First Drive: Porsche’s Carrera T Cabriolet brings an even more engaging 911 experience

What is it?

Porsche’s Carrera T has traditionally been the car most sought-after by drivers looking for a ‘pure’ 911 driving experience. Lighter and a little bit sharper than the standard 911 Carrera, the T has brought as much of an unfiltered driving style as possible, albeit with all of the usual luxuries that you’d expect from this sports car.

Now, for the 992.2-generation Carrera T, things have changed. Whereas the previous generations of this car have been Coupe-only, a drop-top has been added into the equation for the first time and it’s this model that we’re looking at in closer detail.

What’s new?

The addition of a Cabriolet version is, of course, a big change for the 911 Carrera T. However, plenty of lightweight measures are implemented to help this Porsche shed some additional bulk, including thinner windows and reduced sound deadening. All versions get Porsche Active Suspension Management, too, which brings a 10mm drop in ride height over the standard Carrera for a sharper cornering experience.

As with other 911 Cabriolets, the Carrera T adopts a fabric-folding setup which can open or close in around 12 seconds. It’s quick enough to get you out of the rain should a sudden downpour hit.

What’s under the bonnet?

Powering the Carrera T is a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder producing 389bhp and 450Nm of torque. What separates the T from the rest of the 911 range is that it shuns Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission in favour of a six-speed manual. In fact, there’s no automatic option with the Carrera T – it’s manual shifting or nothing else.

It’s a very potent setup, mind you, with 0-60mph coming in 4.5 seconds – you’ll go a shade quicker in the hard-top version – and flat-out, the T will manage 182mph. This 911’s 21.9 combined fuel consumption figure is about what you’d expect for a sports car of this type, too.

What’s it like to drive?

The Carrera T offers the kind of polished driving style that has become synonymous with modern-day 911 models. However, there’s an extra level of interaction that comes with six gears and three pedals, while the wood-finished shifter is a delight to use and gives you better control over the engine. It’s more than punchy enough to keep things interesting, too, with the turbocharged nature of the straight-six giving it an extra layer of flexibility. It’s quite happy cruising along, the T, but it’ll also take advantage of twistier sections of road given the opportunity.

It’s pleasing to note that despite the removal of sound deadneing and thinner windows – not to mention a folding cloth roof – that the Carrera T remains impressively hushed at speed. The drop in ride height over a regular Carrera hasn’t made the car’s ride too fraught, either, and though larger potholes do shock this 911 it manages to deal with them well enough.

How does it look?

The Carrera T follows some classic 911 styling procedures, but there are some smaller aspects of its look that help to differentiate it from the rest of the range. There are the model-specific flashes down the flank, of course, and if you look in the triangular rear windows there are small shift pattern logos which shout loud and proud about the car’s manual gearbox.

As with other 911 models there’s plenty of scope for personalisation, too, with the Carrera T’s ‘Legends’ paint selection bring a wide number of choices, while our test car’s ‘Lugano Blue’ exterior shade sits within the the ‘Shades’ colour selection.

What’s it like inside?

The latest 992.2-generation interior represents a high point throughout the life of the 911, blending usable technology with a tangible level of quality and finish. It’s the same in the Carrera T, of course, though with some added extras. The most notable is the wooden gear selector which breathes a bit of old-school charm into the rather modern interior. It’s a lovely touch, in our eyes.

Elsewhere, we’ve got a good combination of physical controls and high-definition displays. As in other 911 models the Carrera T’s steering wheel is a joy to navigate and, fortunately for this drop-top version, is heated. The button to activate the wheel heating is hidden away, mind you, in the middle of the lower spoke. It’s almost like a hidden ‘Easter Egg’ that has been equipped to many 911 models but missed by a lot of owners.

What’s the spec like?

Prices for the Carrera T Cabriolet start from £121,300, representing quite the premium over the £111,300 coupe version. Naturally, the largest difference between the two is that folding roof, so you’ll really need to think about whether the top-down experience is worth that premium.

Standard equipment levels are good, mind you, with four-way adjustable sport seats coming included on all cars alongside 20-inch alloy wheels and the very usable central infotainment system. As with any Porsche model, go too wild and you’ll quickly ramp up the car’s price.

Verdict

The Porsche 911 Carrera T Cabriolet continues a long line of models that bring an extra layer of engagement over standard cars but without the drawbacks of a fully track-focused GT model. This latest version is no different; it’s just as usable as a ‘regular’ 911, but feels more spirited as and when you need it to be.

Is the Cabriolet the one to choose? Well, it certainly broadens the appeal of the Carrera T, but its significant extra cost over the coupe means you’re going to have to get the top down on a regular basis to make it worthwhile.