2013 Porsche Carrera

 2013 Porsche Carrera 4 And 4S

After testing the all-wheel drive version of the new generation Porsche 911 Carrera for quite some time, Porsche has finally dropped the official details on the new Carrera 4 and 4S models. The new models will make their world debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and will be put on sale at the end of the year. Prices for the German market will start from 97,557 euro ($122,300 at the current rates) for the coupe and 110,290 euro ($138,200 at the current rates) for the convertible model.

The new Carrera 4 is powered by a 3.4-liter flat-six engine that delivers a total of 350 HP, while the 4S version gets a 3.8 liter engine that produces 400 HP. The standard version can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, while the 4S will do the sprint in 4.1 seconds. Top speed for the 4S coupe version goes up to an impressive 185 mph.

Next to being more powerful than the previous generation, the new Carrera 4 and 4S models are about 143 lbs lighter. The two models have also been equipped with the AWD Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system and feature 22mm wider rear wheel arches when compared to the standard Carrera.

UPDATE 09/06/2012: Porsche has unveiled a new series of six videos featuring the latest Carrera 4 and 4S models. Enjoy!

UPDATE 11/06/2012: Porsche has unveiled a promo video for their new Carrera 4 model. The video is called "Two impressive red lines" and it is the first in a series of films introducing the UK launch of the new 911 all-wheel drive Carrera 4 models.

Exterior

In June 2012, we busted the 2013 Porsche Carrera 4 and 4S models whipping around the Nürburgring in an effort to work out the kinks in this upcoming revamp. The Carrera was bearing very little clothing, but still had enough on to leave a little bit to the imagination.

Like a tough game of Where’s Waldo, it takes a keen eye to spot the differences between the front end of the 2013 model and the 2012 model. The first thing we notice is that the nose is ever-so-slightly wedged more so than the 2012 model. Porsche also scrapped the all-too-typical boring Porsche front fascia and installed a new one. This new fascia boasts wider side air inlets and a slightly narrower mouth without the two side bars that we had on the 2012 model. Also changed up are the turn signals, as the 2013 model boast harder-angled, hockey-stick-style turn signals up front.

The mirrors have also moved from being A-pillar mounted to sitting on the top of the door – a trend gaining steam in the auto industry as of late. As you approach the back end of this AWD Porsche, you’re going to find a backside that is slightly more voluptuous than the RWD 911, as there’s an extra 44 mm of cushion to make room for the AWD system and the wider tires.

From the rear, you’re going to find the same illuminated taillight bar that was shown off on the 2013 911. You also get one fewer engine cooling louver, making the count three instead of four. Porsche also scrapped the old and fat looking taillights on the 2012 Carrera and replaced them with more triangular and thinner units.

As you reach the redesigned integrated rear diffuser, you will also find two large oval exhaust exits, as opposed to the four smaller units found in the previous generation.

In all, the redesigned 2013 Carrera 4 and 4S look pretty much as expected, as we have already seen the redesigned 911 and we knew it wouldn’t stray too far from its roots. Still, this is a great job building onto a legend, as opposed to tearing it down and starting over.

Interior

The interior of the 2013 911 Carrera 4 and 4S is not a big shocker, as it is mostly a carryover from last year, sans several mild changes the Porsche notates and that we see. First is an optional glass sunroof – a new addition for 2012. Next you’re going to find a slight modification to the center dashboard vents, as it looks like all Porsche did was flip the 2012 vents upside down. Now the longer section of the vent bezel is on the top, giving it a grin-look instead of the frown look from 2012.

Also swapped up, just by appearance in the press photos, is the center stack. The LCD screen in the stack looks significantly larger than the 2012 model year. The stack also looks much more organized over last year’s model.

The center console on the 2013 Carrera comes off of the center stack at much shallower angle, giving it a smoother appearance. Also, the center console extends further rearward than the 2012 model year and you’ll notice that there is no handbrake – we assume it is an electronic unit. Also gained from the interior images, we see that the armrests look far better engineered, with the window control integrated into the it.

One final addition that we can make out from the press pictures is the addition of a shoulder line and other accents around the cabin. A silver trim piece runs across the top-third of the door panels and across the face of the dashboard, creating the shoulder line. Throughout other parts of the interior are more silver accents, giving the interior a more luxurious look than the Carrera has ever boasted.

There were also some technological changes this year. The biggest addition is a new data screen in the instrument cluster that tells the driver what percentage of the power is going to the front and rear wheels. Optional on this year’s model is adaptive cruise control, which helps speed up and slow down the Carrera while it is in cruise control. When you order the 911 Carrera with Porsche’s famed PDK, you get Porsche Active Safe, which helps you avoid front-end collisions. Porsche hasn’t elaborated on how, as of yet, but it supposedly does help.

We love the new interior, hands down. The previous generation was nice and luxurious, but was a little bit dull. The revisions that Porsche made for this generation add to the existing generation’s strong points and eliminates its low-lights – like the cheap-car-like door panels.

New features for the new generation Carrera 4 and 4S:

• All-wheel drive indicator
• Porsche Active Safe
• Sliding glass sunroof
• Extended Sport Chrono pack
• A new menu in the instrument cluster that informs the driver how the PTM all-wheel drive is currently distributing engine power
• Optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) to the entire model range, which controls distance to traffic ahead and vehicle speed
• New sliding glass sunroof as an optional feature for the 911 Carrera Coupe

Engine

We were already aware of the engine selections in the Carrera 4 and 4S. The Carrera 4 will boast a 350-horsepower 3.4-liter flat-6 and the 4S will boast a 400-horsepower 3.8-liter flat-6. The Carrera 4 will zip to 60 mph in only 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 177 mph in coupe form, and 4.5 seconds in cabriolet form with a top speed of 175 mph. The 4S coupe will hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 185 mph, while the drop-top model will take 4.1 ticks to get to 60 and reaches 183 mph.

The standard gearbox in the Carrera 4 and 4S for 2013 is a 7-speed manual and they, of course, have the optional Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) 7-speed transmission. If you opt for the manual transmission and the Sport Chrono package, you get an extra special Sport Plus mode this year. This mode actually automatically double declutches for you when it’s in this mode. Essentially, it is just a rev-matching system to maximize power, but it is still cool that you can say “my car double clutches for me.”

The gas mileage on the Carrera is actually very decent for the type of car it is. The Carrera 4 gets 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway when equipped with the PDK. The cabriolet Carrera gets 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. The 4S model gets 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway with the PDK.

Prices

The 911 Carrera 4 and 4S will debut at the Paris International Motor Show on September 29th and we’ll see it in showrooms in early-2013.

Model	Base MSRP
Carrera 4 Coupe	$91,030
Carrera 4 Cabriolet	$102,930
Carrera 4S Coupe	$105,630
Carrera 4S Cabriolet	$117,530

Competition

Until the rest of the 2013 supercar world unfolds, we’ll reserve listing any competitors. There are still some unknowns that we need to learn more about, including the Jaguar F-type – the most likely direct competitor with its supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine and 5.0-liter V-8 engine.

Conclusion

Porsche’s kind of have a reputation as being a doctor’s car and not too exciting to look at. The 911 is likely one of the biggest culprits. We’re not saying they are slow or literally boring, just their looks have become dated, predictable and soft. With this revision to the Carrera 4 and 4S we get a more aggressive looking 911 with the same performance that we expect of this famed sports car. Awesome job tuning up the exterior to better suit its performance.

 Nice retouching of the interior
 Great acceleration times
 Awesome fuel economy for its class

 Some changes are too subtle
 Too easy to confuse with a 2012 model year
 Long wait for a 2013 model year car