Great grip from new Carrera

By Jan Murcott
THE Porsche 911 997 Carrera 4 and 4S have arrived in Australian showrooms, only days after being launched in Europe and we’ve just had our first test drive in them.
To the non-enthusiast, there is not a lot in the outward appearance of the recently arrived Porsche Carrera 4 all-wheel drive cars to distinguish them from their rear-wheel drive brothers.
For the enthusiast the visual giveaway, aside from the ‘4’ badging, is the extra 22mm flare on each of the rear wheel arches providing cover for the 18-inch wheels on the Carrera 4, and the 19-inch wheels on the even sportier 4S.
Drive both two- and four-wheel-drive versions of the 911 and the superiority of the all-wheel drive, especially in the handling department, is unmistakable, whether you are an enthusiast or not.
The 4s add the grip of all-wheel drive, the increased rear track and the extra technology and sophistication to ensure the four wheels stay planted firmly on the bitumen with the car pointed in the direction you want to go.
The tyre and wheel dimensions at the front remain the same as the two-wheel-drive models but the rear track increases by 14mm to 1548mm on the 4s and by 32mm on the S models.
Most of the time, drive goes to the rear wheels but depending on the circumstances, anything between five and 40 per cent of the drive power can be transferred to the front wheels.
Prices of the Carrera 4 start at $210,200 for the manual Carrera 4 coupe and $229,900 for the cabriolet with both models powered by a 239kW 3.6-litre flat-six engine that develops a significant 370Nm of torque at 4250rpm.
The sportier Carrera 4S Coupe starts at $236,100 and the Cabriolet at $255,800, both with the 261kW 3.8 litre under the bonnet. Torque peaks at 400Nm at 4600rpm.
With the price difference between all models and their two wheel drive counterparts at about $15,000, the 911 4s also pick up driver aids including an improved PSM or Porsche Stability Management.
Another $8000 for the tiptronic six-speed automatic gearbox is a hefty price difference.
In manual mode the tiptronic is fun to use and in auto, the gear changes are precise and seamless, exactly what you would expect from Porsche.
These latest models also get an improved braking system for faster and stronger braking, particularly in an emergency.
If the driver does not apply the brakes hard enough the system takes over and brakes the car to its maximum ability.
Longer wearing and lighter ceramic brakes are available as an option as is a sports suspension that lowers the car by 20mm and has a mechanical transverse lock on the rear axle.
Fitted as standard to the Carrera S models (optional on the Carrera 4s) is PASM or Porsche Active Suspension Management.
This clever technology lowers the car by 10mm and gives a more comfortable damper setting for normal suburban driving but can switch to a firm and taut set-up to give a more dynamic and agile style of driving for those sportier moments.
At the press launch of the Carrera 4 and 4S models in Queensland, Porsche set up a number of handling exercises to demonstrate the cars’ abilities alongside the two-wheel-drive models. The difference between them was obvious.
Drive hard into a simulated icy corner and the all wheel drive models maintained their poise and could be pushed harder before any sign of trouble appeared – even then the car’s driving aids took over with the driver having little indication that the car was working so hard to make up and compensate for their mistake or miscalculation.
Standard features on the four-wheel drive models include an MP3 compatible audio system, electric sunroof, DVD satellite navigation and bi-xenon head lamps.
Options extend to TPC or Tyre Pressure Control which verifies the tyre pressure, thus helping to conserve fuel and tyre wear and a sports chrome package that gives various functions of the car an even more dynamic setting.
Porsche Australia intends the Carrera 4 and 4S models to make up at least 20 percent of Carrera sales.
Based on last year’s numbers that means 110 units out of a pool of about 450 Carreras.