We test the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupé: you're going to fall in love… and you know it!

We have driven the new Porsche 911 in its Carrera 4S Coupé version and we tell you five reasons why the German sports car is going to win you over, even if you don’t want it to.

No, now is not the time to talk about the history of the Porsche 911. Although, undoubtedly, the Porsche 911 is a car with a lot of history. The most of any sports car – and not-so-sporty car – currently sold on our market. But it is worth keeping in mind when testing what is already the eighth generation of the Porsche 911. You’ll understand later on.

We have spent several days behind the wheel of the new Porsche 911 in its Carrera 4S Coupé version. And we are going to summarise in five key points why a car like this could win you over for good.

Eight generations outdoing themselves… and what’s still to come

To start with, the most commendable thing about this new model is that Porsche has once again managed to maintain the look and feel of the “nine-eleven”, but with a car that is more efficient than ever in sporty driving, and better than any of its rivals as a car to use every day.

How has it managed to achieve what two generations of the 911 seemed practically impossible to achieve, repeatedly defying the laws of physics, with the engine mounted there at the back? Well, no, it’s not magic. It’s engineering… and electronics.

In addition, the Porsche 911 can now be equipped with the most advanced driver assistance systems, the kind found on any high-end luxury saloon, such as the very Panamera: emergency braking, active cruise control with automatic stop-and-go function, lane-keeping assist, night vision system…

The next step? Well, as part of the electrification that Porsche is undergoing we have already seen camouflaged cars circulating that could be a future hybrid version of the Porsche 911. In fact, in this latest evolution, the engine was repositioned further forward to make room for the additional components the 911 would need to carry the ECO label. Time will tell.

Suitable for everyday use

When it comes to regularly using a car that hardly requires adjusting the tyre pressures to head to the track, sacrifices have to be made. And contrary to what you might think, the Porsche 911 is one of those cars that doesn’t ask you to make many.

Yes, driving the 911 every day, whether in the city or even for a relaxed journey, is perfectly feasible. And it is for many reasons. To start with, getting in and out of the cabin is not as difficult as in other sports cars in this category, even though the seats are positioned very low. The steering wheel and seat adjustments allow you to adopt a comfortable driving position, and there are plenty of practical storage spaces for emptying your pockets; although, however you position yourself, you won’t stop the steering wheel rim from partially obscuring the side ends of the new instrumentation, dominated by an analogue rev counter and flanked by two large digital screens.

Visibility is more than adequate when driving, and the standard parking sensors can be complemented by a magnificent 360-degree camera system for precise manoeuvring, helped by a good turning circle. The two small rear seats can be used to carry luggage that won’t fit in the 130-litre compartment beneath the front bonnet. And the new multimedia system, the same one used by other Porsche models such as the new Cayenne, with an enormous screen reaching nearly 11 inches, is impeccable in terms of definition and ease of use.

Porsche has thought of everything and even offers various mobile device applications, notably a route planner that suggests hotels or restaurants, as well as a personal assistant, which help in day-to-day life and are further proof that the 911 is not just a track car.

Furthermore, to resolve problems that owners of sports cars of this type encounter, such as scraping the front bumper or underbody on speed bumps, dips or ramps, it can be equipped with a special function that raises the front axle using a pneumatic mechanism. That’s a mere €2,800…

First-class performance

The “heart” of the Porsche 911 in its Carrera S and 4S versions is an evolution of the one used in the previous generation. With a boxer layout, the 3-litre six-cylinder with direct injection and twin turbochargers produces 450 CV at 6,500 rpm (it can rev up to a maximum of 7,500 rpm) and a peak torque of 530 Nm, which remains constant between 2,300 and 5,000 rpm.

Among its main changes are larger new turbochargers, with wastegate valves now electronically controlled instead of pneumatically. A petrol particulate filter has also been added, necessary to comply with increasingly strict emissions regulations. To address the potential impact this could have on engine sound (a 911 has to announce itself before you see it arrive), a new exhaust valve actuation system has been developed.

And we can vouch that it works, especially if you equip the optional sport exhaust system like the one fitted to our test car. When stationary, you’ll recognise it by its oval outlets instead of round ones. On the move, I won’t say anything more; you’d have to hear it for yourself…

Power is transmitted, in the case of the Carrera 4S, to all four wheels through a new eight-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox instead of seven. The aim is for less of a jump between gears, with the last two acting as cruising gears for travelling with the engine turning at very low revs. In fact, top speed is still reached in sixth gear.

To give you an idea of the ratios of the new 8-speed PDK gearbox: in top gear, when reaching maximum power revs, the 911 Carrera 4S would be travelling at… more than 450 km/h!

In automatic mode, its predictive management is better than ever, anticipating traffic (it detects whether there are cars ahead), the type of road, the terrain or your driving style. Believe me when I tell you something that will sound like heresy: it works so well that not having paddle shifters for manual operation would be no problem at all.

All-wheel drive has also been improved so that the torque distribution is faster and the multi-plate clutch responsible for it has the cooling needed to guarantee the most demanding driving you can imagine.

In practice, the result of all this theory is a very well-tuned orchestra. An acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h of nearly 3.6 seconds or a top speed of over 300 km/h give an idea of the potential of the 911 Carrera 4S. But beyond the figures, what truly surprises is the immediate response to the accelerator, no matter where the needle on the rev counter that dominates the instrumentation happens to be, and how controllable it is.

Porsche has silenced everyone who, at some point, threw their hands up in despair when the brand said goodbye to the naturally aspirated boxer engine. And it has done so the right way: with an engine that delivers its power in a way that makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to tell that it is turbocharged. Yes, a turbo engine that doesn’t seem like one. An engine that, in any case, wins you over with its performance and sound, and is capable of keeping average consumption to just under 11 l/100 km when driven like a city car, although if you ask it for performance that figure will easily nearly double.

Driving the Porsche 911: the easy sports car

The way the engine and gearbox work has a lot to do with the fact that this 911 is one of the best cars to drive sportily in its power and price bracket.

Being able to go really fast in a 911 without needing very good hands and being prepared to sweat at the wheel is not something that could be said of the first six generations.

That’s not to say that “real” drivers don’t enjoy the 911 when its “war” setting is activated: Sport+ mode. Because that’s another thing this Porsche has: electronics govern everything, and there are notable differences between the various available driving modes. There is even a “Wet mode” for driving on wet tarmac that the driver can activate to ensure the 911 remains easy to control even when grip could pose a problem.

In this way, you can make the 911 go from being an easy car to a demanding sports car in its most sporty setting with stability control switched off. But a demanding sports car with its lessons well learnt, one that obeys if you know how to guide it along the right path. To help with this, it has plenty of resources, such as the traction offered by the 4S system, though always prioritising the rear axle and with an effective electronically controlled limited-slip differential, so as not to lose character. Or the power and feel of the superb, tireless brakes, which make you quickly turn the page of the options catalogue when you reach the ceramic discs.

Two other weapons in the 911’s arsenal of technologies that ensure that driving really fast doesn’t mean having to concentrate as if you were trying to move a container full of rubble with your mind alone, and sweating as if you were in a spinning class, are the PASM electronic adaptive suspension with new dampers whose firmness can be adjusted progressively, the active anti-roll bar system and four-wheel steering.

If you trust the electronics and have opted for these features (all three are optional, but the PASM suspension is highly recommended, as it will spare you from having to decide between the standard chassis setting or the sporty one), then even if you get frustrated with it for whatever reason, the 911 will always be your best friend.

Price: a Porsche is always a good investment

It may seem bold to claim that investing almost €150,000 in a car is a good investment. That’s why this section needs to be qualified carefully. Buying a car is rarely a good investment, especially if we’re talking about an expensive or high-end car, which are the ones that depreciate the most. But the case of Porsche, and specifically the 911, is special.

When I say it is a good investment, I mean precisely that it is a car that isn’t affected by depreciation like the rest. Over time, the 911 holds its value better than any other Porsche (the same cannot be said of the Cayenne, for example). And much of this is down to the aura of myth the “nine-eleven” has achieved. Also, of course, the build quality and reliability of these cars.

It is estimated that nearly 80% of all Porsche cars ever built are still on the road today.

But getting into more objective matters, another aspect that makes the 911 a good buy is the direct comparison with what its rivals cost and what they offer. Porsche has just put on sale the entry-level version of the new 911 range, the Porsche 911 Carrera, with a 385 CV engine and rear-wheel drive. Its price is €120,458. At the other end, the Carrera 4S we tested, with all-wheel drive and 450 CV, costs €147,000 (the listed figure reads 147.00 euros in the original text, which is clearly a typographical error). In between, the Carrera S, which doesn’t have all-wheel drive, is available for around €138,000.

There are cars that clearly outperform the 911 in power and price, such as the Audi R8 with its naturally aspirated V10. There are also more powerful ones that cost less, like the Nissan GT-R, perhaps offering the best ratio of price to sporting performance. If you want top-level thrills without spending €100,000, there is the BMW M4. One of its most direct rivals, the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé, is also more expensive and doesn’t really surpass the 911 in driving thrills, unless you’re a devoted V8 fan.

We could also consider the “elegant” alternatives to the Jaguar F-Type or the Aston Martin Vantage. And there are always “exotic” options out there, such as the BMW i8 or the Lexus LC 500h, which come nowhere near the driving dynamics of a 911, but can be interesting for those looking for a sports car with spectacular lines that prioritises the bragging rights of being eco-friendly (the i8 as a plug-in hybrid) or one that’s better suited to motorway cruising than twisty roads (the Lexus, due to its more comfort-oriented approach).

From a rational standpoint, of all of them, the Porsche 911 in this 4S version we tested seems to me the most balanced sports car. It combines the precision and high performance of an Audi R8 or an Mercedes AMG GT with the efficiency of a GT-R or the fun of an M4 when it comes to track driving. And it offers the versatility and minimum comfort needed for daily use that less radical sports cars, such as the Jaguar F-Type, have.

That’s why the Porsche 911 has now been the mirror in which all its rivals look for eight generations. And what’s still to come.

Image gallery Porsche 911

Technical specifications of this car

CoupePorsche 91119 versions · from 157,835 €