Three new 353kW AWD Porsche 911s 

Porsche is expanding its range of all-wheel drive versions of the 911 in New Zealand with three new models. They are all 911 Carrera 4S variants, one a coupe, one a cabriolet and the other a Targa. That makes a total of six 911 derivatives available here with all-wheel drive. 

These slot in below the more powerful GTS models. An extensively revised powertrain gives the all-wheel drive sports car a significant boost in performance compared with its predecessor models. Additional individualisation options and an expanded list of standard equipment round out the overall package.

See our review of the 2025 Carrera 911 GTS.

About one-half of all S customers opt for all-wheel drive, ensuring added safety in poor weather. 

The 4S variants all feature rear-biased driving dynamics. If needed, the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system provides extra drive torque to the front axle, thereby increasing traction and driving stability. The water-cooled clutch assembly in the front differential is controlled electro-mechanically. Nowadays, the 911 Targa body style is available only with all-wheel drive.

Improved driving performance

The new all-wheel drive variants of the 911 adopt the upgraded powertrain of the Carrera S. Its 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder boxer engine produces 353kW, up 22kW on its predecessor. This increase stems from an updated intercooler system. An eight-speed Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK) transmits power to all four wheels. The 911 Carrera 4S Coupé manages a sprint time of 3.3sec (with Sport Chrono Package) and tops out at just under 310km/h.

Sixty years of the 911 Targa

For 60 years, the 911 Targa has combined a convertible lifestyle with the year-round comfort of a coupé. The design actually stemmed from US safety concerns regarding traditional convertibles. It made its debut in September 1965 known as the ‘safety cabriolet’. The wide roll bar behind the driver is inspired by motorsport. Its name stems from the famous Sicilian endurance race, the Targa Florio.

Since the introduction of the 993-generation 911 Targa in 1993, there was no longer a need to remove the roof manually. And from 2014 onwards, fully automatic roof mechanisms have been used. It takes 19 seconds to morph from a coupé-like sports car to an open-top vehicle. The roof module of the current Targa is available in black, blue, red or brown.

Enhanced equipment

An equipment updates includes 20/21-inch staggered-fitment Carrera S wheels, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) and a sports exhaust system. It also benefits from the braking system fitted to GTS models (408mm discs at the front, 380mm discs at the rear). Targa 4S also comes with rear-wheel steering as standard. Other items include leather-clad seats, matrix LED headlights, and wireless smartphone charging. Numerous colour and material combinations are possible.

Pricing

The new 911 Carrera 4S is now available to order as a Coupé, Cabriolet or Targa. First deliveries are expected early in Q1 of 2026. 

The New Zealand MRP for the Coupe is $345,500, while the Cabriolet is $360,500 and the Targa starts at $364,500.