Meet the new generation Porsche 911 Targa!
We’ve seen the Coupe. We’ve seen the Cabriolet. But the Porsche 911 has one more distinct body style that has been missing from the line-up since the 991-gen car was shown the door — the Targa. Finally, we know what it will look like. Porsche has announced the 992-generation 911 Targa 4 and Targa 4S. Based on the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S respectively, the Targa’s drivetrain is identical but that unique, retracting soft-top makes this model rather special.
The Design
The 992 Targa’s styling updates include all the changes you would expect from a 991-gen to 992-gen car. So the front end is revised to fall in line with the current generation car’s look, while the rear end is updated as well. It gets the light bar stretching the width of car, but then again, it did before as well since it was an all-wheel drive model. As for the roof, the 992-generation carries over the Targa roll bar with the big glass bubble behind it and the soft top that retracts that the 991-gen cars had. The retracting soft top takes 19 seconds to fold away.
On the inside, the Targa looks just as you would expect — exactly like the current generation 911. It gets an analogue tachometer and four digital screens on its flanks. The centre console gets the new stubby gear selector that caused plenty of uproar when it was first unveiled, as well as a 10.9-inch infotainment display.
In the Boot
In the tail of the Targa and Targa 4S is a 3-litre flat-six engine with twin-turbochargers from the rest of the 992 Carrera range. The Targa 4 gets a lower power output, on par with the standard Carrera 4 — it makes 385hp and 450Nm. 0-100kmph takes 4.2 seconds (when equipped with the Sports Chrono package, that is) making it 0.2 seconds faster than the 991.2-gen car while top speed is 289kmph. Meanwhile the Targa 4S gets the wick turned up slightly as it makes 450hp and 530NM. Here 0-100 takes 3.6 seconds, making it 0.4 seconds faster than the car it replaces while the top speed breaks in to 300kmph barrier topping out at 304kmph.. Both variants are available with the 8-speed PDK gearbox, but the 4S also comes with the option of a 7-speed manual with the Sport Chrono Package standard. All wheel drive is standard.
Under the skin
The Targa 4 gets equipment levels similar to the standard Carrera including PASM, or Porsche Active Suspension Management with its adjustable dampers and Wet Mode. Meanwhile the 4S additionally gets PTV Plus, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus with an e-diff as standard, while this remains an option on the base Targa. In terms of wheels, the Targa follows the trend of different wheel sizes that began on the 992 generation Carrera S, it gets 19s as standard up front with 20s at the rear. The Targa 4S one ups it and gets 20s up front and 21s in the rear. The 4S gets uprated brakes as well. Additional options that can be specced to make the Targa more dynamic include rear-wheel steering and PDCC, or Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control.
The unveil of the Targa fills up more of the 911s expansive line up of variants. We’re still yet to lay eyes on the GTS, as well as the super-desirable motorsport division models like the GT3 and GT3 RS. But every new launch brings us closer still!
