History & character

Launched in 2004, the 997 reconciled the 911 with its roots: round headlights restored, classic silhouette, cabin quality raised across the range. The Carrera 4S is its most seductive derivative: bodywork widened by 44 mm as inherited from the Turbo, four-wheel drive and a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre flat-six developing 355 bhp. With the PASM adaptive chassis, it offers two personalities in a single car: a comfortable GT on the motorway, a sharp sports car the moment the road tightens.

Twenty years on from its launch, the 997 has established itself as a modern classic: still-compact proportions, hydraulic steering full of feel, and the inimitable note of the naturally aspirated flat-six. Six-speed manual examples, such as this Swiss car fitted with PASM and the Bose system, are the most sought-after on the market. The 4S adds the traction of four-wheel drive, invaluable in our latitudes, making it a 911 that is genuinely usable all year round.