2013 Porsche Carrera 4 set for reveal Paris motor show reveal

Porsche has lifted the veil on the fifth-generation 911 Carrera 4 all-wheel-drive sports car ahead of a September premiere at the Paris motor show. It is expected to reach North American showrooms in February as a 2013 model.

The 911 Carrera 4 has a widened body with rear side panels extending 0.9 inches beyond the standard rear-wheel-drive 911, which allows for wider rear wheels and tires. The traditional red reflector panel between the tail lamps returns as a distinguishing feature.

The latest all-wheel-drive 911 has improved performance, with added power and a curb weight that has been reduced by nearly 143 pounds compared with the model it replaces. It runs the 3.4-liter version of Porsche's classic horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine delivering 350 hp. Equipped with an optional seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, it is claimed to hit 62 mph from standstill in 4.5 seconds en route to a 177-mph top speed in coupe guise. The heavier cabriolet requires 4.7 seconds and maxes out at 175 mph.

The Carrera 4S gets a more powerful 3.8-liter engine with 400 hp. It propels the coupe to 62 mph in 4.1 seconds on the way to 186 mph. The cabriolet takes 4.3 seconds and has a top speed 2 mph slower than the fixed-roof model.

Fuel-saving technologies added to the standard 911, including automatic stop/start, help the Carrera 4 deliver average consumption savings of up to 16 percent.

Porsche also announced that all 911 models will now come with radar-controlled adaptive cruise control as an option.

Final U.S. specs were not immediately available. The coupe starts at $91,980, and the cabriolet starts at $103,880, including destination charges.

By Greg Kable