Tuesday 28th August 2012

991 Carrera 4 announced

Here we go then - the 991 range begins its inexorable expansion with the arrival of Carrera 4 and 4 S

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It seems like only last week (er, it was) we raised the idea that Porsches were getting a bit too grip fixated for their own good and then we get the announcement of ... even grippier ones!

Wake us up for the GT3 please...

Yes, if all the technological might of PASM, PTV Plus, PDCC, PSM and steamroller width tyres really can't keep you on the road the four-wheel drive 991 is here, official info on the Carrera 4, 4 S and associated cabrio versions now released.

So if you were uncertain about how to spec your new 911 and which options to choose (it's easy - Carrera 2, manual, 19-inch wheels, sports exhaust) prepare for further confusion.

Badging aside the new 4 and 4 S models are also our first glimpse of a widebody 991, the rear arches 22mm wider than the two-wheel drive versions we've had thus far. And if you don't notice that you're sure to spot the reflector bar that links the rear light clusters.

Four-wheel drive 911s broader in the beam

Spec/Tech-wise it's all fundamentally the same as two-wheel drive Carreras, meaning a 3.4-litre, 350hp flat-six as standard and 400hp 3.8 for the S, seven-speed manual as standard with PDK as an option. 0-62 for the Carrera 4 is from 4.5 seconds and 4.1 seconds for the S, their respective Cabriolet versions two tenths slower in each case. Carrera 2s are about a tenth quicker generally speaking, though it varies exactly according PDK and whether or not you have Sports Chrono. Four-wheel drive on 997s added around 50kg to the overall weight, Porsche claiming a 65kg weight saving like for like for 991 4 and 4 S over their 997 equivalents.

The new four-wheel drive models do roll in a few new features too, not least a glass sunroof for coupes, a display showing you what PTM (Porsche Traction Management) is doing with the drive torque and 'extended' Sports Chrono with auto double-declutching on downshifts when you're in Sports Plus mode. There's also an option of Adaptive Cruise Control, now available across the 991 range, which, with PDK, features yet another acronym: PAS. This one apparently prevents front-end crashes, the implication being if you can defeat the electronic cordon Porsche has thrown around this car you really are an idiot.

You'll be well into six figures by now

Do you really need four driven wheels on your 911 though? Just over a third of 997.2 buyers said they did, pricing yet to be confirmed in the UK but, for context, a Carrera 2 starts at 88,037 euros in Germany while a Carrera 4 will cost 97,557 euros. Extrapolate that to the UK and it's clear a few ticks on the options sheet will mean even a Carrera 4 coupe is going to clear the six-figure hurdle without any difficulty at all.

 

 

[HeMightBeBanned]

I love 911s but am struggling to get excited about the 991. I've seen a few now and compared to a 997, they appear quite a lot larger. I don't know whether this is an illusion or not. However, I'm not a fan of the trend whereby successive generations of cars get ever bigger. Wasn't the 997 big enough already?

[Captain Muppet]

So 80's full width rear reflectors are back?

[troll]

Also isn't this just the 911 for people who are scared of driving? Or does 4WD add something other than a safety net?

[/troll]

[billzeebub]

would rather have a 993 C4S any day

[HeMightBeBanned]

Captain Muppet said:

Or does 4WD add something other than a safety net?

Weight

[ZesPak]

I like the 911 and like the 991. But this is all getting a bit repetitive. Agreed, why would they change if they sell well, but it's hardly news anymore. The 4WD might as well be another expensive option to tick, rather than a different model.

[housen]

didnt see this coming haha

[Martian O]

Captain Muppet said:

....Also isn't this just the 911 for people who are scared of driving? Or does 4WD add something other than a safety net?

Nice to see you're living up to your name!

[housen]

HeMightBeBanned said:

Captain Muppet said:

Or does 4WD add something other than a safety net?

Weight

understeer

[soad]

billzeebub said:

would rather have a 993 C4S any day

Aye, me too.

[OffdutyRockstar]

I don't know why there's so much fluff... the modern 911 will always have 4WD variants whether you like it or not.

Widebody and reflector strip look absolutely gorgeous... I wish it wasn't limited to the 4WD variants which admittedly would not be my choice...

[SFO]

UK prices are on www.porsche.co.uk

roughly £7k more than 2WD equivalent

[Captain Muppet]

Martian O said:

Captain Muppet said:

....Also isn't this just the 911 for people who are scared of driving? Or does 4WD add something other than a safety net?

Nice to see you're living up to your name!

Thanks for leaving out the [troll] [/troll] bit, no one likes context.

Also thanks for being the thousandth person to type that very same post over the last ten years. Well done, it's like a right of passage for people who can't think of anything relevant or witty to post.

[toppstuff]

I must say that I am thrilled that the brown paint job, so beloved of British Leyland cars in the 70's, is making a comeback.

No matter what the car, painting it brown surely elevates its status to that of art. Beautiful, just beautiful.

I wish brown never falls out of fashion because it looks some damn good.

[Burnham]

SFO said:

UK prices are on www.porsche.co.uk

roughly £7k more than 2WD equivalent

I think its a real shame you cant have the wide rear with 2WD, like the 993. I think I'd still have to have a CarreraS and spend the £7k difference on some fruity options.

[em177]

Now. In my 21 years of being a massive 911 fan. This picture is the first ever pic. From any angle, of any 911 convertible variant that looks like something I'd consider buying!

[stuckmojo]

Good that it exists, but not for me. Manual C2 as long as they make it.

[epom]

Any diesel in the works ??

[bicycleshorts]

doogz said:

em177 said:

Now. In my 21 years of being a massive 911 fan. This picture is the first ever pic. From any angle, of any 911 convertible variant that looks like something I'd consider buying!

The badges on the back look f-ing awful!

Agree, don't even look straight... A bit like someone has bought them from Halfords and stuck them on themselves.

Debadged it would look awesome though.

[Jakdaw]

doogz said:

The badges on the back look f-ing awful!

[Mermaid]

epom said:

Any diesel in the works ??

Hybrid 1st.