2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
The facelift has given the Porsche 911 a new all-wheel drive. The new system reacts so quickly that even purists sworn to the rear-wheel drive can be enthusiastic, as our test with the Carrera 4S shows.
From Frank Mertens
What? You can't make a good thing much, much better? Especially not if it is an icon of sports car construction? Absolute nonsense! Anyone who says something like this and does not want to be convinced otherwise, is strongly recommended to take a drive in the new Porsche 911 Carrera 4S.
Anyone who gets out of the car afterwards will grin and admit that driving fun and driving dynamics can still be increased. Because the engineers have upgraded the 911 with more powerful and more economical engines, a dual clutch transmission and electronically controlled all-wheel drive.
Sovereign traction
Well, one or the other may object that you don't need all-wheel drive for a 911. After all, a rear-wheel drive car offers advantages on the racetrack in terms of precision during steering maneuvers and driving dynamics. But let's be honest: How often have you been to the racetrack in your Porsche? Rather seldom. For everyone else who drives their 911 in everyday conditions, the advantages are obvious. Especially when the ground is wet or covered with snow: the power of the 3.8 liter engine with 385 hp can be brought to the road better with four than two wheels. The old all-wheel drive did that too, but it didn't do it as confidently as the new one.
Because here the electronically controlled Porsche Traction Management (PTM) replaces the viscous multi-plate clutch. The PTM - which was first used in the Porsche 911 Turbo - ensures noticeably better driving stability and more agile handling paired with brilliant traction. In just 100 milliseconds, the PTM decides where to direct the power depending on the driving situation. This happens so quickly for the driver that he doesn't even notice the force distribution.
What traction means is particularly evident when you fully depress the accelerator pedal while standing: like the spikes of a sprinter on the tartan track, the 19-inch tires of the 911 Carrera 4S Coupe claw into the asphalt and catapult the car into 4 without effort. 5 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h; with the Sport Plus button pressed, it can even reach this speed in 4.3 seconds. The 200 km / h limit is reached after 15.3 seconds. The top speed is reached at 295 km / h.
Good consumption values
These are values that make fans of faster cars go into ecstasy - but Porsche has even more to offer: namely, good consumption values. The output of the 3.6 liter engine was increased by 20 hp to 254 kW / 345 hp (390 Nm) and the 3.8 liter engine by 30 hp to 283 kW / 385 hp (420 Nm), but at the same time consumption fell. If the old 911 Carrera 4 Coupe approved 11.6 liters of SuperPlus, the new one is "only" 10.1 liters. That means a fuel saving of 12.9 percent - compliments!
The Carrera 4s consumes 10.5 liters per 100 km, which is 11.8 percent less than the previous model. This fuel saving has been achieved through modern direct petrol injection and the PDK dual clutch transmission: while the all-wheel-drive Carrera with a manual six-speed gearbox consumes 11 liters, with PDK it is half a liter less. Incidentally, the C02 emissions are 247 grams per kilometer. Of course, this does not make Porsche a climate-friendly car, but for a sports car these are more than impressive consumption figures!
What should one tend to now? To a Carrera 4 or a Carrera 4S? It does not matter. Everyone has to decide for themselves what 40 hp is worth more to them. The basic version of the Coupe is in the price list at 89,577 euros, the 4S starts at 100,525 euros. For the 911 4S convertible, 111,473 euros are due.
There is one thing that shouldn't be discussed: the advantages of all-wheel drive. It simply offers greater safety reserves: Many Porsche drivers should bear this in mind when making a purchase decision. Safety should come before purism here. Even with all-wheel drive, a Porsche remains a Porsche.
