2026 Porsche 911 4S Variants Bring AWD Back into the Mix

Car and Driver

11 hours ago

The 2026 Porsche 911 is reviving the all-wheel-drive 4S trim for the Carrera coupe and cabriolet as well as the Targa models.
The new 4S models sport the same 473-hp twin-turbo flat-six as the Carrera S, making them 30 horsepower more powerful than their predecessors.
Preliminary pricing puts the Carrera 4S at around $156K, the Carrera 4S Cabriolet at about $170K, and the Targa 4S at roughly $171K.
Porsche is famous for splitting hairs—and rightly so. It shouldn't be scientifically possible to produce so many variations of the same car that continue to feel distinct, and yet here we are. Starting with the 2026 model year, Porsche is reviving the all-wheel-drive 4S trim for the 911 Carrera coupe, Carrera cabriolet, and Targa models.
The new 4S models house the same 473-hp version of the twin-turbo flat-six found in the rest of the Carrera S lineup. The engine pairs with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (PDK); there's no manual available. When using the Sport Chrono package's launch-control system, Porsche claims the new 4S sprints from zero to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds. We haven't yet had the chance to test the current Carrera S, but considering we managed to get the 388-hp base Carrera to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds in our testing, we expect the 4S will be even quicker.
Porsche
Porsche
As with every other model equipped with Porsche's traction-management (PTM) system, the torque split on the 4S models is rear-biased by default but sends extra power to the front axle if required. As with their predecessors, the front differential on the new 4S models is water-cooled and uses an electromechanically controlled clutch.
Along with the rest of the Carrera S lineup, the new 4S models borrow from the previous GTS generation's parts bin. That includes pilfering that model's upgraded brakes, sport-tuned exhaust, and improved dampers.
Porsche
As could be expected, preliminary pricing slots the 4S models between the Carrera S models and the more expensive GTS models. The Carrera 4S coupe will start at around $156K, the Carrera 4S cabriolet at about $170K, and the Targa 4S should come in at around $171K. Porsche said it hasn't yet confirmed those prices, so they could change before deliveries start later this year.
Jack Fitzgerald
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio