feet between 2000 and 6500 rpm.

All of this mechanical wizardry makes the Carrera 4 feel different from any previous 911. The new suspension and driveline banish the 911’s penchant for tail-out antics during hard cornering. Throw the car into a corner while braking or suddenly lift the throttle at the limit and the Can-era 4 barely rotates; its tail stays solidly planted at all times. And Porsche engineers claim that the Carrera 4’s cornering grip is greater than the current Can-era’s.

The power steering and the new frontsuspension geometry contribute to the Carrera 4’s benign behavior by eliminating kickback over bumpy roads and reducing steering effort during hard cornering. Yet the system communicates road messages well and doesn’t feel the least bit artificial. The new brakes are immensely powerful, and they offer the reassurance of ABS to back you up if conditions turn slippery.

Overall, the Can-era 4 possesses the near-supernatural stability first shown by the 959, allowing you to drive fantastically hard without feeling like you’re flirting with disaster. Both of these cars prove that four-wheel drive can aid dry-road handling.

This benefit is particularly valuable because the Carrera 4 will be the fastest 911 ever sold in America. We measured a top speed of 161 mph on a European version that lacked air conditioning and a sunroof but was otherwise comparable to the cars that will make the trip to America. This car also possessed rocketlike acceleration: it lunged from 0 to 60mph in 4.8 seconds, hit 100 mph in 12.4 seconds, and covered the standing quarter-mile in 13.3 seconds at 104 mph.

A wonderful drivability accompanies this performance. The new engine is quieter and more flexible than any previous Porsche flat six, matching the general refinement of the other changes. There’s even a new automatic climate-control system that extracts consistent heat from the thermally irregular air-cooled engine. The first Carrera 4s are expected to arrive in America by April. They will come with a full complement of standard equipment and a base price of $69,500. Purist 911 fans needn’t worry about the demise of the venerable rear-drive model; the Carrera 4 will be an addition to the current 911 lineup.

The two layouts will coexist because some drivers will always prefer the challenging behavior of the rear-drive 911. But other drivers will want nothing less than the ultimate production Porsche. The 911 Carrera 4 is for them. •