The typical Porsche all-wheel drive with rear-focused layout in the new Porsche 911 Carrera 4—the latest 911 variant—guarantees maximum vehicle dynamics on a wide variety of road surfaces and in all weather conditions.
The new all-wheel drive 911 is being launched in four versions—as the 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4S and each as Coupé and Cabriolet. They sport the same traits as the rear-wheel drive versions: their lightweight body design, suspension, engines and gearboxes are identical, the only exception being modifications related to the all-wheel drive. This means that despite a higher level of engine and driving performance, all four models consume significantly less fuel than the previous models; total savings for individual versions are as much as 16 per cent. In addition, the new 911 Carrera 4 is up to 65-kilograms lighter in weight.
The most distinct identifying feature of the 911 with all-wheel drive is still the wide rear section: compared to the two-wheel drive 911 Carrera models, the rear wheel housings each extend further outward by 22 mm, and the rear tyres are each ten millimetres wider. The traditional red light band that connects the two taillights has also taken on a new form.
Porsche Intelligent Performance: high levels of driving performance, low fuel consumption
All new models have a 7-speed manual gearbox as standard, and the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) gearbox is available as an option. The 911 Carrera 4 Coupé with 350 hp (257 kW) can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in as little as 4.5 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.7 s) and reach a top speed of up to 285 km/h (Cabriolet: 282 km/h), depending on equipment features. Fuel consumption with PDK is 8.6 l/100 km for the Coupé and 8.7 l/100 km for the Cabriolet.
The Coupé and Cabriolet of the 911 Carrera 4 S each have a 3.8-litre rear-mounted boxer engine that produces 400-hp; this enables acceleration to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.3 seconds) and a top speed of 299 km/h (Cabriolet: 296 km/h) with a suitable equipment configuration. Fuel consumption values with PDK are 9.1 l/100 km for the Coupé and 9.2 l/100 km for the Cabriolet.
New: all-wheel drive indicator, Porsche Active Safe, sliding glass sunroof, extended Sport Chrono pack
In the new 911 Carrera 4, a new menu in the instrument cluster informs the driver how the PTM all-wheel drive is currently distributing engine power. In addition, with the debut of the 911 Carrera all-wheel drive models Porsche is introducing the optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) to the entire model range, which controls distance to traffic ahead and vehicle speed. When ordered with PDK, the ACC system adds the safety function Porsche Active Safe (PAS), which helps to prevent front-end collisions. In addition, Porsche offers a new sliding glass sunroof as an optional feature for the 911 Carrera Coupé. Driving 911 cars with a manual gearbox and Sport Chrono pack can now be even sportier: In Sport Plus mode, the system automatically double-declutches during downshifts.
World premiere at Paris International Motor Show
The new Porsche 911 Carrera with all-wheel drive will make its first public appearance at the 2012 Paris International Motor Show (September 29-October 14, 2012), with launch date set for the end of 2012.
The Carrera 4 and 4S, which both come in either coupe and cabriolet form, will be available in Canada in early 2013, starting at $103,900 for the base coupe and $117,400 for the cabriolet.