First Look: 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 And Carrera 4S

News I By Brandon Turkus I August 29, 2012
The latest Porsche 911 Carrera (991 if you sprechen sie Porsche) has barely been around long enough for us to get to know it, and yet, here we are with the first of inevitable variations. Rather than a 911 Turbo S Carrera GTS RS 3.8 GT3, though, this is a simple all-wheel-drive version of everyone’s favorite rear-engined sports car.
 
The 911 C4 and C4S have been the go-to cars for Porschephiles that wish to drive their Beetle spawn year round, regardless of how wintery their roads might become. Utilizing Porsche Traction Management, the all-wheels-driven 911s are available with the same powertrain options as their rear-drive counterparts.
 
The base C4 features a 3.4-liter flat-six with 350 horsepower, while C4S models feature a more potent 3.8-liter six-pot with an even 400 horsepower. Sprints to 60 miles per hour take 4.3 and 3.9 seconds, respectively, with convertible models tacking on an additional two-tenths. Despite the all-weather natures of these two Germans, top speeds are more than acceptable, with 177 mph in the standard Carrera 4 and 185 mph in the S model. Again, convertibles top out two mph below their hardtop counterparts. A seven-speed manual gearbox comes as standard, while third-pedal-averse drivers can opt for the snappy PDK dual-clutch transmission.
 
Like the standard 991, the all-wheel-drive models represent a significant advancement, trimming 143 pounds from last year’s car, with a 16 percent improvement in fuel economy.
 
As is tradition with all-wheel-drive models, the new C4 and C4S feature a wider set of rear haunches (44 millimeters, or 1.7 inches), along with larger cross-section tires. The new rubber adds an extra four-tenths of an inch to the Carrera’s contact patch. Finally, a red light band stretches between the taillights.
 
The 2013 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S will make their official debut at the 2012 Paris International Motor Show. 3.4-liter models start at $91,030 while 3.8s start at $105,630. Ticking the box for a cabriolet will add an additional $11,900, regardless of which engine you choose. Of course, realistic prices for 911s are often far higher than the base, due in very large part to the extensive customization process that comes with each car. That being said, we’d be hard pressed to find a better way of driving through all four seasons.
 
Please scroll down for the official press release from Porsche.
 
Advanced active all-wheel-drive for more driving fun and security
 
Atlanta. The new Porsche 911 Carrera 4 unites the performance and efficiency of the new, seventh-generation of the 911 Carrera with the dynamic benefits of the latest version of the active all-wheel-drive system PTM (Porsche Traction Management). The typical Porsche all-wheel-drive system with focused rear bias in this latest 911 version promises maximum vehicle dynamics on a wide variety of road surfaces and in all weather conditions. The new 911 Carrera 4 models deliver traction and dynamic performance to the fourth power.
 
The new all-wheel-drive 911 is being launched in four versions – the 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4S, 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 143 lbs. (65 kg) lighter in weight when compared to the previous generation 911 Carrera C4.
 
The most distinct identifying feature of the 911 with all-wheel drive is the wider rear section: compared to the two-wheel drive 911 Carrera models, the rear wheel housings each extend further outward by 22 mm for a total of 44 millimeters, and the rear tires are each ten millimeters wider. The traditional red light band that connects the two taillights on the 911 Carrera C4 has also taken on a new form.
 
Porsche Intelligent Performance: high levels of driving performance, low fuel consumption
 
All new models have a seven-speed manual gearbox as standard, and the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) seven-speed gearbox is available as an option.
 
The 911 Carrera 4 Coupé with its 3.4-liter, 350 hp flat-six engine can sprint from zero to 60 mph in as little as 4.3 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.5 s) and reach a top-track speed of up to 177 mph (Cabriolet: 175 mph), depending on equipment features. Fuel consumption with PDK is EPA estimated at 20 mpg city / 28 mpg highway for the Coupé and EPA rated 20 mpg city / 27 mpg highway for the Cabriolet.
 
The Coupé and Cabriolet of the 911 Carrera 4 S each have a 3.8-liter rear-mounted boxer engine that produces 400 hp; this enables acceleration to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.1 seconds) and a top-track speed of 185 mph (Cabriolet: 183 mph) with a suitable equipment configuration. Fuel consumption values with PDK are EPA estimated at 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway for both the Coupé and the Cabriolet.
 
New: all-wheel drive indicator, Porsche Active Safe (PAS), sliding glass sunroof, extended Sport Chrono pack
 
In the new 911 Carrera 4, an additional 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 making the optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) available 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.
 
The new all-wheel drive models replace a very successful previous generation, of which 34 percent second-generation 997 models where all-wheel-drive. This previous generation launched with one of the greatest development steps in powertrain technology that the 911 ever made: new were the engines with direct fuel injection, Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) gearbox and electronically controlled Porsche Traction Management (PTM). In July 2011, Porsche crowned the model series with the 911 Carrera 4 GTS, whose 3.8-liter engine was boosted to 408 hp.
 
World premiere at the 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, 2012. The new 911 models will launch in the US early in 2013. The 2013 911 Carrera 4 will have a base MSRP of $91,030, and the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet base MSRP will be $102,930. The 911 Carrera 4S will have a base MSRP of $105,630 and the Cabriolet will have a base MSRP of $117,530.
 
About Porsche Cars North America
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga. is the exclusive U.S. importer of Porsche sports cars, the Cayenne SUV and Panamera sports sedan. Established in 1984, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, and employs approximately 220 people who provide parts, service, marketing and training for 192 dealers. They, in turn, work to provide Porsche customers with a best-in-class experience that is in keeping with the brand’s 63-year history and leadership in the advancement of vehicle performance, safety and efficiency.
 
At the core of this success is Porsche’s proud racing heritage that boasts some 30,000 motorsport wins to date.
 

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