Flashback Friday: Eighth Gen 911 Gets AWD for Carrera 4 Models
Shine or snow, a 911 Carrera 4 excels in either.
Still the best all-rounder
Porsche's eight-generation 911 is an evolution in excellence. The German sportscar specialist has spent a decade perfecting its most famous car. Although the 911 remains unusual, with its rear-engine configuration, there is no question that the traction benefits are worth it. The 911 is so adaptable as sportscar, which can be driven daily, that many customers like using them even in winter. And that means snow, which Porsche counters by applying its all-wheel-drive technology.
Classic theme meets modern execution
The latest incarnation of Porsche 911 Carrera 4 continues a great tradition. Porsche had first piloted its all-wheel-drive technology during the mid-1980s, at the legendary Dakar rally raid. It was here that the 959's all-wheel-drive system was developed. This eventually evolved into the first all-wheel-drive 911s, which debuted in the 964-series cars. Today's 911 Carrera 4 has all the modern design clues, such as rectangular exhaust ends, without diminishing the 911's classic lines.
Making the most of the power
The latest 911 Carrera 4 is powered by a 3-liter flat-six engine. With the benefit of twin-turbocharging, this engine boasts 379hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers might only apply to the most basic 911, but they are still potent enough to create traction issues in very wet or snowy conditions. For the sake of driver safety, and to ensure that your 911 is predictable in all weather conditions, Porsche markets the Carrera 4 variant. In slow-speed corners, these 911 Carrera4s have potentially superior apex-to-clipping-point acceleration, as power is applied to all four wheels, and not spinning only to the rear axle.
Super safe in the rain
In wet driving conditions, the new Carrera 4 base model is an incredibly stable driving machine. Porsche's all-wheel-drive technology uses a liquid-cooled clutch system to transfer a portion of torque to the front wheels. The system is responsive to road conditions and can move torque between the axles and individual wheels. This ensures that the moment your Carrera 4's wheels roll over a wet patch mid-corner, you don't lose a significant portion of traction under power. This makes the Carrera 4 a very easy sportscar to drive with confidence, even under testing conditions.
Eight gears and lots of traction, equals startling acceleration
The 992-series 911 has an ergonomically excellent cabin, tailored for the driver. All controls fall easily to hand, which makes driving it's fast, even in wet conditions, very intuitive. It has a 10.9-inch infotainment screen to relay all required information whilst out on the road. Although the base model Carrera 4 is Porsche's least powerful 911, it still has some very potent performance numbers on offer. The eight-speed dual-clutch transmission helps Porsche's 911 Carrera 4 run 0-60mph in only 4 seconds. Option Porsche's Sport Chrono pack and that acceleration run drops to only 3.8 seconds.
Seats shaped to keep you perfectly in place
With all-wheel drive and torque vectoring, the 911 Carrera 4 is capable of very high cornering speeds. Traction is amazing with power being sent to all four wheels, and the low center of gravity helps to keep lateral forces low. Add in the optional Porsche active rear differential and you have a car which is an absolute delight in the corners. Good thing, too, that Porsche's brilliantly shaped seats are in present, which keep both driver and passenger securely in place, when you are linking corners.
A true all-condition sportscar
Available in both coupe and cabriolet, the latest 911 Carrera 4 is a Porsche for both fair and winter weather. It has all the attributes that customers have come to expect from Porsche, with the benefit of better traction when required. Porsche customers enjoy their 911s so much, that rain and snow are part of the product lifecycle. For Porsche fans who love the 911's traditional sportscar values, but want to use it in all weather conditions, the Carrera 4 is always best. It drives like a purist 911, but when you encounter road conditions that are wet, snowy, or even have an oil spill, the all-wheel traction is there to help you safely along.
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