The great thing about Porsche 911s is that, provided you have about a hundred grand (minimum) to kick around, there’s undoubtedly a model for you. And if there isn’t right now, just wait -- Porsche will probably announce it soon.
So it is with the new (but still instantly recognizable) 992-generation 911; the slow rollout of variants continues with the 2020 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet. In a nutshell, it’s a base-model 911 Carrera with all-wheel drive, or if you want to come at it from the other direction, a 911 Carrera 4S with less power and less standard performance features.
The engine is, as you’d expect, 911 Carrera-spec: A twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six that does 379 hp at 6,500 rpm and 331 lb-ft of torque from 1,950 to 5,000 rpm. For now, the eight-speed PDK transmission is still the only available gearbox.
All told, the Carrera 4 manages 0-60 in 4.0 seconds, and the Carrera 4 Cabriolet does 0-60 in 4.2 seconds. If you opt for the Sport Chrono Package (which gets you launch control functionality, among other add-ons), those times drop to 0.2 seconds, to 3.8 and 4.0 seconds, respectively.
The 911’s all wheel drive system has been revised and upgraded for the 992 generation. “The clutch and differential unit is now water-cooled and has reinforced clutches to increase durability and load capacity,” Porsche says.
Here’s what we thought about system when we sampled a 4S earlier this year:
“How bad do you need the Carrera 4S’s all-wheel-drive? Depends on where you live, and whether it’s worth $7,300 to have all four tires pulling for you. There are so many sophisticated safety nannies on the 2S that if you live in a reasonably temperate climate, you’ll be fine. But in Seattle –- or where it snows often -- should you consider your 911 a daily driver, it’s worth the money. We didn’t get any racetrack time, but on slick concrete surfaces we could feel the front wheels helping keep the 4S in line, where in the 2S there was a little understeer, then a little oversteer, but you need to be cookin’ along before that happens.”
We’d bet the same applies here, more or less, though of course with a few fewer horses backing it all up. In any event, it’s good to have options, and if you’re using your 911 Cabrio as an all-seasons daily drive in the Rockies, this is a solid one. Also, good for you, buddy!
The Carrera 4 coupe starts at $106,050 and the Carrera 4 Cabriolet starts at $118,850 (that’s more than the rear-drive Carrera, naturally, but also substantially less than the Carrera 4S variants -- the 4S Cabrio we drove earlier this year started at $133,400, for example).
Features like Porsche’s active suspension and the new-for-992 “wet mode” are standard on the Carrera 4 variants, but the electronically controlled limited slip rear differential (standard on the 4S), as well as ceramic composite brakes (cast iron rotors are standard), staggered 20/21-inch wheels (19/20 are standard) and sport exhaust are optional.
The cars should start arriving in dealerships in early 2020, but you can order yours right now.
