Porsche 997 Carrera

Although it is no secret, even many car connoisseurs are not aware of it: Porsche delivers its 911 without the 911 lettering. In fact, the three magic digits have been missing from the body of the sports car legend for years. Nevertheless, the icon from Zuffenhausen has no identity problems. The same basic shape of the evergreen speaks for itself. Everyone can see immediately that this is a 911 - regardless of whether it was built in 1965 or 2005. The often mythically glorified super sports car remains the eternally identical, ultimate dream car despite a few radical changes.

A breath of fresh air for a new model series
The latest evolutionary stage is the 997 model series, a cautious development step that came onto the road in late summer 2004 with the Coupé. The other eleven variants of the predecessor 996 - from the rare Targa to the Turbo S spoiler monster - are also gradually being reissued. Number two of the new generation, the Cabriolet, appeared at the beginning of April 2005

Good things get better
The refreshed interior is also a feast for the eyes. The revised mix of high-quality plastics, leather and metal looks even more attractive than its predecessor. Whether open or closed: Even tall people will find sufficient headroom and an optimum seating position. The lateral support of the firm yet comfortable seat remains phenomenal. However, the fact that supposed aluminum parts turn out to be plastic in the haptics test only slightly tarnishes the otherwise very good overall impression.

The fabric remains
For the soft top of the 911 Cabriolet, Porsche continues to rely on a fully automatic fabric hood. There will be no steel vario-roof for the time being. Naturally, the classic disadvantages remain: Moderate noise insulation and visibility to the rear. On the other hand, the construction made of textiles, light metals and plastic, which has been slimmed down to 42 kilograms, disappears elegantly and completely behind the passenger compartment at the touch of a button in just 20 seconds; even while driving, up to a speed of 50 km/h. According to Porsche, the folding roof has been optimized in terms of air resistance and covering. In addition, a new water guide edge is designed to minimize the amount of water dripping into the interior when getting in with a wet roof.

Translated by DeepL.