While never one for the purest Porsche fan, the 991 Targa swiftly and stylishly established itself as a worthwhile addition to the old 911 Carrera range. Oh sure, it was the heaviest model there was and four-wheel drive only, but the suave good looks and the fact it drove as well as anyone would realistically need it to meant the Targa found many fans. One or two who might not be willing to admit the fact..
Anyway, Porsche has followed up that 991 with this, the new 992 Targa. Fortunately, Porsche has stuck with the traditional Targa set up that the 991 resurrected, as opposed to the glass sunroof alternative that blighted 993, 996 and 997 derivatives. This time around the roof has been developed further, says Porsche, with the rear window now made from weight optimised glass and a manual wind deflector offered. Anyone attempting to lower the roof (which takes 19 seconds, FYI, and the same back up again) too close to a wall will get a ParkAssist warning.
As a package, Porsche suggests that its "elegant, extravagant, unique" new Targa will bring together the best of both 992 worlds, combining "the advantages of open-top driving in a cabriolet with the comfort and safety of an all-wheel drive coupe."
That all-wheel drive point is important, the 992 aping the 991 gambit with only Targa 4 and Targa 4S models. With the front-axle drive system further enhanced for this generation (including reinforced clutch discs and increased actuating torque), Porsche reckons this Targa has better traction, in all conditions, than ever before.
Challenging that traction will be the familiar 3.0-litre turbo flat-six from the Coupe and Cabrio making 385hp in the Targa 4 and 450hp in the Targa 4S. The eight-speed PDK is standard fit, with the newly announced seven-speed manual available as a no-cost option on the 450hp car. Surprised? Us too. But Porsche's Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, interviewed ahead of the Targa's virtual unveil, said that the manual demand in 911 Carrera S customers remained consistent, across all three bodystyles, for the 991 generation. And a lot of effort was expended on retaining it. So it stayed for this car.
Although mostly well disguised, weight was a bone of contention between enthusiasts around the old 911 Targa; half-way house between coupe and cabrio it may have been, but it weighed more than both. The same is true this time around, with a Targa 4S tipping the scales at 1,675kg; that's 40kg more than a similarly specified Cabriolet, and 110kg more than a C4S Coupe. The roof arrangement may look fancy, but it certainly comes with a penalty.
Will most Targa buyers care? Arguably not, given this is a 911 bought for swagger value above all else. And the 992 is a more luxurious proposition than ever. The fact that Dr Walliser is predicting a greater share of Targas in the 992 sales split versus the 991 would appear to back that up; he spoke of 911 buyers now "looking for something special", and perhaps taking the plunge after a significant achievement. Whether you like them or not, Targas certainly do offer something special, a sense of occasion if you will, perhaps better than any of the regular Carreras.
Those buyers will find a Targa familiar from the rest of the range inside, with the interior carried over and a familiar suite of equipment: standard PASM, Wet Mode, the 10.9-inch PCM display with Porsche Connect and so on. The recently announced '930 leather package', evoking the original 911 Turbo, will also be available, alongside a two-tone interior offered in Graphite Blue/Mojave Beige, Slate Grey/Iceland Green. Black/Slate Grey or Bordeaux Red/Crayon. Plus there will be numerous goodies to pick out from the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur catalogue.
The new 911 Targa 4 and Targa 4S are available to order from today, priced at £98,170 and £109,725 respectively. That makes the Targas the most expensive models of the Carrera range once more; a Carrera 4 is £88,101 as a Coupe, £97,746 as a Cabrio, a Carrera 4S £98,418 as a hardtop or £108,063 with the wind in your hair. But will prospective buyers give a damn about a couple of hundred quid? Most likely not. First cars are expected in the country from August, with the first special edition Targa coming not long after that - more on that next month.
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