The latest 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera is backed by a 3.0L Twin-Turbo Flat-Six Engine. While the base model offers 370 hp of power and 331 lb.-ft. of torque, the S trims pack 420 hp and 368 lb.-ft. of power and torque, respectively. Porsche 911 Carrera is one of the most elegant and reliable rides to offer riders the real feel of speed.
2018 Porsche 911 Carrera is available in 4 trim levels: the Carrera, Carrera S, Carrera 4, and Carrera 4S. Each Porsche 911 Carrera trim packs a 3.0L Twin-Turbo Flat-Six Engine. However, the power and torque delivered are of two types.
The engine delivers 370 hp and 331 lb.-ft. torque in models Carrera and Carrera 4. For rest of the trims, the engine delivers 420 hp and 368 lb.-ft. of torque.
|
Trims
|
Carrera
|
Carrera S
|
Carrera 4
|
Carrera 4S
|
|
MSRP
|
$91,100
|
$105,100
|
$98,000
|
$112,000
|
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Features
|
- 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine (370 hp, 331 lb-ft
- A seven-speed manual gearbox is standard
- Cruise Control
- Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
- 4-way power driver seat
- Electric power steering
- Extended cabin heating
- Rear spoiler
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- 3.0-liter flat-six engine with more power (420 hp, 368 lb-ft)
- Larger brakes
- A limited-slip differential
- 20-inch wheels
- Optional features: Sport suspension
- Active stabilizer bars
- Rear-wheel steering system
|
- Features Same as Carrera Plus:
- All-Wheel Drive System
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- Features Same as Carrera S Plus:
- All-Wheel Drive System
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Pricing options for the base model Porsche 911 Carrera starts from $91,100. The most need to be expensed for the Carrera 4S, which starts from $112,00. All-wheel drive and a 7-speed manual gearbox are standard across all Porsche 911 Carrera trims. All S trims have larger brakes, 20-inch wheels and a limited-slip differential. Active stabilizer bars, sports suspension, and rear-wheel steering system are option feats on the S models.
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There are just so many options one can choose for the Porsche 911 Carrera. All the S models have more power and torque along with other feats. Priced at $105,100, Carrera S provides the most value for money.
This is not only because it is cheapest S trim of the Porsche Carrera S, but it allows you to add optional feats like active stabilizer bars and sports suspension. The $14k expense is purely justifiable, mainly because of the 20-inch wheels, better braking, and a limited-slip differential. Plus, there are several packages available like the Sport Exhaust and the Sport Chrono.
“The 2018 Porsche 911 is a superlative sports car that has defied its age. It’s a classic, but performs better than nearly any newcomer to its arena.” – carconnection
Engine and Transmission
2018 Porsche 911 Carrera makes use of a Twin-Turbocharged 3.0L Boxer 6-Cylinder engine. The drivetrain in all Porsche 911 Carrera trims is Rear-Wheel Drive, or better known as RWD. The power and torque delivered by the engine are different for Carrera base trims and Carrera S trims. For the former, the power and torque are 370 hp and 331 lb.-ft. While for the latter, the engine delivers 420 hp and 368 lb.-ft. of torque.
| Models |
Porsche 911 Carrera |
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT |
Nissan GT-R |
Audi R8 |
| MSRP |
$91,100 |
$12,4400 |
$99,990 |
$16,4900 |
| Engine |
Twin-Turbocharged 3.0L Boxer 6-cylinder |
Handcrafted AMG 4.0L V8 bi-turbo |
3.8L twin-turbocharged 24-valve V6 |
5.2L FSI dual-injection V10 |
| Drive Train |
RWD |
RWD |
AWD |
AWD |
| Transmission |
7-Speed Manual |
7-Speed Automatic |
6-Speed Automatic |
7-Speed Automatic |
| Power |
370 hp |
469 hp @ 6000 rpm |
565 hp @ 6,800 rpm |
540 hp @ 78,00 rpm |
| Torque |
331 lb-ft |
465 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm |
467 lb-ft @ 5,800 rpm |
398 lb-ft @ 6,500 rpm |
Acceleration
Having a 4.4 seconds acceleration time for hitting the 60 MPH mark is impressive. However, it is the slowest among the competition, led by Nissan GT-R with 2.9 seconds. The same feat is 3.5 seconds and 3.9 seconds for Audi R8 and Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT, respectively.
| Models |
Porsche 911 Carrera |
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT |
Nissan GT-R |
Audi R8 |
| 0-60 MPH |
4.4 sec |
3.9 sec |
2.9 sec |
3.5 sec |
| Quarter mile |
NA |
11.4 sec |
16.0 sec |
10.9 sec |
| Engine |
3.0L |
4.0L |
3.8L |
5.2L |
| Emission
Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
|
7.7 |
9.8 |
9.8 |
10.4 |
Having a 7.7 CO2 emission rating is a relief and the best one can get in the segment. While the Nissan GT-R and Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT tie at 9.8, Audi R8 has the highest CO2 emission value of 10.4.
Ride and Handling
Riding the Porsche 911 Carrera has always been a joy for the lovers of speed. Officially known as the Porsche Active Suspension Management, driver-adjustable adaptive dampers are available in all 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera trims. It offers two modes - Normal and Sports.
Moreover, Carrera offers brake-based torque vectoring and rear-wheel steering. These are excellent agility-enhancing options without losing control, even to the slightest. The one-of-its-kind power-steering system in 911 Carrera delivers a steady road feel. Also, the driver gets precise info on the situation of the front tires.
Braking
Porsche 911 Carrera features a well-balanced braking system. Both the front and the rear brakes are 13 inches. This is the smallest brake size in the competition. Nissan GT-R has the most brake size, 15.4 inches and 15.0 inches for the front and rear brakes, respectively.
| Model |
Porsche 911 Carrera |
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT |
Nissan GT-R |
Audi R8 |
| Brake Front(in) |
13.0 |
14.2 |
15.4 |
14.4 |
| Brake Rear(in) |
13.0 |
14.2 |
15.0 |
14.0 |
| Curb weight(lbs) |
3153 |
3682 |
3929 |
3737 |
| 60-0 MPH (ft.) |
NA |
96 |
94 |
96 |
Curb weight of Porsche 911 Carrera is one of its best features, a mere total of 3153 lbs. This is 529, 584 and 776 lbs. less than that of AMG-GT, Audi R8, and Nissan GT-R, respectively. Therefore, the lighter build grants better braking capability to the coupe.
Obviously, fuel economy doesn’t factor in purchasing high-performance cars to the likes of Porsche 911 Carrera. Nonetheless, having an above average economy is certainly better. The latest entry into the Porsche 911 Carrera delivers a 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on highways. Together, it delivers an impressive fuel economy of 23 mpg, which is far better than its contemporaries.
| Model |
Porsche 911 Carrera |
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT |
Nissan GT-R |
Audi R8 |
| MPG (city) |
20 |
16 |
16 |
14 |
| MPG (highway) |
29 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
| MPG (combined) |
23 |
18 |
18 |
17 |
While the Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT and Nissan GT-R deliver a combined fuel economy of 18 mpg, Audi R8 max out on 17 mpg.
“Loads of headroom and good forward visibility. Materials quality and driving position are excellent. Though the backseats are small, not many competitors even offer them. Limited rear visibility and a backup camera that isn’t great.”- edmunds
Seating and Comfort
The 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera ties with the Nissan GT-R in terms of passenger capacity, which is 4. Audi R8 and Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT can accommodate only 2 persons. The Porsche 911 Carrera has a well-built and comfortable passenger volume of 70 cu-ft. This is much greater than the 50 cu-ft offered by R8. Nonetheless, Nissan GT-R and Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT offers more passenger volume of 79 and 86 ft. cube, respectively.
| Model |
Porsche 911 Carrera |
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT |
Nissan GT-R |
Audi R8 |
| Passenger capacity |
4 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
| Passenger Volume (cu-ft) |
70.0 |
86 |
79 |
50 |
| Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg)
(In.)
|
N/A |
39.5/55.6/45.2 |
38.1/54.3/44.6 |
38.5/55.1/40.9 |
| Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg)
(In.)
|
N/A |
N/A |
26.4/50.0/26.4 |
N/A |
Infotainment System
The infotainment system integrated into the Porsche 911 Carrera is almost monochromatic and chic. It blends in effortlessly with other controls on the dashboard. While navigating the several available menus are easy, the display performance is somewhat snippy at times. The 2017 iteration of the Carrera introduced simplified on-screen menu and on-screen shortcuts, which are now enhanced.
Interior Features
The interior of the Carrera is specifically designed to allow the passengers to enjoy the coupe’s powerful performance. And with each iteration, it keeps on getting better and better. The inside of the 2018 avatar of the legendary sports car features:
- Several new two-tone seat options, including Black and Chalk with Guards Red stitching
- Greater customization with Porsche’s Exclusive program
- Enhanced interior air filter
- A new page in the instrument digital readout, displaying cabin air circulation
Cargo Capacity
Cargo capacity isn’t much of a concern in sports cars. For Porsche 911 Carrera, it is merely 5.1 cu-ft. This is less than the competition, where Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT has the most of 10.1 cu-ft. Audi R8 and Nissan GT-R offer a cargo volume of 8.0 and 8.8 cu-ft, respectively.
| Model |
Porsche 911 Carrera |
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT |
Nissan GT-R |
Audi R8 |
| Volume (cu-ft) |
5.1 |
10.1 |
8.8 |
8.0 |
“It is a sexy machine with wide hips and a sinister stance, but retains an unmistakable understated elegance lost on the Porsche’s more radically styled competitors. It turns heads, but never draws a sneer. And the valet always keeps it up front.”-Kelley Blue Book
Dimension and Weight
Porsche 911 Carrera flaunts to have the lightest build, with a total curb weight of 3153 lbs. This is over 500 lbs. less than the Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT and even lesser than that of Audi R8 and Nissan GT-R. Dimension-wise, Carrera has 177.1 inches, 71.2 inches and 50.9 inches of length, width and height, respectively. The length and width of Carrera are less than that of AMG-GT and GT-R but greater than that of the sleek Audi R8.
| Model |
Porsche 911 Carrera |
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT |
Nissan GT-R |
Audi R8 |
| curb weight(lbs) |
3153 |
3682 |
3929 |
3737 |
| Length(in) |
177.1 |
179.0 |
185.4 |
174.3 |
| Width(in) |
71.2 |
76.3 |
74.6 |
46.4 |
| Height(in) |
50.9 |
49.6 |
53.9 |
48.8 |
| Ground clearance(in) |
4.3 |
4.9 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
| Wheelbase(in) |
96.5 |
103.5 |
109.4 |
104.3 |
| Track width(in) F/R |
60.7/59.8 |
66.1/65.0 |
62.6/63.3 |
64.5/63.0 |
Exterior Features
The Porsche 911 offers a great amount of variation in Carrera and Carrera S trims, however, the iconic shape remains the same. Enduring an entire half-century is something remarkable that the Carrera body styling has achieved. It is actually a mesh of coupe, convertible and Targa body styles. New to the exterior of the 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera is:
- A unique graphic on the side
- Front lip spoiler and gray exterior mirror caps
- 20-inch wheels option
- A new white hue, dubbed Chalk available for $3150
Safety and reliability are of essence to any sports car, to which the Porsche 911 Carrera is no exception. In addition to having 4-wheel ABS, the 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera comes with 4-wheel disc brakes. Brakes assist and electronic stability control are also available in addition to the DRL (Daytime Running Lights).
Additionally, the racing coupe has auto-leveling headlights, blind spot monitor and lane departure warning system as important safety measures.
Safety Features
- Driver Air Bag
- Passenger Air Bag
- Front Head Air Bag
- Front Side Air Bag
- 4-Wheel ABS
- 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
- Brake Assist
- Electronic Stability Control
- Daytime Running Lights
- Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
- Traction Control
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Auto-Leveling Headlights
- Lane Departure Warning
2018 Porsche 911 Carrera vs 2018 Audi R8
Audi R8 is one of the costlier racing car options, priced at $164,900. However, it is worth that money especially because of its powerful 5.2L FSI engine that delivers 540 hp of power and 398 lb.-ft. of torque. The 0-60 MPH acceleration time is also impressive at 3.5 seconds. Moreover, it makes a quarter-mile distance in just 10.9 seconds, best than any other racing coupe.
The CO2 emission rating of 10.4 is an issue. Additionally, it is one of the heaviest racing cars with a bulky curb weight of 3737 lbs.
2018 Porsche 911 Carrera vs 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT is capable to deliver 469 hp of solid power and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. All thanks to the Handcrafted AMG 4.0L V8 bi-turbo engine. Acceleration time of 3.9 seconds from 0-60 MPH isn’t impressive and a CO2 emission value of 9.8 is not also good. However, it has a great ground clearance of 4.9 inches, about 0.6 inches more than that of the 911 Porsche Carrera.
2018 Porsche 911 Carrera vs 2018 Nissan GT-R
Pricing options for Nissan GT-R start from $99,990. This is about $9k more than that of the Carrera but cheaper than most other racing coupes. With the 3.8L twin-turbocharged 24-valve V6 engine, it is capable of delivering excellent power and torque performance. Moreover, the 0-60 MPH acceleration feat of 2.9 seconds is among the best.
GT-R takes about 16 seconds to cover a quarter-mile distance, which is a shame compared to its lightning-quick acceleration. Moreover, the curb weight of 3929 makes it one of the heavier racing coupes in the market.
The 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera is not only lighter but offers an impressive fuel economy that most Coupe in its league fail to do. The car is a perfect blend of style, performance, and power. However, if it is blazing speeds you’re after then it’s probably to best to let go the 911 Carrera option off your list.
Nonetheless, those aiming for a Coupe that isn’t ace of any but jack of many, then the ride is your call. Moreover, the lower pricing options make Porsche 911 Carrera a great option for lesser and casual racers.
