For 1999, Porsche lovers get a car they can drive all winter long: the new four-wheel drive 911 model, the Carrera 4.

It shares its styling with the new 911 Carrera and is available in coupe and cabriolet models. The new Carrera 4 incorporates permanent four-wheel drive using a viscous clutch and the new Porsche Stability Management system designed to optimize traction, braking and handling. It comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. Porsche's Tiptronic S five-speed automatic transmission is available as an option, giving the driver the choice of automatic or clutchless manual shifting. Like the 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera, the new Carrera 4 is powered by a liquid-cooled, horizontally opposed 3.4-liter six-cylinder boxer engine, which is rated at 296 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It is available early this year.

The redesigned fourth-generation 911 Carrera coupe and cabriolet were introduced early last year as 1999 models. They were developed in conjunction with the Porsche Boxster and share many design, technological and engineering features with it, most notably new liquid-cooled engines.

The 3.4-liter six-cylinder boxer engine is rated at 296 hp at 6800 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque at 4600 rpm, with 220 lb-ft available between 2700 and 7000 rpm. The new Carrera's body is longer, wider and sleeker than before, although it is an evolutionary design. The 911 Carrera comes equipped with a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission.

The Boxster is unchanged for 1999, although an S model is coming for 2000.