Cheaper Porsche 911 Carrera and Cabriolet confirmed

The eighth-generation (992-series) Porsche 911 arrived Down Under in Carrera S and all-wheel drive 4S coupe forms in March, and since then has continued to reveal its extensive talents in week-long road tests and head-to-head comparisons - despite its $265,000 price tag.

Now Porsche has revealed the less powerful but also less expensive entry-level version, the 911 Carrera, in both coupe and convertible forms ahead of their Australian release in the fourth quarter of this year.

However, like all 992 911s so far, both base 911 models come standard with an automatic transmission; Porsche Cars Australia says manual versions remain about a year away.

Available to order from today, the new Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe is priced at $229,500 plus on-road costs and the new Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet costs $251,000 plus ORCs, making them about $2000 more than the models they replace but $35,500 less than the S versions.

Emerging almost 12 months after the 992-series Carrera S, the base 911 Carrera models come with a detuned version of the S model’s 331kW/530Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat six boxer engine, producing 283kW of power at 6500rpm and 450Nm of torque over 1950-5000rpm.

That makes it 11kW more powerful than before but 48kW less powerful than the S, thanks to smaller-diameter turbines and compressors in the lower-output boxer’s new turbochargers.

Fitted as standard with an eight-speed dual-clutch PDK automatic transmission, the 911 Carrera Coupe boasts 0-100km/h acceleration in 4.2 seconds, or four seconds flat with optional Sport Chrono Package, and a 293km/h top speed.

Porsche claims NEDC fuel consumption of 9.0L/100km for the rear-wheel drive 911 Carrera Coupe, which weighs 1505kg, and 9.2L/100km for the 1575kg Cabriolet. CO2 emissions are stated at 206g/km (coupe) and 210g/km (cabrio).

The 2019 Porsche 911 Carrera shares the same wide-body design as the S so, apart from less power, smaller (but still staggered-size) wheels is the biggest mechanical difference, although there are also “individual tailpipe covers”.

The base 911 Carrera runs 235/40 ZR tyres on 19-inch alloys up front and 20-inch alloys with 295/35 ZR tyres at the rear. Both ends are stopped by 330mm brake discs with black, four-piston monobloc fixed callipers.

For reference, 911 Carrera S models ride on 20/21-inch wheels, are stopped by red brake callipers and large discs, and also come with Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) Plus and round twin-tailpipes left and right.

The similarities continue inside the higher-tech interior, where the new 10.9-inch touch-screen remains -- as do its new connectivity and assistance systems, including the new rain-sensing Porsche Wet Mode.

Additional standard equipment for Australia’s 911 Carrera includes Lane Change Assist, 14-way comfort seats with seat heating, BOSE Surround Sound system, digital radio, comfort access, metallic paint, auto-dimming mirrors and a reversing camera.

Cabriolet versions of the Carrera S and 4S are already available, and all-wheel drive versions of the base Carreras will be the next to arrive in Australia.

In total, more than 20 versions of the new 992-series 911 will become available, including replacements for the 911 GTS, Targa, Turbo, Turbo S, GT3 and GT2, plus eventually the first hybrid 911.

How much does the 2019 Porsche 911 cost?
Carrera Coupe -- $229,500
Carrera Cabriolet -- $251,000
Carrera S Coupe -- $265,000
Carrera 4S Coupe -- $281,100
Carrera S Cabriolet -- $286,500
Carrera 4S Cabriolet -- $302,600
* All prices exclude on-road costs