NEXT GENERATION PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4 MODELS OFFER NEW ELECTRONICALLY-CONTROLLED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM

Porsche continues the evolutionary change of the 911 model series with the announcement of all-wheel-drive versions of the next generation of its iconic sports car. The new 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S will enter the market in both Coupé and Cabriolet guise, and offer a wide range of innovative engine, transmission and drivetrain technologies providing an even higher standard of driving dynamics combined with much lower fuel consumption.

Porsche Traction Management (PTM)
In the new generation 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S, the all-wheel drive is now provided via electronically-controlled Porsche Traction Management (PTM), which replaces the former all-wheel drive with its viscous multiple-plate clutch. The superior PTM system was first developed for the 911 Turbo and has been modified for the Carrera models. The transmission delivers an even higher level of driving stability, traction and agility, further enhanced by the mechanical limited slip differential now fitted as standard to the rear axle.

PTM feeds exactly the right amount of engine torque in each situation through an electronically-controlled multiple-plate clutch to the front wheels, supplementing the flow of power to the rear wheels. Combined with the highly dynamic PTM control system, this clutch precisely delivers a distribution of power and torque to the front and rear axles as road and driving conditions change. With the previous viscous clutch, up to 40 per cent of torque could be directed to the front axle. The new electronically-controlled PTM system delivers an infinitely variable torque split, and is able to distribute up to 100 per cent of traction to the front or rear wheels.

PTM provides a faster and more precise transmission of power in all driving situations, and this offers not only excellent stability at high speeds, but also increases further the level of responsiveness of the car to the driver.

New engines with Direct Fuel Injection (DFI)
The 911 Carrera 4 models share their all-new flat-six engines with Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) with the two-wheel drive Carrera 2 and Carrera 2S. The features and characteristics of the new engines speak for themselves. Depending on the model, the all-wheel-drive 911 Carrera offers up to 8.5 per cent more power, fuel economy improved by up to 12.9 per cent, and 15.4 per cent lower CO2 emissions than the previous generation. Specifically, output of the 3.6-litre power unit is up by 20bhp to 345 bhp (254 kW). At the same time, a Carrera 4 Coupé with PDK transmission, to take just one example, offers fuel consumption of 28.0mpg (10.1 l/100 km).

The improvements on the 911 Carrera 4S with its 3.8-litre power unit are equally significant, with maximum output up by 30bhp to 385 bhp (283 kW) and overall fuel consumption down in the case of the Carrera 4S Cabriolet with PDK to 26.4mpg (10.7 litres/100 km).

The driver benefits from a further advantage of direct injection every time he touches the throttle pedal: with fuel being injected fractions of a second prior to combustion, the engines respond more directly and spontaneously to even the slightest movement of the driver’s right foot. This is not only the case when accelerating, but also when lifting off the throttle, for engine speed drops more quickly and smoothly since there is no residual fuel left in the intake manifold which might otherwise prolong the combustion process.

Depending on engine load and speed, fuel is injected into the combustion chamber at a pressure of 120 bar. The big advantage is that unlike conventional intake manifold injection, direct fuel injection serves to form the fuel/air mixture directly in the combustion chamber. This better mixes the air and fuel in the cylinder, establishing an important prerequisite for clean and complete combustion. This ensures the ‘homogeneous’ operation of the power unit with a consistent balance of the fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber at all times and under all running conditions. Such smooth operation guarantees optimum combustion and maintains low emissions, across a range of fuel qualities.