2017 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet

The 2017 Porsche 911 features a base twin-turbo engine which produces 370 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque; different compressor wheels, a special exhaust setup, and a specific ECU tune nets the Carrera S 420 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. Porsche claims that the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet will hit 60 in 3.7 seconds while achieving 191 mph on the top end.

The standard seven-speed manual transmission uses a new, twin-disc clutch, while Porsche DoppelKupplungsgetriebe -- the PDK dual-clutch automatic -- gets several efficiency enhancements. The first is a dual-mass flywheel with a centrifugal pendulum, intended to reduce vibration and allow the engine to run at even lower rpm in higher gears.

Every Carrera now has Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) standard. Active dampers lower the ride height by 0.4 inch and are keyed into a new steering-wheel-mounted drive-mode selector on models equipped with the Sport Chrono package. The selector includes Normal, Sport, Sport Plus, and Individual settings that manipulate the settings for the transmission, exhaust, PASM, and the engine stop-start feature.

Porsche’s rear-steer system is optional on the Carrera S. It replaces conventional toe-control links with electric actuators varying rear-wheel angle up to 2 degrees. The rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the fronts at speeds up to 30 mph to decrease turning radius. They turn in the same direction over 50 mph to enhance stability during high-speed directional changes. Brakes are upgraded to account for more mass and speed, with larger rotors and 17 percent more swept area.

The 2017 Carrera S Cabriolet starts at a rock bottom $116,695.