Thursday 27th September 2012

Paris 2012: Porsche 911 Carrera 4

Lighter all-wheel drive Carreras boost performance, reduce consumption

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If all-wheel drive 911s seem a little invisible it may come as a surprise to learn that 24,000 second-generation 997 Carrera 4s have been sold since 2008 - a hefty 34 per cent share of the total sales.

Bigger hips and reflector bar single out C4

Now it's time for the 991 to take up the all-wheel drive baton with the new Carrera 4. As previously reported on PH it comes in four flavours: Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S, both available as either coupe or Cabriolet. The Carrera 4's 3.4-litre engine is rated at 350hp, enough for 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds (Cabriolet 4.7 seconds) and a top speed of up to 177mph (Cabriolet 175mph), depending on spec. The 3.8-litre unit in the S delivers 400hp, a 0-62mph time of 4.1 seconds (Cabriolet 4.3 seconds) and a top speed of 186mph (Cabriolet 184 mph). All models have a seven-speed manual gearbox as standard, or as an option the seven-speed PDK twin-clutch auto.

Porsche says the 911's aluminium-steel composite body construction has brought a weight saving of up to 65kg on the equivalent previous models, contributing to a 16 per cent reduction in Carrera 4 fuel consumption despite the higher level of performance. For the C4 with PDK, expect a 32.8mpg average for the coupe and 32.5mpg for the Cabriolet. Equivalent figures for the S are 31.0mpg and 30.7mpg.

C4 Cabrio also launches - the agony of choice!

As per tradition, Carrera 4 models get extended rear wheel arches (+22mm) and 10mm wider rear tyres than their 2WD siblings. The rear red light band is modded to further set the 4 apart.

Inside, new instrument menus monitor the PTM all-wheel drive system's status. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is also being introduced as an option across the range. When it's ordered with PDK, the ACC system adds Porsche Active Safe (PAS), which can help prevent front-end collisions.

Another range-wide option announced coincident with the launch of the all-wheel drive Carrera 4s is a sliding glass sunroof. Manual 911s with the optional Sport Chrono pack have added responsiveness, automatically double-declutching during downshifts in Sport Plus mode.

Prices? From £77,924 for the Carrera 4 and from £87,959 for the 4S. Cabriolet versions start at £86,583 and £96,619 respectively. They're all expected to go on sale in the UK this December.

Hybrid Panamera Sport Turismo

Elsewhere on the Porsche stand comes the riposte to those guys across town at Mercedes and the CLS Shooting Brake, driven recently by Mr Harris. Yup, the Panamera's done gained a bit of a Shooting Brake-esque rear, a Sport Turismo moniker and plug-in hybrid tech giving around 20 miles and up to 70mph of purely electric performance. Bring the internal combustion engine into play and you've got 416hp and sub-six seconds 0-62mph, all with 82g/km and 80.7mpg. Mainly it looks dead cool though!

 

[6th Gear]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 27 September 2012 at 17:11

[6th Gear]

Not the best colour on the 991.

[epom]

I absolutely love that colour. Also I have to say that Panamera estate/shooting brake/turismo thing looks superb.

[daveknott5]

That Panamera Sport Turismo shooting brake looks fantastic! So much better than the Panamera saloon. They should make it!!

[Carnnoisseur]

Not a fan of that blue for the 991. As always, loving the Panamera......

[M666 EVO]

Just give us the Turbo please Porsche

WE WANT ZE TURBO!

[130R]

They need to ditch the hybrid crap from that Panamera and stick the new turbo engine in it, because that looks fantastic.

[MIP1983]

Great scott, a non-fugly panemerra. That's a novel idea. That thing deserves a PH artical to itself surely.

[mrclav]

epom said:

I absolutely love that colour. Also I have to say that Panamera estate/shooting brake/turismo thing looks superb.

Seconded - on both points.

[PhantomPH]

MIP1983 said:

Great scott, a non-fugly panemerra. That's a novel idea. That thing deserves a PH artical to itself surely.

Absolutely! First Panamera I've seen and actually wanted. Well done Porsche - you've managed to successfully polish a visual turd!

[Caractacus]

mrclav said:

epom said:

I absolutely love that colour. Also I have to say that Panamera estate/shooting brake/turismo thing looks superb.

Seconded - on both points.

Thirded (sp? lol)

I've not seen many Panameras in the UK, however I've just got back from the Cote d Azur where I saw in excess of a dozen in ten days. Quite popular over there it would seem.

I'd love a Turbo. Mmmmmmm

[kambites]

PhantomPH said:

MIP1983 said:

Great scott, a non-fugly panemerra. That's a novel idea. That thing deserves a PH artical to itself surely.

Absolutely! First Panamera I've seen and actually wanted. Well done Porsche - you've managed to successfully polish a visual turd!

Like the Panamera estate - first new Porsche I've looked the look of since the 993.

I've never seen the point in 4WD 911s - it negates the entire purpose of putting the engine behind the rear axle.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 27th September 18:16

[TaylotS2K]

Liking the new 911, even if it does look exactly like a boxster from the front....

[Codswallop]

The rear reflector bar is such a small detail, but it really improves the look of the rear of the car imo. That blue is a lovely colour too.

[tommy vercetti]

Love that colour, the Panamera looks good too, but is it still hideously ugly at the rear> One thing though, the 911 looks crap from the back without a spoiler, imo.

[tjlees]

tommy vercetti said:

Love that colour, the Panamera looks good too, but is it still hideously ugly at the rear> One thing though, the 911 looks crap from the back without a spoiler, imo.

Yes I prefer them with a spoiler, like the options list, love the weight loss, all very good .... 6 months to the 991 GT3 ... Moving on

[oj121]

I really really like that. 911's always seem a bit bland but something about that just looks right!!!

[macdougle]

Caractacus said:

I've not seen many Panameras in the UK...

Walk up and down the expensive streets in Central London and you'll see LOADS! I counted half a dozen in the space of about 20 minutes the other day. Seems an odd choice of car for the busy and tight London roads, but whoever said money and sense went together!

[LuS1fer]

If nothing else, that car makes me a bigger fan of the 997 - the new headlamps look a bit crap.

[RINGMEISTER]

Sorry for being pedantic but shouldn't it be 'SHOOTING BREAK' and not 'shooting brake'??? Surely the purpose of this vehicle is for toffs to load up the extra luggage area with guns and go hunt some foxes in their spare time, hence the name, no?