For Porsche enthusiasts, navigating the current Porsche 911 lineup can be a bit of a head-scratcher. Below is our breakdown of every new Porsche 911 model. Thereby you can mosey into your local boutique and drive off in. That is as long as you can demonstrate the prerequisite bank balance.

2021 Porsche 911 Carrera

The base-model Porsche 911 Carrera is supposedly where it begins and ends for many customers. The standard 911 is the measure/yardstick by which all the base-level sports cars are judging it. It has been around for 56 years now.

Moreover, today’s 992-series 911 Carrera is indeed the measuring stick. Moreover, even if it is a special one made from honed titanium. All the 911 variants, other than the big-boy Turbo and GT models, do make use of the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six. It is tuned in the Carrera for a robust 379 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque.  Surprisingly, there’s no manual transmission available at this level. There is only the whip-quick eight-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox.

2021 911 Carrera Cabriolet

In fact, here is the first trim modifier you’ll find in today’s 911 lineup. Thus barring special editions like the prior Speedster, there are two kinds of open-air 911s filling dealer lots, and the soft-top Cabriolet is the most common. Since this car is mechanically a base Carrera at its heart, everything does remain unchanged on the powertrain compared to the fixed-roof Carrera.

2021 Porsche 911 Carrera 4

As has been the case for the past 30 or so years, a “4” suffix in the model designation of a 911 does indicate all-wheel drive. The Carrera 4 is nothing more than an all-wheel-drive version of the base Carrera, carrying the same 3.0-liter flat-six making 379 hp.

2021 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet

In fact, now, mash the prior two trims together. The Carrera 4 Cabriolet is the drop-top version of the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4. It is simply an all-wheel-drive twin to the base Porsche 911 Carrera you can, in fact, also buy.

2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4

The 911 Targa is the lineup’s hardtop convertible, featuring a fantastically intricate retractable hard center-roof piece that is strongly theatrical in its operation. But aside from the fancy-schmancy roof, it is business as usual. There is one small variance.

The Modern Targas are exclusively all-wheel drive, so there is, in fact, no plain old “Porsche 911 Targa” designation. Rather, the model starts with the Porsche 911 Targa 4. In fact, the powertrain is still the same one from the base 911 Carrera 4, which means once again you get the 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six with 379 hp.