Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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CARNOISSEUR lucky 7 I ntroduced in 1963, the Porsche 911, now in its seventh generation, is still one of the world's most popular high-performance sports cars. The 2013 models feature a panoply of updates, including a new convertible top for the 911 Cabriolets—perfect for spring's warmer weather. The goal was to make the Cabriolet look as much as possible like the Coupe and to improve its functionality. Mission accomplished: The top can be raised or lowered in 13 seconds while the car is moving at speeds of up to 30 mph. Perhaps the biggest improvements are to the engine and drivetrain. Porsche has added the world's first production seven-speed manual transmission (introduced in the standard 911 Carrera Coupe) to the Carrera 4S Cabriolet. This allows the first six gears to be more closely spaced, with seventh being an extreme overdrive ratio for improved highway fuel efficiency. Also new in this model is the 3.8-liter flat six, which produces 400 horsepower. When I picked up a 2013 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet for a test drive, it was easy to admire its updated exterior and more muscular stance. Subtle changes to the car's silhouette are a natural evolution from previous models. For the interior, lessons from the highly successful Panamera have 124 been applied to the 911, making it a more driver-friendly vehicle with nextgeneration electronics and controls. The seats are more comfortable than ever before, offering additional adjustments and greater support. Wanting a route with a combination of highway and back-road driving, I activated the in-dash GPS system and selected The Kittansett Club in Marion as my destination. I proceeded down Route 24 to I-195, both very open roads where traffic often moves faster than the official speed limit, allowing me to push the limits of my ride. The car remained very smooth to operate at higher speeds. It also gave off that great Porsche sound. Turning down Point Road, one of the most scenic routes in the Commonwealth, I hit the TOP DOWN button and tested the feature at the maximum allowed speed. It worked seamlessly and made driving through the gorgeous countryside even more enjoyable. Better still, when I pulled into the club's parking area with the top down, the Porsche was an immediate hit with several members. Over the years, I have driven many Porsches, and the new 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet exceeded my expectations on every level. Base price: $117,530. Herb Chambers Porsche of Boston, 1172 Commonwealth Ave., 877-575-4635; herbchambersporscheofboston.com BC PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PORSCHE AS SPRING HEATS UP NEW ENGLAND, IT'S TIME TO DROP THE TOP ON PORSCHE'S SLEEK NEW SEVEN-SPEED CONVERTIBLE. BY CRAIG CARLSON BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 124_BC_HP_Carnossieur_LATESPRING_13.indd 124 4/10/13 12:11 PM