New entry-level Porsche 911 Carrera launched
The new Porsche 911 Carrera boasts 380bhp - 64bhp less than the Carrera S - and will start from just under £84k
The Porsche 911 range has grown, with the arrival of the entry-level Carrera, which is available now in both coupé and Cabriolet form.
Prices for the new base 911 start from £83,793 and £92,438 for the hard and soft-top respectively, which is around £10,000 less than the Carrera S. You can order one now and expect delivery from autumn.
• Best sports cars on sale right now
The 911 Carrera is powered by a detuned version of the Carrera S’s 3.0-litre flat-six engine. It features a pair of smaller turbochargers and develops 380bhp - that’s 64bhp less than the Carrera S, but 15bhp more than the previous 991.2 Carrera.
Like the S model, the Carrera uses an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox and sends power to the rear wheels. As a result, the coupé can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 182mph. Add the optional Sport Chrono package, and a further 0.2 seconds are shaved off that 0-62mph time.
Despite having less power, the Carrera’s fuel economy is the same as the S’s, with the coupé returning a WLTP maximum of 28.5mpg and the Cabriolet 28mpg.
Porsche claims that the newcomer is trimmed and finished to the same standard as the more expensive Carrera S. Inside, a 10.9-inch infotainment system sits in the middle of the dashboard, while the central analogue rev counter is flanked by two seven-inch driver information displays.
Outside, the Carrera’s rear is defined by dual exhaust tips, just like the S and 4S models. Oblong-shaped tips are fitted as standard, but the models pictured have a sports exhaust fitted with oval tips.
The Carrera also features 19-inch alloy wheels up front and 20-inch versions at the rear, although Porsche offers a wide range of options in varying sizes and designs to suit all tastes. While there’s not much difference between the Carrera and Carrera S visually, additional changes are found under the skin. As well as the new turbos, the Carrera also features smaller 330mm-diameter brake discs up front and four-piston calipers on all four corners.
The new model’s standard equipment will be the same as on the Carrera S, including Porsche Active Suspension Management, LED headlights, heated front seats, front and rear park assist and cruise control.
An all-wheel drive Carrera 4 will arrive at a later date to mirror the Carrera 4S. Porsche has also confirmed that a manual-gearbox version of the base 911 will be offered in due course, too.
Click here to see what won when we tested the new Porsche 911 against the Audi R8...
