wheels magazine
Bruce Newton reports from Germany.
Are you starting to lose track of the seemingly never-ending roll-out of new and updated Porsche 911 models?Only a few months after the 997 cycle had been completed with the GT2 the second generation 997 Carrera was revealed to the world.Now just weeks later - rather than the usual 12 to 18 months - the all-wheel drive Carrera 4 versions of the 911 Coupe and Cabrio have also made their global debut.They also get to Australia in pretty short order, on-sale October 25 just a little over a month after the rear-wheel drive coupe and cabrio models. And joining them will be the latest glass-roofed Targa, which continues as an AWD model.The good news is that the Carrera 4 is more than worth the short wait judging by our introductory drive in Germany last week.
Targa 4SWhile the exteriors are little changed from 997 – the 44mm wider rear track continues to be the big giveaway compared to C2 - this is a significant development of its excellent predecessor. The new 4 and 4S share many of the technical updates already rolled out with the Carrera 2, including the all-new direct injection 254kW 3.6 and 283kW 3.8-litre flat six engines and optional seven-speed PDK dual clutch transmissions that replaces the old five-speed Tiptronic.But the 4s add another important weapon to their technical armoury, replacing the old viscous-coupled all-wheel drive system with the electronically-controlled PTM multi-plate clutch that debuted in Cayenne and has more recently been seen in the 911 Turbo. The essential result is that the 4s are lighter, faster, more frugal and greener. And significantly so in some cases.
The all-wheel drive Carreras offer up to 8.5 percent more power, consume 12.9 per cent less fuel and drop CO2 emissions by up to 15.4 per cent. With the ($2200 approx) optional Sports Chrono pack fitted, the 4S PDK gains access to launch control and accelerates from 0-100km/h in a stunning 4.3 secs.But after a day of high performance driving at Gross Drolin, a massive old Russian airforce base 100km from Berlin that has been turned into an advanced driving centre, we learned that – as usual – the 911 is much more than just the sum of even these impressive numbers.Exercises included a launch-controlled flat-out 1700m run to 260km/h followed by a full-bore brake, a wet slalom with and without stability control and sessions on two handling circuits, one low-Mu and the other simply balls-out.Add in over 200km of open road driving and its fair to say we came away impressed. The new engines are familiar but fresher, the all-wheel drive system more responsive and more accurate. It’s the PDK which may well end up being the most important update, offering the best of both auto and manual driving. Quibbles? The change pads on the steering wheel are poorly executed – it’s easy to change up when cornering (Porsche hints that a paddle shift option is on the way) and the ride quality on rougher roads at low speeds is harsh in standard mode and punishing when switched to sport.Through all this the 911 C4 models emerged as an incredibly potent yet easy car to drive, all that performance backed up by a pronounced yet adjustable safety net. For most drivers it is the more appropriate choice than the standard C2.
PDK will be around $7000 and one that Porsche Cars Australia expects around 70 percent of buyers to choose. If you think that’s a fair old hit then prepare yourself for the car itself. Prices are going up, and if the 33 percent Luxury Car Tax goes through then they are going a long way up. The C4 coupe, currently $216,000, could rise into the high $230,000 bracket, the 4S to as much as $260,000.It’s the same story for the cabrios, which will be in the $240,000-$250,000 and $270,000-$280,000 brackets respectively.PCA is promising better spec in the new C4, but in typical Porsche fashion don’t expect it to be loaded down with too much luxury gear.Instead you’ll just have to make do with a car that is right on the cutting edge in its class for performance and dynamics. The pace that Porsche is rolling 911s models out at might be confusing, but the integrity of the cars is as clear and concise as ever.
Bruce Newton reports from Germany.
Are you starting to lose track of the seemingly never-ending roll-out of new and updated Porsche 911 models?Only a few months after the 997 cycle had been completed with the GT2 the second generation 997 Carrera was revealed to the world.Now just weeks later - rather than the usual 12 to 18 months - the all-wheel drive Carrera 4 versions of the 911 Coupe and Cabrio have also made their global debut.They also get to Australia in pretty short order, on-sale October 25 just a little over a month after the rear-wheel drive coupe and cabrio models. And joining them will be the latest glass-roofed Targa, which continues as an AWD model.The good news is that the Carrera 4 is more than worth the short wait judging by our introductory drive in Germany last week.
Targa 4SWhile the exteriors are little changed from 997 – the 44mm wider rear track continues to be the big giveaway compared to C2 - this is a significant development of its excellent predecessor. The new 4 and 4S share many of the technical updates already rolled out with the Carrera 2, including the all-new direct injection 254kW 3.6 and 283kW 3.8-litre flat six engines and optional seven-speed PDK dual clutch transmissions that replaces the old five-speed Tiptronic.But the 4s add another important weapon to their technical armoury, replacing the old viscous-coupled all-wheel drive system with the electronically-controlled PTM multi-plate clutch that debuted in Cayenne and has more recently been seen in the 911 Turbo. The essential result is that the 4s are lighter, faster, more frugal and greener. And significantly so in some cases.
The all-wheel drive Carreras offer up to 8.5 percent more power, consume 12.9 per cent less fuel and drop CO2 emissions by up to 15.4 per cent. With the ($2200 approx) optional Sports Chrono pack fitted, the 4S PDK gains access to launch control and accelerates from 0-100km/h in a stunning 4.3 secs.But after a day of high performance driving at Gross Drolin, a massive old Russian airforce base 100km from Berlin that has been turned into an advanced driving centre, we learned that – as usual – the 911 is much more than just the sum of even these impressive numbers.Exercises included a launch-controlled flat-out 1700m run to 260km/h followed by a full-bore brake, a wet slalom with and without stability control and sessions on two handling circuits, one low-Mu and the other simply balls-out.Add in over 200km of open road driving and its fair to say we came away impressed. The new engines are familiar but fresher, the all-wheel drive system more responsive and more accurate. It’s the PDK which may well end up being the most important update, offering the best of both auto and manual driving. Quibbles? The change pads on the steering wheel are poorly executed – it’s easy to change up when cornering (Porsche hints that a paddle shift option is on the way) and the ride quality on rougher roads at low speeds is harsh in standard mode and punishing when switched to sport.Through all this the 911 C4 models emerged as an incredibly potent yet easy car to drive, all that performance backed up by a pronounced yet adjustable safety net. For most drivers it is the more appropriate choice than the standard C2.
PDK will be around $7000 and one that Porsche Cars Australia expects around 70 percent of buyers to choose. If you think that’s a fair old hit then prepare yourself for the car itself. Prices are going up, and if the 33 percent Luxury Car Tax goes through then they are going a long way up. The C4 coupe, currently $216,000, could rise into the high $230,000 bracket, the 4S to as much as $260,000.It’s the same story for the cabrios, which will be in the $240,000-$250,000 and $270,000-$280,000 brackets respectively.PCA is promising better spec in the new C4, but in typical Porsche fashion don’t expect it to be loaded down with too much luxury gear.Instead you’ll just have to make do with a car that is right on the cutting edge in its class for performance and dynamics. The pace that Porsche is rolling 911s models out at might be confusing, but the integrity of the cars is as clear and concise as ever.
