Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 Porsche 911 (992.2) Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet
Price: 911 Cabriolet from £109,800, Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet from £149,100
Engine: 3.6-litre six-cylinder turbocharged petrol mild hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Power: 541hp
Torque: 610Nm
Emissions: 244-250g/km
Economy: 25.7-26.4mpg
0-62mph: 3.1 seconds
Top speed: 194mph
Boot space: 135 litres
Styling
We aren't that keen on the way the 911 Cabriolet looks, with the roof compartment stacked above the engine, and the latest-generation car is much the same. But if you can live with that slightly hunchback-style look, the GTS is a reasonably attractive thing. The gills at the front aren't necessarily pretty, but the GTS comes with dark alloy wheels and sporty bumpers, as well as black exterior trim and a sports exhaust, as well as red brake callipers. Paired with the Carmine Red paint, it feels as sporty as a GTS should be.
Interior
Like every other 911 of the 992.2 generation, the Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet gets the same new digital instrument cluster and the same classic dashboard design, as well as the same impeccable build quality. But the GTS models get a lashing of Porsche's Race-Tex microsuede upholstery, and there's a new and more robust drive mode selector on the steering wheel as part of the standard-fit Sport Chrono Package.
Technology doesn't really star in the 911's cabin, but it still plays an important role. The new instrument cluster is much easier to read than that of the old 911, and it's much easier to configure, but it doesn't quite have the soul of the old car's conventional rev counter. And while the touchscreen has all the right features and a Germanically precise operating system, it isn't exactly exciting.
Practicality
Nobody is about to call the 911 practical, but it does come with four seats as standard, and when the sun is out, headroom is unlimited. But legroom is not, and the rear seats aren't really suitable for adults, so you might find it best to use the back seats as a glorified parcel shelf, raise the wind deflector and treat the 911 Cabriolet as a two-seater. Do that, and the cabin is quite sheltered, while you also get a useful complement to the 135-litre luggage bay under the bonnet. Although that sounds small, it's big enough for a couple of soft holdalls, so you can easily use the Porsche for a weekend away for two. You'll just need to employ those rear seats as luggage space if you want to do much more than that.
Performance
Much has been made of Porsche's decision to hybridise the GTS range, but don't go thinking this is some kind of tree-hugging eco-box. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Instead, the hybrid tech exists to supplement the power of the internal combustion engine, helping to make it more responsive and more potent without increasing emissions and fuel consumption. So while it's no more economical than any other 911, the 'T-Hybrid' churns out 541hp.
That comes from a 3.6-litre flat-six petrol engine and an electric motor that lives inside the eight-speed automatic gearbox. But the hybrid system doesn't just help fill in when the engine is at low revolutions, it also spools up the turbocharger ahead of time to reduce lag and provide more instant access to the power.
As with the old GTS, you can choose between rear- and all-wheel-drive models, but it's the all-wheel-drive car tested here. The system makes no difference to the car's pace, but it does make the power more accessible when you put your foot down on the straights. Admittedly, even the rear-drive examples have plenty of traction, but in greasy conditions, the all-wheel-drive cars feel a bit more planted and secure, giving you the confidence to use the performance more regularly.
Ride & Handling
The GTS versions of the 911 are all about driving pleasure, and they’re designed to bridge the gap between hardcore GT3s and the softer, road-orientated Carreras. So Porsche has kitted it out with lower suspension (for all but the Targa 4 GTS) and bespoke suspension tuning and components, all designed to make the car more agile. Four-wheel steering is included too, helping to tuck the car into corners and improve stability at higher speeds.
As you’d expect, all this means the GTS is spectacular to drive. The steering is majestic, the way the car darts towards the apex of a corner is incredible and the way the body stays so level is almost unbelievable. Put the suspension in its stiffest setting and there’s almost no lean at all in corners. Combine that with immense grip and the GTS will corner at outrageous speeds.
And if you choose an all-wheel-drive GTS like this one, you will be able to exit the corner at even more outrageous speed. Admittedly, the rear-drive car feels a bit more intuitive when you try to use the throttle to help rotate the car through a corner, but the all-wheel-drive versions allow you to get on the power earlier and with less fear for your life. They will kick if provoked, but they feel much more planted. So while the rear-wheel-drive versions are arguably more fun on a circuit, we’d have an all-wheel-drive car every time on the road. Especially in the wet.
The big issue with the GTS – and this is true no matter whether you get rear- or all-wheel drive – is that it’s quite uncomfortable. In the softest setting, it’s just about supple enough to live with, but it’s noticeably stiffer than the standard Carrera, and it’s also noticeably stiffer than the Targa 4 GTS. But while that’s true of both the Coupe and Cabriolet models, the Cabriolet is a bit more supple, possibly simply because the body isn’t quite as rigid.
Value
With the Cabriolet body and the all-wheel-drive system, this is one of the more expensive models in the GTS range, and a £149,100 price tag might be quite a lot for some customers to swallow. Especially as that's £6,500 more than you'll pay for a rear-wheel-drive GTS Cabriolet. And apart from the extra traction, you aren't getting any more for your money. Both cars come with two-zone climate control, a reversing camera, and all the GTS visual and mechanical upgrades, but the kit list isn't especially generous. Certainly, you'll want to raid some of the pretty costly options on offer to get the car you want, so your wallet had better be prepared for the onslaught.
Verdict
Like the Targa 4 GTS, the Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet is a cracking car. It's more focussed than the Targa, but still just about soft enough to use on the road, and the all-wheel-drive system really allows great access to the performance. Whether it's a better car than the Targa or the Coupe versions of the 911 is a question of personal preference, and while we'd still rather have the Targa for long journeys and the Coupe on a track, the Cabriolet would be our choice for a fast road drive in the sunshine.