Porsche 911 (Type 996) Carrera 4 Cabriolet

The first Porsche with a water-cooled flat-six engine was the fifth generation of the 911, known internally the 996. It appeared in 1997 and represented a completely new design. The body was substantially longer and wider than that of its predecessors, the handling more comfort-focused than ever – a faster, quieter and more manoeuvrable sports car. The 996 was the most significantly upgraded 911 to date. And yet, as was conveyed at the launch, it was still as much of a true  Porsche as it had ever been – perhaps even more so, for the 996 also bore the DNA of the sports car brand. Familiar proportions combined with state-of-the-art technology, a completely redesigned body with a longer wheelbase, more space in the interior and five overlapping circular instruments. The suspension of the 996 was an exemplar of precise cornering and perfect straight-line performance. On the outside, the 2001 Carrera 4 Cabriolet is distinguished by the changed shape of the tailpipes and the redesigned rear section. Other defining details include the titanium-coloured brake callipers and the decidedly shiny titanium-coloured logo on the bonnet. For unforgettable drives through Rhineland-Palatinate, a six-cylinder boxer engine with 235 kW (320) awaited. Between 1997 and 2006, more than 175,000 examples of the 996 generation left the plant – back then making it the biggest-selling 911 of all time.