Porsche Brings Turbocharging to the Rest of the 911 Carrera and Targa Range

Seeing the world hasn’t ended with the news of the downsized turbocharged 911 Carrera model range, Porsche has continued its plan to roll out its new turbocharged flat-six engine range over into the 2016 Porsche 911’s all-wheel drive variants, the Carrera 4 and 4S, Carrera 4 Cabriolet and 4S Cabriolet, and the Targa 4 and 4S. 

Like the rear-wheel driven 911 Carrera models, the all-wheel drive models will utilise the same 3-litre bi-turbo flat-six engines, which produces a power output of 370hp and 450Nm of torque for the Carrera 4 and Targa 4. With the addition of modified compressors, a specific exhaust system, and tuned engine management on the Carrera 4S and Targa 4S, that power figure is cranked up to 420hp and 500Nm of torque.

With all-wheel drive traction from an electro-hydraulically controlled system, acceleration is expectantly quicker than its rear-wheel drive variants. Added with the bump in power and 0 to 100km/h times are taking a tumble across the range. The 911 Carrera 4 equipped with the PDK and Sport Chrono package is able to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds, 0.4 seconds faster than its predecessor, whereas the Carrera 4S gets there in 3.8 seconds, 0.3 seconds quicker. Rated fuel consumption figures too are dropped across the board, though by varying degrees.

Following the all-wheel drive 911 format, the facelift retains the iconic light strip between the rear lights, which now incorporates a distinctive appearance, and rear flanks that are expanded by 44mm. Aside from those two distinguishing details, the facelifted all-wheel drive range of the 911 sports the same nip and tuck work, which includes the new four-point daytime running lights, door handles without recess covers, redesigned rear lid with vertical louvres, and new taillights.

Turbocharging technology isn’t the only thing that has filtered down from Porsche’s quicker models. Its electro-hydraulically controlled all-wheel drive system responds with even more speed and sensitivity thanks to technology lifted from the 911 Turbo.

The all-wheel drive system is said to work in harmony with the adaptive PASM chassis (Porsche Active Suspension Management) with its 10mm lower ride height, and retuned shock absorbers which boasts a wider spread of characteristics. Furthermore the Carrera 4S can be specified with an optional rear-axle steering system, the same sort of technology that is now used on the 911 Turbo and 911 GT3.

Technology aside, the 911 now comes with a steering wheel whose design is inspired by the 918 Spyder. Not only that, for models specified with the optional Sport Chrono Package, the steering wheels will come fitted with a switch that consists of a rotary ring similar to that found on the 918’s steering wheel. The rotary ring toggles one of four driving modes, ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’, ‘Sport Plus’, and ‘Individual’. With ‘Individual’, drivers can configure the set-up for the PASM, active engine mounts, the shifting strategy of the PDK, and sports exhaust.

In combination with the PDK gearbox, there is an additional mode switch known as ‘Sport Response Button’. What this does when the button is pressed is that the drivetrain is pre-conditioned to deliver the maximum acceleration for 20 seconds. The system would engage the optimum gear, whereas the engine management is adjusted to deliver an even more spontaneous response for a short time.