2020 Porsche 911 drops its top in Frankfurt

Porsche has expanded the lineup for the new 992-generation 911 with the 911 Carrera and Carrera Cabriolet. The new 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet are powered by the same twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat six-cylinder engine as the base 911s, with 379 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. That’s a slight bump of nine hp over the previous 911 Carrera 4.

With the standard eight-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) dual-clutch transmission, the hardtop Carrera 4 can pull off a 4.0-second run to 60 mph, while the ragtop is just two ticks slower, 4.2 seconds, with both versions 0.1 seconds faster than the previous edition. Ordering the 911 Carrera 4 with Porsche’s optional Sport Chrono Package will shave two-tenths of a second off those times. Top speeds are 180 mph for the Carrera 4 and 179 for the cabriolet.

Porsche says they’ve upgraded the Carrera 4 model’s front axle drive unit with reinforced clutches that have higher actuating torque along with water-cooling, just like on the previously introduced, higher-performance 911 Carrera 4S. The upgraded front axle, in combination with Porsche’s Traction Management system, is said to improve traction in both wet and dry conditions.

The new Carrera 4 models also come equipped standard with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) that specifies adjustable shock absorbers and gives the driver selectable Sport and Normal modes. The electronically-controlled limited-slip differential with torque vectoring from the Carrera S is available as an option.

Wheels are staggered, with 19-inch rims mounted with 235/40 ZR 19 tires up front and 20-inchers with considerably wider 295/35/20s in the back. A larger 20/21 setup, as used on the Carrera S, is optional.

The standard brakes come with drilled and ventilated 13-inch cast-iron rotors and black four-piston calipers at all four corners,while an upgrade to carbon-ceramic brakes is available. As with other 2020 911 models, Wet Mode is a standard feature. It automatically detects water on the road, warns the driver, and makes appropriate adjustments to the stability and anti-lock braking systems.

Aesthetic differences between the Carrera 4 versions and other 992-generation 911s are minimal. The only really noticeable change is that the regular Carrera 4 editions have a single rectangular exhaust tip while the Carrera 4S iterations have dual exhausts. You can order twin tailpipes with the optional sport exhaust system, which has oval-shaped outlets to distinguish them from the round tips that come on the S versions.

Likewise, the 2020 Carrera 4 has the same interior as the standard Carrera and Carrera S models, which means they get Porsche’s latest seat design, a tachometer positioned directly in front of the driver, and the new Porsche Communication Management system with a 10.9-inch touch screen.

Orders are already being accepted, with delivery scheduled to begin early next year. Pricing starts at $106,050 for the 911 Carrera 4 and $118,850 for the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, including destination and handling charges.

The 911 is no doubt still at the top of its game, and being able to better hear that classic flat-six sound is no terrible thing.