Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Range : FOUR BLIMEY!

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Porsche fans sometimes dismiss the all-wheel-drive 911s as not 911-enough. They should probably reconsider. Steve Walker reports.

The Carrera 4 models might not have the design purity of the rear-wheel-drive 911s but when it comes to real world ability, their all-wheel-drive transmissions give tangible benefits. The classic Porsche 911 shape remains untouched but beneath the surface beats the heart of a hyper-modern performance car.

Porsche enthusiasts look on their marque's illustrious heritage with the kind of reverence the rest of us might reserve for Coronation Street or our failing football teams. The Porsche institution has always maintained its links to the past while pushing relentlessly onward into the future and no car embodies this philosophy like the 911 - the legendary sportscar that can trace its rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive lineage back to the early 60s. It's the 911 models that adhere most stringently to the marque's long held principles that get the most respect from Porsche aficionados and as a result, they can be a little lukewarm in their opinions of the all-wheel-drive 911 Carrera 4 range. Porsche knows enough about its customers not to mess with the 911 but there are times when the march of technology demands more of a jump in the car's smooth evolution. The purists may have baulked at the idea when the first 4x4 911 arrived in 1988 but today, all-wheel-drive models are an integral part of the Porsche range. Whilst it was easy to see the benefits on the more powerful Turbo, many customers didn't feel they had a true Carrera unless it stuck to the classic rear-wheel drive formula. The fact that the super-focused turbocharged GT2 model junked the all-wheel drive layout in favour of the simpler rear-wheel drive set-up only added weight to their argument. What was needed was a more compelling reason to buy a Carrera 4 other than the rather nebulous claims regarding grip and traction that were often lost on hairy-chested Porsche 911 fans in any case. The Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S models have been moved closer in technological terms to the all-conquering 911 Turbo, a move which should boost their profile. Prior to the arrival of the latest 911, the Carrera 4 derivatives featured an all-wheel-drive system that distributed its power via a viscose multi-plate clutch. Today's models get the more advanced PTM Porsche Traction Management system that was developed for and previously only available on the 911 Turbo.

"A technological tour de force that is a match for any rivalâ€¦."

The system, which has been modified for use in the Carrera 4 models, uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch and features a mechanical limited-slip differential on the rear axle. It's designed to feed optimum amounts engine torque to each wheel in any situation enhancing traction and stability in the process. With the Carrera 4 using a 3.6-litre 345bhp flat-six and Carrera 4S powered by a 385bhp version of the same engine, there's plenty of power for the PTM to dole out. The engine still sits way out at the back of the 911 and nowadays it's a DFI unit featuring Porsche's Direct Fuel Injection system. This utilises a sophisticated engine management computer and high pressure injectors to fire a fuel and air mixture directly into the combustion chamber. This mixture is constantly adjusted according to the demands being placed on the engine at the time. The results are said to include a more efficient combustion cycle, superior engine response and more power. The other major technological innovation on the latest 911 is the PDK gearbox. This is a conventional seven-speed manual gearbox automated by a hydraulic control mechanism which is divided into two separate units. There's one clutch looking after the even gears and one taking care of the odd ones. It means that the clutches can work in unison, producing super fast shifting marshalled by buttons mounted on the steering wheel. Each gearchange is around 60 per cent more rapid that that of a conventional automatic transmission. Porsche is rightly proud of the evolutionary styling development of the 911 but the policy doesn't generate the buzz around each model that some more extrovertly-styled rivals enjoy. With Porsche, the focus is on the technology and the driving experience and that's the way the company likes it but it sometimes seems as though our ancestors progressed from hitting woolly mammoths with clubs to inventing the microwave oven quicker than 911s change headlights. The classic lines of the car still hold water today and Porsche leaves it to the hardcore Turbo model to make the visual impact with its scoops and skirts. Inside, the 911 is as classy as its exterior lines would suggest. Expensively slush-moulded fascia materials made a welcome change to the hard plastics seen in the 996 and it's possible to specify leather trim. The front seats are large comfortable items that still sit the driver low to the ground but there's a choice of four different seat options depending on how racy you want to feel. The PCM Porsche Communication Management system dominates the facia with its 6.5" colour screen display. It bundles satellite navigation, together with the various settings menus together with the audio system and even an optional TV tuner. 911 Carrera 4 customers can choose the Coupe or Convertible bodystyles with the drop top typically adding £7,000, roughly the same amount needed to go from a Carrera 4 to a Carrera 4S. The options list is bulging with desirable extras and it's perfectly possible to stoke up the asking price for your car to something way in excess of the list values. The Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system is standard on all 911s. These days it also includes the Brake Assist and Brake Pre-Filling functions that were once offered only on higher spec models. The Porsche Vehicle Tracking System is also standard and approved to Thatcham Category 5. 4x4 vehicles can get something of a raw deal in terms of their public perception on environmental issues but the 911 Carrera 4 is no off-roader. Indeed, Porsche have taken steps to improve fuel economy across the 911 range with the greater efficiency of the latest DFI engines producing significant benefits. In addition, the PDK gearbox has no impact on fuel economy and cars equipped with it share the same figures as the standard manual models. Those figures are 28mpg from the Carrera 4 Coupe with the PDK and 26.4mpg from the Carrera 4S Cabriolet also with the PDK installed. This is very respectable for a car sporting this kind of firepower. Perhaps the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S don't show the Porsche 911 in its purest form but their advanced all-wheel-drive transmissions give real world benefits that many 911 customers will be happy to pay extra for. The 911 is a car built on its heritage but the technology in the latest models clearly demonstrates how it's also teetering on the cutting edge. The PTM 4x4 system, DFI direct injection engine technology and the optional PDK double clutch gearbox make the 911 Carrera 4 and the 4S a technological tour de force that is a match for any rival. Combined with the automotive institution that is the 911 brand, it all makes a compelling argument in favour of 911 ownership.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Porsche 911 Carrera 4 range
PRICES: £67,430-£82,010 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 242-251g/km
PERFORMANCE: [Carrera 4S] 0-60mph 4.7s / Max Speed 183mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [Carrera 4 PDK] (combined) 28mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, ABS, PSM
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4427/1808/1310mm