Porsche 911 Carrera 4S PDK (2009) CAR review

Following last month's meaner and greener 911 in traditional rear-drive form, Porsche has introduced the four-wheel drive Carrera 4 variant in standard and ‘S’ guises. CAR has just driven a Carrera 4S with Porsche’s new ‘PDK’ twin-clutch gearbox, carbon-backed sports bucket seats and the new PASM sports suspended chassis to see if this is the best 911 Carrera yet.

With typical Porsche predictability, it’s the new technology in a slightly wider body, correct?

Yes. The essential Carrera 4 recipe remains the same. That’s to say, the body from the Turbo version with its 44mm wider hips over the rear axle, now stuffed with the all-new flat six engines: a 3.6-litre for the regular ‘4’ and 3.8 litres for the ‘4S’. These units represent a significant step forward for Porsche, with around 40 percent less moving parts and 6kg trimmed off their bulk. All engines now feature a smaller stroke with a larger bore, direct fuel injection, and higher compression ratios (up to 12.5:1 on the 4S).

A 4S therefore generates an extra 30bhp over the old car (meaning a meaty 380bhp) with an additional 15lb ft of twist (now 310lb ft) but it’s also cleaner and more miserly with the fuel: a combined figure of 26.9mpg and a CO2 output of 247g/km are impressive, considering this is a 180mph car.

What about the other upgrades with the new car – has that been carried over into the ‘4’?

Indeed, there’s revised suspension, with the sports option on our car now using a two-stage electronically controlled PASM system like the much-missed GT3; a new exhaust system, a revised interior with at last an upgrade to the PCM infotainment system, and of course, that new seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox christened ‘PDK’. So it really is like an all-new car, but from the mildly tweaked styling you’d never guess – new rear lights, mirrors, grilles and bumpers are your clues, although if in doubt, tell by the daytime running LEDs.

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