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2006 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Coupe Preview

Wide-Body AWD 911 Comes in Carrera and Carrera S Models

There are many benefits to driving a car with four powered wheels, with traction in wet or snowy conditions being the most obvious.

Porsche initially offered all-wheel drive on its mid-80s 959 supercar, and then followed up with a four-wheel motivated 964 C4 in 1989. C4 and C4S models were offered in 993 and 996 body styles, plus came standard with the Cayenne SUV, of course, and now that the new 2006 Carrera 4 Coupe is debuting, more than 20 years of all-wheel drive Porsches make quite a legacy.

The new model will deliver a great deal more performance when it becomes available

The new 2006 Carrera 4 Coupe is on its way, marking more than 20 years of all-wheel drive Porsches. (Photo: Porsche Canada)

later this year, from larger, more finely tuned engines, more resistant brakes, and more dynamic handling characteristics, than any previous all-wheel drive Carrera.

Available for the first time with two engines, the standard unit being Porsches recently upgraded 325-horsepower 3.6-liter six-cylinder boxer that powers the regular rear-wheel drive 2005 911 Carrera, zipping

Porsche initially offered all-wheel drive on its mid-80s 959 supercar. (Photo: Porsche Cars North America)

the sprightly coupe to 60 mph in only 5.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 174 mph. Ive driven this car, and the enhanced engine is not just incrimentally quicker, but smoother too. The same goes for the glorious six-speed manual gearbox, a big improvement over the outgoing transmission. Ive also tested it with the Tiptronic transmission, and this side of a sequential manual the five-speed automatic performs among the best in its class.

The second engine will be fitted to Carrera 4S

The all-wheel drive system is more or less carryover from the 996 C4S. (Photo: Porsche Cars North America)

(C4S) models, featuring 355-horsepower via a 3.8-liter flat-six, which is enough to push it to 60 mph in a mere 4.6 seconds and keep the momentum going to a terminal velocity of 179 mph. Again, Ive tested this engine out too, on the race track no less. It displays a stunning improvement over the base engine, feeling more like a Turbo than a naturally aspirated horizontally opposed six. Actually, after a few laps in a rear-wheel drive Carrera S I completely fell head over heals. I think I like it more than the Turbo, but Id have to test one back to back before making such an affirmative declaration. No doubt, the C4S will

The new 911 Carrera 4 Coupe and Carrera 4S Coupe will be available across the United States and Canada this fall. (Photo: Porsche Cars North America)

only add greater traction, albeit with a slight weight penalty.

The most noticeable exterior modifications of both all-wheel drive models are their 44 mm (1 ¾ inch) wider flanks, expanded to accommodate the Carrera 4s larger 295/35ZR 18 tires, and the Carrera 4S 305/30 ZR 19 larger rear tires.

The automaker also included its enhanced Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system, optimized for shorter stopping distances and greater control in slippery conditions. PSM, as fitted to the Carrera 4S, features two additional functions to improve braking performance, the first being preemptive braking design that pre-fills the hydraulic pump in order to reduce the

Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) lets the driver choose between a comfort-oriented ride and a high-performance track-tuned setup. (Photo: Porsche Cars North America)

air gap between the pads and the disk and therefore shorten stopping distances before full braking power is applied. This process is especially effective if "the driver depresses the brake pedal quickly but not forcefully," says Porsche.

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