Wintertime can be pretty rough on cars. With some models, you could be chastised for even leaving your garage in un-tropical-like conditions. From the puzzled yet admiring look on people's face during my test week with the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, I can tell you that many of them were thinking: "Is he insane?"
Yet, aside from its ultra-low ground clearance (not ideal after heavy snowfalls), the Carrera 4S proved to be a surprisingly pleasant winter partner courtesy of a highly-effective all-wheel drive system and weather-proven driving dynamics, among other things.
Four wheels make it a go
Under the fiery though stylistically slow-evolving 911 (main upgrades this year include new LED lamps and minor revisions), Porsche fitted a quartet of performance winter tires. While they may be more renowned for their exceptional grip in aggressive driving conditions than their sheer competence on snow-covered roads, the rubber on my tester teamed up with the brand's all-wheel drive technology to deliver totally uncompromised handling on any type of surface.
Of course, I wisely avoided portions with several inches of snow on the ground and those that were completely trapped under ice, but I did drive on a mix of snow, sludge and ice. The result was still a safe, predictable behavior.
Said AWD system is tuned for performance rather than extreme conditions. On the track, for instance, it helps maintain control of the trajectory no matter how slippery the tarmac is. On icy roads, its lightning-quick, seamless intervention works pretty much in the same way, but the fact remains that the system is better at managing the subtle demands of sporty driving than dealing with the brute power required by icy conditions where grip is virtually inexistent.
Almighty Porsche
Under the sheet metal is where you'll find the heart and soul of any Porsche. Here, the almighty flat-six engine produces 385 horsepower -- more than enough to launch the 911 Carrera 4S from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5.0 seconds. Regardless of your time, though, what you'll remember is the incredible forward thrust that pins you to your seat as soon as you depress the throttle insistently.
Yet, aside from its ultra-low ground clearance (not ideal after heavy snowfalls), the Carrera 4S proved to be a surprisingly pleasant winter partner courtesy of a highly-effective all-wheel drive system and weather-proven driving dynamics, among other things.
 |
| The Carrera 4S proved to be a pleasant winter partner courtesy of a highly-effective all-wheel drive system. |
Four wheels make it a go
Under the fiery though stylistically slow-evolving 911 (main upgrades this year include new LED lamps and minor revisions), Porsche fitted a quartet of performance winter tires. While they may be more renowned for their exceptional grip in aggressive driving conditions than their sheer competence on snow-covered roads, the rubber on my tester teamed up with the brand's all-wheel drive technology to deliver totally uncompromised handling on any type of surface.
Of course, I wisely avoided portions with several inches of snow on the ground and those that were completely trapped under ice, but I did drive on a mix of snow, sludge and ice. The result was still a safe, predictable behavior.
Said AWD system is tuned for performance rather than extreme conditions. On the track, for instance, it helps maintain control of the trajectory no matter how slippery the tarmac is. On icy roads, its lightning-quick, seamless intervention works pretty much in the same way, but the fact remains that the system is better at managing the subtle demands of sporty driving than dealing with the brute power required by icy conditions where grip is virtually inexistent.
Almighty Porsche
Under the sheet metal is where you'll find the heart and soul of any Porsche. Here, the almighty flat-six engine produces 385 horsepower -- more than enough to launch the 911 Carrera 4S from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5.0 seconds. Regardless of your time, though, what you'll remember is the incredible forward thrust that pins you to your seat as soon as you depress the throttle insistently.
 |
| The 911 Carrera 4S flat-six engine produces 385 horsepower. |