Porsche Panamera GTS 970.1 vs Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet 991.2: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the 911 Carrera Cabriolet hits 100 km/h in 4.43 s versus 4.45 s for the Panamera GTS. The 0.03 s gap is negligible: both vehicles are neck and neck.

At 200 metres, the 911 Carrera Cabriolet is doing 153 km/h against 147 km/h for the Panamera GTS. The gap is 0.05 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the 911 Carrera Cabriolet crosses the line in 12.42 s versus 12.63 s. The 0.21 s gap represents roughly 11 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the 911 Carrera Cabriolet continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 214 km/h versus 206 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 911 Carrera Cabriolet finishes in 22.28 s versus 22.85 s, with a 0.58 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (279 vs 286 km/h), preventing any comeback.

The Panamera GTS features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the 911 Carrera Cabriolet’s RWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Panamera GTS is capped at 286 km/h, the 911 Carrera Cabriolet at 291 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (4.47 kg/hp vs 4.00 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 6.75 seconds. The 0.03 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.