New Porsche 911 Carrera launched

Porsche has revealed a new entry-level version of the Porsche 911. Available as a coupe or convertible, the new Porsche 911 Carrera starts at £83,793, around £10,000 less than the more powerful Carrera S. Orders can be placed now, with first deliveries expected in the autumn.

The Carrera uses a slightly less powerful version of the same 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine as the Carrera S. Two turbochargers help it to produce 380bhp - 15bhp more than the previous Carrera and 64bhp less than the current S. Its eight-speed automatic gearbox is also shared with the Carrera S, and helps slingshot the car from 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 182mph. An optional Sport Chrono pack drops the 0-62mph time to four seconds flat.

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Carrera drivers will have to visit a petrol station just as often as Carrera S drivers, as the fuel consumption is exactly the same for both models. The coupe is said to return 28.5mpg in mixed driving, and the Cabriolet is slightly less economical at 28mpg.

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While the dual-clutch automatic gearbox is the only option for now, Porsche has confirmed that a six-speed manual gearbox will be available in the near future. The rear-wheel-drive Porsche 911 Carrera will also be joined by an all-wheel-drive version, badged Carrera 4.

On the outside, there’s little to tell the difference between the Carrera and Carrera S - especially if you choose not to have any model badges on the car. Look closely, however, and you’ll notice smaller wheels on the Carrera - 19-inch alloy wheels at the front and 20s at the rear. The Carrera features two rectangular exhaust tips as standard (the model in these pictures has the optional sports exhaust) and has smaller brake discs than the Carrera S.

There are few changes inside, as Porsche says the entry-level model offers the same plush materials and high quality as the more expensive S. A 10.9-inch infotainment touchscreen fits snugly in the dashboard, and there are digital displays either side of a traditional rev counter behind the steering wheel. LED headlights, heated front seats, cruise control, parking sensors at both ends and Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM) system are all included.

You’ll need to pay £83,793 to get behind the wheel of a coupe, or £92,438 for the Cabriolet.

Read our reviews of the Porsche 911 Coupe and 911 Cabriolet, or read our guide to the best sports cars available now.