Porsche 911 Carrera 4 — Four-Season Sports Car

Improved all-wheel-drive tech adjusts even better when things get slick.

The 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 coupe and cabriolet are the latest additions to the range for the new generation of the German brand's most famous product line. As their names imply, this pair adds all-wheel drive to the base model 911.

Like the standard 911 Carrera, the 4 variant uses a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo flat-six engine making 379 horsepower (283 kilowatts) and 331 pound-feet (449 Newton-meters) of torque that routes through an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The Carrera 4 coupe hits 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in 4.0 seconds or 3.8 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package. The all-wheel drive cabriolet hits 60 mph in 4.2 seconds in stock form or 4.0 seconds with the Sport Chrono equipment. For reference, these times are identical to the rear-drive Carrera.

The Carrera 4's all-wheel-drive system consists of a liquid-cooled clutch and differential unit for channeling power to the front axle. Porsche reports the new components improve the tech's adjustment accuracy for routing power where it's most necessary, which is especially useful in slick situations.

These models also get Porsche Active Suspension Management adaptive dampers as standard equipment. The two-mode system has Normal and Sport settings.

Visually, the only thing that differentiates the standard Carrera 4 from the already debuted 4S is at the rear. The lower horsepower version gets two rectangular exhaust outlets, but the more potent variant has oval-shaped pipes. 

The interior is the same as other 992-generation 911s, including the new 10.9-inch infotainment screen.

Folks looking for even more traction can order the Porsche Torque Vectoring limited-slip rear differential as an additional option. There are also available 20- and 21-inch staggered wheels that come straight from the 911 Carrera 4S. Buyers can specify ceramic composite brakes to replace the standard cast iron rotors, too.

The 2020 911 Carrera 4 will go on sale in the United States in early 2020. Prices will start at $106,050 for the coupe (after the $1,350 destination fee) and $118,850 for the Cabriolet.