Advanced active all-wheel drive for even more driving fun and safety

STUTTGART, GERMANY – The new Porsche 911 Carrera 4 unites the excellent performance and efficiency of the new generation of the 911 Carrera with the dynamic benefits of the latest version of the active all-wheel drive system Porsche Traction Management (PTM). The typical Porsche all-wheel drive with rear-focused layout in this latest 911 version guarantees maximum vehicle dynamics on a wide variety of road surfaces and in all weather conditions. The new 911 Carrera 4 models deliver significantly enhanced traction and dynamic performance.

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 rearwheel 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 kg 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 body is wider by 44 mm, and the rear tires are each ten millimetres wider. The traditional red light band that connects the two taillights has also taken on a new form and is now lighted. In addition, the front air intakes are specific to the Carrera 4 models.

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 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. Transport Canada highway fuel consumption figures with PDK are 7.1 l/100 km for the Coupé and 7.3 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; offering an 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 7.5 l/100 km for the Coupé and 7.6 l/100 km for the Cabriolet, according to Transport Canada.

New: all-wheel drive indicator, Porsche Active Safe, 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, driving the 911 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; the Carrera 4S was the most popular 911 model in Canada. It feature a unique system that combines the driving pleasure so typical of a Porsche thanks to the engine at the rear and rear-wheel drive with an even higher standard of driving stability, traction and agile handling.

To achieve this superiority, PTM feeds the optimum share of engine power under all driving conditions via a multiple-plate clutch to the front wheels. And doing this within 100 milliseconds at the very most, PTM is faster than even the quickest driver will even feel or notice. Porsche’s all-wheel drive therefore “looks ahead” thereby offering optimum driving qualities. Standard on Carrera 4S models is the Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), which adds a mechanical transverse lock on the rear axle enhancing the driving dynamics provided by the fully controlled all-wheel-drive system.

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. The new 911 models will be launched in Canada in early 2013 with prices starting from $103,900 for the 911 Carrera 4 Coupé and from $117,400 for the Cabriolet. Pricing for the 911 Carrera 4 S model begins at $120,500 for the Coupé and $134,100 for Cabriolet.