New Porsche 911 Convertible To Get Metal Folding Roof?
Full details to be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show

As we anxiously await the debut of the new 2012 911 convertible (type 991) all of us on the web can't help but speculate as to what the construction of the new roof mechanism will be. We have seen many spy pics that indicate an exterior material of canvas but many of us have questioned if this canvas is simply a form of camouflage over a folding metal roof design.

Well the folks at germancarforums seem to be as curious as the rest of us and have dug up these patent photos which make us believe the new convertible roof design will be a folding metal top covered in a canvas as many of the spy pictures have show us.

Source of patent images [GCF]

 

Wow! Would be quite an acheivement to fit a metal roof back there!

 

Let's just get rid of the back seat option and fold a roof in there! Lol

 

weird design. it would be interesting to see what porsche comes up with. maybe it's a softop with additional plastic panels. metal roof would defeat the purpose of a soft top - weight savings.

the current soft top works well. i never understood the need for hard top. if you take care of the soft top, it should last over 10 years. the only issue i had with it was rattles, which is fixable.

 

Very interesting!

 

I'd be curious to know how much this roof would weigh. The one on the M3 is way too heavy and really slows the car down, you can really feel the extra weight. What material would they use; CF, Titanium?

 

Weird, my 2012 Black Edition cab on my showfloor has a soft top.

 

The 991's will be 2012 model years as confirmed by Dave Engelman, Media Relations Manager atPorsche. I was surprised as well.

 

Planning a trip to the city to visit some friends. Bet you a beer the US units will be 2013's. Launch is in February stateside. They will be 2013's.

 

Why cover a metal roof in canvas? I would prefer if it was metal so that it looks/feels more like a coupe with the top up...
Canvas roofs are old school IMO. The SL, 3 series and now 458 all switched Come on Porsche!