2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet

When summertime arrives here at MotorWeek, convertibles become extraordinarily popular. So, when our latest drop top turned out to be a Porsche 911 Turbo S, it was no surprise that the keys, as well as the car, always seemed to be “gone missing.” 

The Porsche 911 Turbo S is the top street dog in a lineup that now consists of some twenty 911 variants. Our test car, a mint 2018 Cabriolet, not only allowed us to get in touch with nature while streaking around back roads, but made sure everyone knows who’s behind the wheel. Driving a Turbo S Cabrio is easily one of our favorite summer pursuits.

Of course one of our favorite things about any 911, is launch control.  It’s equal parts brutality, simplicity, and rocketry; allowing you to leap off the line no matter where you are, with maximum effect. 

All-wheel drive traction gets you going in a haste, as 60 miles-per-hour arrives in just 2.9-seconds. That rush is accompanied by intake, exhaust, and 6-pack engine noises that create a harmony of awesomeness.  

After coming down from that adrenaline high, you can appreciate that all of this happens because of the 580-horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque that pours from the 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-6. Last year saw new turbos added, as well as a Dynamic Boost function that maintains boost pressure even when you ease off the throttle, or when the 7-speed PDK triggers a shift.  

Running through a simple slalom course at our drag strip, is truly no test for this 911; but one does get a small taste of the insane grip, sharp turn-ins, and ultra-flat handling of the Turbo S. If the fabric roof compromised handling even in the slightest, we couldn’t tell.  

Not surprisingly, top operation is as speedy and efficient as the rest of the car. Top or no top, the look is all classic Porsche; round headlights, smooth body, wide hips, the whole package. Our Turbo S rode on 20-inch center-lock wheels.  

Sitting inside, everything just feels right, with all of the important stuff falling readily to hand. The up-sweeping center console still hosts plenty of physical buttons. Meanwhile, Porsche’s touchscreen interface has steadily improved and is now quite intuitive.  

For all of our spirited impressions of the 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, be sure to catch MotorWeek episode #3745 that begins airing July 13, 2018. For a listing of the public television stations that broadcast MotorWeek, go to motorweek.org and click the “About The Show” tab at the top. MotorWeek is also seen Tuesday evenings on the Velocity cable network. 

You can buy a Porsche 911 convertible for half the price of a Turbo S Cabriolet and still make your friends stare in awe. But, for us, the 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S remains a favorite aspirational vehicle, despite a new upstart supercar arriving almost weekly. There’s still nothing else on the road quite like it.