Paris Motor Show 2012: Porsche launches Carrera 4 models

Porsche has launched the new Carrera 4 and 4S models at the Paris Motor Show. The all-wheel drive versions of the new 911 will arrive in UK showrooms in December, priced from £77,924 for the Carrera 4 Coupe

Available as both Coupe and Cabriolet models, the 4 versions get wider rear wheel arches which extend out a further 22mm along with rear tyres that are 10mm wider. Like the old model there's a distinctive red light band that stretches between the rear light clusters.

There are additions inside with a new menu in the instrument cluster, which displays how the all-wheel drive system is distributing torque between the front and rear axles. Apart from that the 4 and 4S are identical to the standard rear-wheel drive 911 with the same engine and gearbox combinations.

The Carrera 4 has the 3.4-litre flat-six engine developing 350PS with a 0-62mph time of just 4.5 seconds and a top speed of up to 177mph depending on the specification. There's the new seven-speed manual as standard plus the option of the much improved seven-speed PDK twin-clutch automatic. Official fuel consumption figures with the PDK are 32.8mpg for the Coupe and 32.5mpg for the Cabriolet. CO2 emissions are 203g/km and 205g/km respectively.

The Carrera 4S has a 3.8-litre flat-six engine with 400PS and as a result accelerates from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds and 4.3 seconds for the Cabriolet. The 911's aluminium-steel body construction helps keep weight down so that it's 65kg lighter than the old model, helping both economy and performance.

In addition to the all-wheel drive with Porsche Traction Management, standard equipment on all models includes a full leather interior, a 4.6-inch colour touchscreen Porsche Communication Management with satellite navigation, automatic climate control, xenon headlights plus a universal audio interface offering MP3 connectivity.

Prices start at £77,924 for the Carrera 4 Coupe while the Carrera 4S Coupe is £87,959. The Carrera 4 Cabriolet costs from £86,583 and the Carrera 4S Cabriolet is £96,619.

Meanwhile, a new sliding glass sunroof is now available as an option on all 911 Coupe models. There are also changes to manual models with the optional Sport Chrono pack which now automatically double-declutches during downshifts. Porsche is also introducing the option of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) - which controls the distance to traffic in front - across the 911 model range.