2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Grips the Paris Motor Show

Adding all-wheel drive to the all-new 911, Porsche’s latest sports car aims to be a gripping experience.

Unveiled today at the Paris Motor Show, the new 991 chassis 911 now boasts AWD in the Coupe and Cabriolet versions of the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S models.

When the rear drive versions were first unveiled they came with a significantly wider front track for added grip. Now the rear haunches get accentuated as well, by roughly one inch on each side, while the tires grow in width by 10mm each as well.

Equipped with the latest iteration of Porsche Traction Management (the brand’s fancy term for AWD), the system does have a rear-drive bias to help continue to deliver that fun sports car feel. Lighter than before, the new mechanical bits also help the latest 4 and 4S models weigh 143 lbs less than the model they replace.

Engines are carried over from the two-wheel drive 911s with Carrera 4 models making 350-hp from a 3.4-liter flat-six, while 4S versions get a 400-hp 3.8-liter version. As a result, the former can hit 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds (4.5 second for the Cabriolet), while the latter can do it in an astonishingly quick 3.9 seconds (4.1 seconds Cabriolet).

A major focus on all new 911s has been making them more livable performance machines and to do that gassing up is less of a hassle, because it will happen less often. Porsche claims a 16% improvement in fuel economy with a best of 20/28-mpg in the Carrera 4, while 4S models achieve 19/26-mpg.

Other notable upgrades include an available Adaptive Cruise Control system that (when paired with the 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission) comes with the Porsche Active Safe (PAS) feature that will automatically engage the brakes if a collision is seen as unavoidable.

Those who opt for the 7-speed manual transmission will also gain a Porsche first; with manual models gaining an automatic rev-matching feature, making even a novice driver a heel-toe expert.

Hitting Porsche dealers throughout the US early nest year, the Carrera 4 will retail for $91,030, the Carrera 4 Cabriolet at $102,930, the 4S at $105,630 and the 4S Cabriolet at $117,530.