Porsche 911 Type 991.2 Carrera 4S - 2016

By the time the 991.2-generation Porsche 911 arrived in late 2015 (2016 model year), Zuffenhausen was facing a new reality: emissions targets were tightening and customers wanted more real‑world punch. The answer was as controversial as it was effective—every Carrera went turbocharged. For the Carrera 4S, that meant the new 3.0‑litre twin‑turbo flat‑six (9A2) delivering 420 PS and a thick swell of torque from barely above idle, channelled through Porsche Traction Management to all four wheels. The trademark wide body and full‑width rear light bar announced its all‑weather intent even before you thumbed the starter.

On paper it moved the game on dramatically: with PDK and Sport Chrono, Porsche quoted 0–100 km/h in 3.6 s—quicker than many older Turbos—and real‑world tests frequently dipped to about three seconds 0–60 mph. Yet the 4S never forgot the 911’s dual personality. PASM adaptive dampers became standard (lowered by 10 mm), while options like rear‑axle steering, PDCC, and PTV Plus let owners tailor the car from supple GT to track‑sharp weapon. A new GT‑style steering wheel brought a 918 Spyder‑inspired mode switch and a cheeky Sport Response button that primed the powertrain for a 20‑second burst—perfect for an overtake or one last go at that on‑ramp.

Visually the 991.2 sharpened its features with four‑point LED DRLs, re‑sculpted intakes with active cooling flaps, and that distinctive vertical‑slatted engine grille. Inside, PCM 4.0 finally gave the 911 a modern touchscreen with Apple CarPlay. A period curiosity: Porsche declined Android Auto at launch over data‑privacy concerns—an off‑track controversy almost as hot as the turbo debate.

Against rivals like the AMG GT S, Audi R8, Jaguar F‑Type R AWD and Nissan GT‑R, the 4S’s appeal was its breadth. It would effortlessly conquer a wet B‑road at dawn, cruise all afternoon, then put in tidy laps before dinner. Many critics noted the new engine traded some high‑rpm theatre for mid‑range muscle, but the optional sports exhaust returned a good slice of character. Magazines from Autocar to Car and Driver praised the 991.2’s precision, brake feel and uncanny traction, often calling it the most complete everyday sports car on sale.

As a bridge to the 992, the 991.2 Carrera 4S was hugely influential: its 3.0‑litre twin‑turbo architecture became the template for the next generation, while the electronics suite—rear‑steer, adaptive mounts, driving‑mode integration—set the tone for how modern 911s deliver both involvement and speed. It wasn’t just an update; it was the moment the “everyday 911” learned some very serious new tricks.