Porsche 911 Carrera 4S: New All-Wheel-Drive Thrill
Porsche expands the iconic 911 family with the new Carrera 4S Coupé and Cabriolet, which join the Targa 4S to bolster the more powerful GTS models. Engineers have overhauled the powertrain to heighten emotion and performance, while generous standard equipment and far-reaching personalisation choices sharpen the appeal of this all-wheel-drive sports car.
Roughly half of 911 S buyers favour four-wheel traction, valuing its dynamic prowess and unwavering grip in Britain’s variable weather. Although Porsche Traction Management can feed torque forward when necessary, the chassis maintains a rear-biased character for authentic 911 handling, and the water-cooled front differential clutch now works with a subtly revised gear ratio.
The rear-mounted 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder boxer engine delivers 480 PS, 30 PS more than before, thanks in part to an intercooler design adopted from the 911 Turbo. An eight-speed PDK gearbox propels all four wheels, launching the Carrera 4S Coupé from 0 to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds with the Sport Chrono Package and on to 191 mph, where conditions allow.
For six decades, the 911 Targa has blended convertible freedom with coupé comfort. Porsche introduced the body style in 1965 as the ‘safety cabriolet’ in response to US safety debates. The distinctive wide roof bar, inspired by motorsport, and the wraparound glass rear window still honour that heritage, while today’s fully automatic roof folds away in a 19-second spectacle.
Since 2006, every 911 Targa has featured all-wheel drive, underlining its year-round versatility. Upgraded standard kit now includes staggered 20-/21-inch Carrera S wheels, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, a sports exhaust that underscores the unmistakable 911 soundtrack, and GTS-derived brakes with red callipers gripping 408 mm front and 380 mm rear discs; rear-wheel steering is standard on the Targa 4S.
Porsche upholsters the cabin in leather and equips it with matrix LED headlights, wireless smartphone charging, folding mirrors with puddle lighting, the Light Design Package, auto-dimming mirrors with a rain sensor and lane-departure warning. A vast options list covers colours, materials, assistance technologies, and roof systems. The Coupé arrives as a two-seater but can be equipped with rear seats at no extra cost; the Cabriolet and Targa retain their standard four-seat layout.
UK enthusiasts can order the 911 Carrera 4S now from £127,000, the Carrera 4S Cabriolet from £137,000 and the Targa 4S from £137,600, and Porsche will invite owners to explore the car’s limits on the challenging circuits at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone.
