Porsche reveals turbocharged 911 Carrera 4 and Targa 4

UPDATED: 9:00am 08/10/2015: Porsche Cars Australia has announced local pricing and availability for the AWD 911s -- see below.
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Porsche has released pictures and full specs of its new 911 Carrera 4, Carrera 4S, Targa 4 and Targa 4S, following on from the recently refreshed  two-wheel drive Carrera 2.

Set to be launched at November’s LA motor show and on sale by early 2016, the new all-wheel drive versions are distinguished by a wider body (+44mm) and broader front and rear track. There’s also the old car’s more striking rear light strip between the rear tail-lights.

Like the recently revealed Carrera 2 and C2S the rest of the enhancements introduced by facelift carry over to the C4 and C4S, with the all-wheel drive Porsche receiving four daytime running lights, a redesigned rear bootlid and a pair of new rear tail-lights.

Under the bonnet there’s now just one engine that replaces both the old 3.4-litre and 3.8-litre flat-six.

The new twin-turbo 3.0-litre flat-six comes in two power outputs, a 272kW/450Nm version for the C4 and a more powerful 309kW/500Nm for C4S -- an increase of around 15kW/33Nm.

The introduction of the torquier and more powerful turbo engines brings a significant boost in performance over the car it replaces. The C4 now hits 100km/h, from rest, in just 4.1 seconds -- 0.4 seconds faster than the old car it replaces. The C4S, meanwhile, takes just 3.8 seconds to reach 100km/h -- three-tenths faster than the normally-aspirated C4S.

Top speed for the C4 is now 287km/h while the C4S is 304km/h.

There’s more gains when it comes to fuel consumption with the new car claimed to be up to 12 per cent more efficient.

With the PDK dual-clutch transmission fitted, this translates to a turbocharged 911 C4 that can average 7.9L/100km. Even the more powerful C4s averages a respectable 8.3L/100km.

Like the facelifted Carrera 2 models, all all-wheel drive 911s now feature Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system as standard that drops ride height by 10mm over the old car.

Both the C4 and C4S also come with the option of Sport Chrono package that can now be operated using the steering wheel. Like before this gives the driver the option of Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and an individual mode that’s can mix all manner of driving modes, like sport steering with comfort dampers.

One interesting new feature of the revised Sport Chrono Pack is (when fitted with the seven-speed PDK ‘box) the new Sport Response mode. Select this feature and it instantly selects the optimum gear to maximum acceleration for up to 20 seconds to ensure safer overtaking.

An active rear steer system, lifted from its big brother the GT3, will also be optional on the facelifted Carrera 4 range. Tick this box and Porsche says agility is increased in and out of town with an decent 0.4 meters slashed off its turning circle.

For those who live in the city there’s also a hydraulic front axle lift system that gives an additional 40mm extra ground clearance to prevent any nasty front splitter/driveway clashes.

Inside, there’s Porsche’s latest 7.0-inch infotainment system that works with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Carrera 4 and Targa 4 deliveries begin in Australia in the second quarter of 2016.

2016 911 Carrera 4, 4S and Targa 4, 4S pricing (plus on-road costs):
911 Carrera 4 Coupe – $233,900
911 Carrera 4S Coupe – $269,000
911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet – $255,400
911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet – $290,500
911 Targa 4 – $255,400
911 Targa 4S – $290,500