Doctors, your new 911 is here
Porsche just released today the new pictures and information regarding the new 2009 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S models. A couple of weeks ago they showed us the new 09 Carrera and Carrera S.
Take a quick look at the headlight and taillight design of the new Carrera. You will see more pronounced Xenon headlights that now come standard on the 911 and a much more aggressive front stance that takes designs cues from the Boxster and 997 Turbo models. In the rear area you will see the new LED lights and the resculpted bumper from the non-facelift 997.
For the 2009 911, Porsche offers an all new, Porsche first, Direct Fuel Injection system to increase power and lower emissions while raising gas efficiency. The new DFI lends itself very useful to the standard 3.6L and 3.8L engines.
for 2009 Porsche has upped the ability of its everyday star. The standard Carrera gets 345hp due up at 6,500 RPM and 288 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 RPM, while the Carrera S gets 385hp at 6,500 RPM and 310lb-ft of torque at 4,400 RPM. This is a power increase of 20hp and 15lb-ft of torque for the standard Carrera and 30hp and 15lb-ft of torque for the S variant.
To go along with the added engine power and efficiency, Porsche now offers a true dual-clutch transmission, instead of that Tiptronic S crap that they had for so long. The 7-spd Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, or PDK for short, is 60% faster than the old auto ‘box, according to Porsche.
Weight is held down thanks to Porsche’s ingenuity with light weigh materials. The standard Carrera weighs in at 3120lbs manual and 3185lbs for the 7-spd PDK. The Carrera S is a little heavier, I’m sure due to the larger engine, at 3142lbs in manual form and 3208lbs in the twin clutch form. The Cabriolet models are a different story, though. The weight is a convertible must of 3307/3373lbs for the regular Carrera and 3329/3395lbs for the Carrera S. You can also notice the difference in the wheels that come standard on the regular Carrera and the Carrera S.
Porsche brought back a familiar design cue from the old school 911’s and the 996 911 C4S, the red light bar connecting the taillights together. It is actually just a reflective strip, but no doubt a subtle and distinguishable piece of design.
The all-wheel drive system in the new Carrera 4 and 4S models is a reconfigured electronically controlled AWD system. This ups the weight of the new 911 C4 and C4S to 3241/3307lbs and 3263/3329lbs. Heavy for a Porsche, yes, but the added value of that extra safety works wonders when you are driving at the limit. The Cabriolet weight is 3428/3494lbs for the Carrera and 3450/3516lbs. Looks like someone needs to go on a Carbon Fiber diet.
Now standard for the 2009 911 Carrera is XM radio and XM NavTraffic. This is the first for a 911 model, even though Porsche has offered it on the Cayenne since 2005. Hmm… A three month free subscription comes standard when you buy an XM equipped 911.
Another big thing about the new 911, Porsche took it down to the famous ‘Ring to do some, oh you know, showing off of the numbers. The new PDK transmission equipped Carrera S lapped the famed track in 7:50, the manual transmission 911 S came in at 7:58. Even bigger is that this is 12s and 4s faster than the 08 911 S manual.
Just as a side note, expect every wimp and their mother to be driving the new PDK transmissioned 911 and howl how much faster than a manual transmission it is, when they probably have never even driven a manual. You know the ones. The guys who think that the automatic with paddles that their daddies’ Corvette comes with is the greatest itteration of life since Formula 1 cars have them too… Doctors, your new 911 is here.
Enjoy the picture gallery below. I usually don’t get up this early to do much, but I thought I would treat you guys today. You’re welcome.
-Josh
“Happy Motoring!”
Source: Autoblog C4/C4S, Autoblog MPG/PDK, Autoblog XM, Porsche USA, Autoblog ‘Ring
