top supercar.

And it’s tough, thanks to chassis reinforcements that increase stiffness to 9,000 Newton-meters. In other words, it’s incredibly rigid.

Yet the entire car weighs only 154 pounds more than the hard-top Turbo, thanks to extensive use of aluminum in the chassis and doors.

The super-tight platform is wrapped in more-aerodynamically efficient bodywork. The lines are cleaner, with less of the boy-racer-on-steroids look of the previous car.

There is still a power retractable rear wing, but it has been repositioned to add almost 60-pounds of downforce.

The most critical aero component is the new power convertible top that matches the airflow patterns of the hard-top. But it also folds in just 20-seconds at the touch of a button, and can be operated while moving at speeds up to 31 miles-per-hour. A removable aluminum hard top is also available

Propelling this new legend is Porsche’s familiar 3.6-liter twin-turbo flat-six, now producing 480 horsepower. Maximum torque measures 457 pound-feet in standard format, and 501 pound-feet when utilizing the optional Sport Chrono package’s Overboost function.

A pair of beefy gearboxes handle all that grunt; either 6-speed manual, or our car’s 5-speed Tiptronic automatic.

As with all Tiptronics, drivers can choose full auto, or shift manually with switches on the steering wheel.

Further downstream we find the ace-in-the-traction-hole, Porsche’s all-wheel-drive, tied to electronic stability control by the Porsche Traction Management system.

The final links in the chain are 19-inch alloy wheels wearing ZR-rated tires.

We spun them around Georgia’s Roebling Road Raceway and recorded a thrilling 0-to-60 time of 3.7 seconds. The quarter-mile was an equally impressive 12.0 seconds flat at 120 miles-per-hour. That’s quicker than the manual Coupe we tested two summers ago.

And all you do is simply activate the PTM’s Sport Mode and punch the pedal. The result is instant grip and acceleration that feels like a free-fall off a mountain top.

Yet it’s a very refined free-fall, without the violent hit of earlier generation 911 Turbos. Throttle response is immediate, and the Tiptronic changes gear without the slightest stutter.

Once into the curves, the Turbo Cabrio with Active Suspension Management displays superb balance and lightning quick reflexes. Compared to the lighter hardtop, we noticed little difference in corners. There is still some all-wheel drive push, and the tail will step out. But it’s all very predictable and inviting.

Get it right, and the huge thrust of the Turbo engine hurls you from corner to corner like no other car in the world. It’s incredibly addictive.

And it tops off every trip with flawless braking. The optional ceramic composite brakes scrub off 60 miles-per-hour in a mere 110 feet, with ease and precision.

Yet for all of its mind blowing performance, the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is also one of the world’s most genteel sports cars on the open road.

Whether in auto or manual mode, shifts are slick and trouble free at any legal speed. The ride is firm, with none of the stutter or chop that we’ve experienced in so many super-grade sports cars.

Accommodations are top drawer as well, with the Turbo Cabrio offering the superbly appointed cabin that we expect in Porsche’s top models.  Plenty of bells and whistles, such as leather, DVD navigation, and high-end audio are standard.

But you can pile on options like adaptive sport seats, with even finer leather, and push the luxury envelope just as you push the performance envelope.

And push it you will, as the 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet carries an almost exotic car price of $137,360. With a full load of options, the price tops out at a stunning $159,070.

So there are rag tops, drop tops, and soft tops. But there is only one 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet. It’s the most exciting and sophisticated convertible in Porsche history. And the most amazing open top car that we’ve ever driven.