The 1988 Carrera 4 took its shape from its predecessor, but that was one of the few things that took.
Most of its parts were completely new or improved. Adding an all-wheel-drive system was a plus.

By 1988, Porsche was already known as a daily-driver supercar or, at least, sports-car. But with the winters that were back then, a rear-wheel-drive vehicle was difficult to drive in winter conditions. The rear engine added weight so the car was not so eager to slip. But when it did, it went all the way and it was hard to control it without the aid of an ESP or a traction-control system. This is why Porsche offered the all-wheel-drive 911. A true, all-weather, Carrera.

Its curvy shape, with flat and lower than fenders trunk lid, which was in the front, and a sloped-back in an arch-like greenhouse, were the definition of the 911 shape. The big round headlights and the swept rear-end were specific for the German sports car.

Inside, the owners of the previous generation noticed more similarities with the old generation. The main differences are for the safety systems. The 964 was fitted as standard with dual airbags, for the driver and front passenger. In the back, there were two small (very small) seats. The five dials for the instrument cluster featured a black background.

The magic of the Carrera 4 was in its technological department. A new, 3.6-liter engine with twin-spark plugs, offered 250 hp. The all-wheel-drive system with self-locking differentials allowed the car to start better and to get 5.9 seconds from 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph). The new struts suspension instead of the older torsion bar system helped the car to get higher cornering speeds.