Unveiling the Powerhouse: 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS - The Ultimate Sports Car Experience!

2024 Porsche 911
Starting at $116.050

Highs Performance benchmark for many reasons, delicious turbo flat-six powertrains, surprisingly easy to live with daily.
Lows Interior storage could be more generous, toggle-shaped automatic shifter isn’t that intuitive, six-figure price tag no matter which one you choose.
Verdict Equal parts sports car and grand tourer, the Porsche 911 comes by its icon status honestly.

Overview

Who would have thought that what started out as a chopped-roof Volkswagen would have the kind of staying power that the Porsche 911 has? The sports car has been a benchmark for performance driving for decades, and it’s not likely to change. That’s because over the years the 911’s formula has evolved slowly, allowing Porsche’s engineers to create something truly timeless. The 2024 Porsche 911 has a turbocharged flat-six engine that hangs off the back, aft of the rear axle, just as it did in the 1964 original. Except now, it can be had with an output as high as 473 horsepower. Want more? Porsche will happily sell you an even more expensive Turbo or GT3 model, but we review those monsters separately. This, the standard 911, is equal parts sports car and grand tourer, with just the right amount of performance and luxury blended to create something that will give you chills on your weekend joy rides but also be pleasant enough so you wouldn’t mind driving it every day. The hardtop coupe has classic styling reminiscent of the vintage cars that came before, while Cabriolet and Targa models serve up some fresh air with their tops retracted. Rivals such as the Aston Martin Vantage and the Maserati MC20 might offer a more exotic flavor, but the 911’s well-rounded nature and precise handling keeps it at the pinnacle of the sports-car class.

What's New for 2024?

Wireless Android Auto finally makes its way to the 911's infotainment system for 2024. For a couple of years now, Apple users have been the only ones able to connect their phones wirelessly to Porsche's system, but now Android folks can officially cut the cord. The only other change this year also involves infotainment, and it's the addition of Spotify as a native app, meaning you won't need to connect your smartphone to stream music.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Carrera: $116,050
Carrera 4: $123,350
Carrera T: $126,550
Carrera S: $132,950
Targa 4: $136,150
Carrera 4S: $140,250
Carrera GTS: $152,550
Targa 4S: $153,050
Carrera 4 GTS: $159,850
Targa GTS: $172,650
Dakar: $223,650

Based on our experience with myriad 911 models, we can confidently recommend the Carrera S coupe. It boasts 64 horses more than the standard Carrera and can be had with your choice of a seven-speed manual or a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. We'd also opt for the Sport Chrono package, which adds features including launch control and additional drive modes. The Sport Seats Plus option provides more supportive front buckets, and the Sport package adds a lowered suspension and a snarltastic exhaust system. Our selection of upgrades would conclude with ventilated front-seat cushions, passive entry, a heated multifunction GT steering wheel, and Porsche's Dynamic Light System Plus, which features automatic high-beams and headlights that swivel in the direction the front tires are pointed. That’s just a sprinkling of the customization options Porsche offers on this car. They add substantially to the price, but be forewarned: they're hard to resist.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Mounted in the rear of the 911 is a twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six-cylinder engine. The base Carrera has 379 horsepower, the S pumps out 443 ponies, and the GTS generates 473 horses. While every model comes standard with a ridiculously quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, a sweet seven-speed manual is offered but you'll have to shell out for an S or GTS to get it. The coupe and cabriolet have standard rear-wheel drive, but they can be fitted with all-wheel drive for four-season, high-performance driving. The Targa is all-wheel drive only. We've tested the base Carrera as well as several variations of the more powerful Carrera S, which proved its prowess at the racetrack and its incredible traction in adverse weather conditions. No matter the application, every 911 has astonishing acceleration, especially when the gleefully good launch control is utilized.