Porsche 911 (Germany, 2011-present)

The Carrera 4 all-wheel drive system sends power to the rear in most situations but can deliver it to the front when necessary. 

Mechanically, the standard Carrera and Carrera 4 are quite similar. Porsche says that most the body design, suspension, engines and transmissions are identical between the two variants. It is still offered with the 3.5-liter and 3.8-liter flat sixes and seven-speed manual and seven-speed PDK. 

The only mechanical change is the all-wheel drive system, and the rear of the car is 22mm wider than the standard car. The rear tires are also 10mm wider than what buyers get on the standard Carrera. Porsche also changed the rear of the car slightly. At the rear there are now a single row of LEDs with the model designation below it. 

Compared to the previous generation Carrera 4, the new generation consumes 16% less fuel and is 65kg lighter. 

The Carrera 4 Coupe produces 350hp and accelerates to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds or 4.7 seconds for the convertible. It has a top speed of 285km/h or 282km/h. Fuel consumption for the coupe is 8.6l/100km and 203g/km of CO2. The convertible uses 8.7l/100km and produces 205g/km of CO2. 

The Carrera 4S Coupe and Convertible produce 400hp. The coupe accelerates to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds and has a 299km/h top speed. It uses 9.1l/100km and emits 215g/km of CO2. The convertible accelerates to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds and has a 296km/h top speed. It uses 9.2l/100km and emits 217g/km of CO2.

Porsche is also rolling out new options of the Carrera 4 that will eventually become available on the standard Carrera as well. The Carrera 4 has an all-wheel drive indicator that shows how much power is going to the front and when. It also gets several options like a glass sunroof, extended Sport Chrono pack, adaptive cruise control, automatic braking for PDK models, and automatic rev matching for manual transmission cars with the Sport Chrono pack. 

The new Carrera 4 will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show on September 27. Porsche says that the Carrera 4 cars made up 34% of Carrera sales in the last generation.

Porsche unveiled the sixth generation of the 911, the brand’s most iconic model, in 2011. The 911 made its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and it is based on an entirely new platform, the third since the original 911 was first launched. After 48 years the model continues to be unmistakably a 911. Its longer wheelbase, further 100mm, and its lower height, the new 911 continues to show its athletic appearance, retaining the typical sports car compact exterior dimensions.

Powered by the new 3.4-litre boxer engine and optional PDK the 911 Carrera is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds, while consumption figures stick at 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres, the equivalent of 194 g/km CO2, becoming the first Porsche below the 200g/km mark.

With a 400hp 3.8 litre boxer engine, the Carrera S with PDK storms to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds while consuming 8.7l/100km and producing CO2 emissions of 205g/km.

One of the highlights of the new 911 generation has to do with fuel consumption. The new Carrera and Carrera S have brought Porsche’s efficiency to a new level with all versions consuming below 10 litres per 100km. Compared with the previous 911, consumption and emissions have gone down by up to 16 per cent. This has been made possible thanks to the use of technologies such as the auto start/stop system, thermal management, electrical system recuperation and the world’s first seven-speed manual transmission.

The new generation was completely redesigned and now features a stretched silhouette, a 100mm longer wheelbase and lower value in height which contributes to its sportier look. The remaining dimensions, however, are still the typical ones seen in Porsche's sports cars. The new 911 body is a new aluminum-steel construction which is the cause of the weight's reduction in 45 kg.

In the interior the centre console now rises to the front and the shift lever or gear selector is located much closer to the steering wheel.