Porsche 911 Targa

The 911 Targa is the glass roof version of the 911 Carrera. Both the 3.6 and 3.8 liter engines are carried over, therefore, performance is nearly identical. But for those who enjoy the looks of the coupe over the cabriolet, the Targa may be your best bet. Although the roof weighs an additional 130 lbs, leave it to the Porsche engineers to compensate for the extra weight by modifying the suspension.

In addition, when the roof is retracted, a small glass deflector that sits above the windshield is raised to aid in aerodynamic stability. A long-time 911 option, the Targa continues to be a popular choice for those who love the panoramic view of the sun and sky.

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73-Year-Old Shows How Not To Park A Porsche 911 Targa 4S

The Porsche 911 Targa 4S ploughed through a brick wall before landing nose first in a pedestrian overpass.

We’re used to seeing inexperienced drivers wrecking exotic cars, but in this case the accident wasn’t caused by an over confident man or woman in their teens or 20s, but a 73-year old elderly gentleman. The car casualty? A Porsche 911 Targa 4S. No, it’s nowhere near as powerful as, say, a 911 Turbo or GT2 RS, but it still needs to be handled with care. According to the BBC, the driver was trying to park the sports car, when they somehow ploughed through a brick wall.

The car then landed nose first in a pedestrian overpass and was left perched against a wall almost vertically. As you can see from the photos posted by The Sun, it’s probably not the best way to park a Porsche 911. The accident took place in Colchester, UK. Exactly what caused the crash is unknown, but one possible explanation is that the elderly driver may have confused the brake with the accelerator, which isn’t uncommon. Luckily, neither the driver or any pedestrians were injured, but the 73-year old will be offered to take a "fitness to drive" course. The 911 Targa 4S didn’t fare quite as well however, suffering damage to the bodywork and smashed windows.

But considering it smashed into brick wall and crashed down an overpass, the damage could have been a lot worse and the structure appears to have survived the impact remarkably well. Powering the Porsche 911 Targa 4S is a twin-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that produces 420 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque, paired to either a seven-speed manual transmission or an optional seven-speed PDK gearbox. The latter setup allows all-wheel drive model can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 4.0 seconds before hitting a top speed of 187 mph. Prices start at $124,300.

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Porsche Reveals 10-Unit Edition Targa Honoring Legendary Race

And it is going to be nearly impossible to buy one.

Havingalready named one of its most iconic historic models – and its current descendant –after the race that inspired it, Porsche has just released a new limitededition model that goes even further to honor the legendary Sicilian Targa Florio mountainsiderace. The 911 Targa 4S Exclusive Mayfair Edition, which will be limited to just tenunits, features houndstooth pattern seats and fuchs five-spoke alloy wheelswith a special black finish, making it a true collector's item before it even hitsthe road.

With the chances of spotting one in real life so slim, this releasevideo might be your best opportunity to feast your eyes on one. It also offers anintimate glimpse into the DNA of this outstandingly rare car and the specialrace that inspired it:

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Porsche 911 Targa Looks Sublime in Matte Black

Porsche offers the 911 Targa exclusively with all-wheel drive and a choice of 350-hp 3.4-liter and 400-hp 3.8-liter six-cylinder units. The quad exhaust system suggests this particular model is the quicker 4S, meaning it can hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and a 182-mph top speed. Clearly, the car’s dynamic performance is not in doubt, but those wishing to add a bit of sparkle to the 911 Targa should check out Print Tech’s latest creation, which sees the convertible receive a matt black paint job, smoked headlights, clear white taillights and a set of Fuchs alloys.

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2018 Porsche 911 Targa 4 Review

The original Porsche Targa arrived back in 1967 and it may never have seen light of day had it not been for concerns that a pending American legislation was about to ban full convertibles.

Early cars were basically convertibles with a metal rollover hoop, later Targas lost the classic profile and received a large glass roof instead. The latest 911 Targa has been a welcome return to form though with the added bonus of an electrically folding roof section.

What’s it like inside?

The Targa variants retain the interior of their coupe and convertible stablemates, material quality is excellent and while the latest technological innovations are present, there are also subtle historic design cues. The recently updated infotainment system works well although there are still a fair number of buttons and switches along the center console.

Front seats are supportive and even as standard there are a wide range of adjustments to ensure that most shapes and sizes will find it comfortable.

Despite the addition of the folding Targa roof mechanism, the rear seats are still present but they remain useful only for young children or shopping bags.

How does it drive?

The added weight of the folding metal roof and standard all-wheel drive system do make the Targa 4 and 4S the heaviest in the 911 range, although only a back to back comparison would highlight the differences.

While it gives away a little bit of precision and sharpness to the coupe when pushing its still very high limits, in most normal driving conditions the Targa performs well above the norm. There are few rivals out there that can match the Targa’s road manners and it backs its cornering abilities up with seriously effective brakes.

Thanks in part to the wide tires, road noise on certain road surfaces can be a bit intrusive but with the roof up the cabin is well insulated. The ride is firm but comfortable too, impressive considering the massive diameter alloy wheels and low-profile rubber.

What about the performance?

The Porsche 911 Targa 4 is equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-6 engine and produces 370 horsepower along with 331 lb-ft of torque. The Targa 4S ups these numbers to 420 hp and 368 lb-ft. Both are available solely in all-wheel drive form and can be equipped with either a 7-speed manual or 7-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission.

While it is commendable of Porsche to offer a manual transmission, the PDK option provides better fuel economy and quicker acceleration times too, for example the manual Targa 4 completes the 0-60 mph sprint in 4.5-seconds, this drops to 4.1-seconds with the PDK transmission and Sport Chrono launch control.

The 4S PDK with launch control cuts this time down even further to 3.8-seconds. Those are very quick numbers, well up to the best in class and hardly any slower than the lighter coupe models. Concerns about turbo-lag are unfounded and either model will impress with its accelerative abilities.

What are my options?

The Porsche Targa is available in either 4 or 4S trims. The base Targa 4 features a 370hp engine, 19-inch alloy wheels, 4-way power front sport seats, park assist front and rear, touchscreen infotainment system with integrated Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity as well as an 11GB hard drive music storage system.

A selection of Premium Packages are also available and depending on the level chosen include LED headlights, auto-dimming mirrors, front seat heating and ventilation, keyless entry and ambient LED lighting.

The Targa 4S adds the 420 hp engine, 20-inch alloy wheels and also has some unique available options such as a Sport Package which includes rear-axle steering, sport exhaust, sport chrono, GT sport steering wheel and unique exterior mirrors. The Powerkit Package includes all of these items and increases engine power by 30hp. Porsche dynamic chassis control is also reserved for the Targa 4S.

Notable individually options for both models include a front axle lift system, Ceramic composite brakes and a range of interior finishes from leather and Alcantara to carbon fiber and aluminum.

The Verdict

The 2018 Porsche Targa remains a fantastic choice for shoppers looking for performance, technology and daily usability in one package.

The modern take on the Targa theme has definitely breathed some new life into the concept and it now offers a compelling combination of coupe-like solidity combined with open-top excitement. Don’t get too carried away with the options list though as it can soon push prices uncomfortably high.

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911 Targa 4 Also Available

Not wanting to leave any holes in the 911 lineup, Targa buyers have the choice to have the car in all-wheel drive, as opposed to the standard rear-wheel drive. The Targa 4 S is slightly slower than the hard top version due to the heavier roof and all-wheel-drive system which increases weight, thereby slowing the car slightly during acceleration. But what's really cool is that the roof can be opened at any speed. It simply drops down an inch and slides back underneath the hatch at the push of a button.

However, it carries a base price of $92,000 and maxes out at around $103,000. Whoever said that the combination of sun and performance come cheap?

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This Is The Road-Going Porsche 935 Targa Of Our Dreams

Let’s hope someone converts the Porsche 935 for the road in real life, too.

Last month saw the surprise reveal of the Porsche 935 to celebrate the automaker’s 70th anniversary. Based on the GT2 RS, it’s essentially a modern interpretation of the legendary 935/78 Le Mans racer famously nicknamed “Moby Dick.” There are also many references to other Porsche race cars from the past and present, from the LED lights lifted from the 919 Hybrid LMP1, to the side mirrors taken from the 911 RSR and the titanium tailpipes echoing the 1968 Porsche 908.

Add in the GT2 RS’s twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six engine that sends 700 horsepower to the rear wheels, and the 935 is a truly sublime tribute car. There is a catch, however: it isn’t street legal. Leave it to render artists, then, to try and realize our dreams.

Designed by artist Jan Peisert, the render depicts what a road-going 935 Targa would look like. As a video of the design process shows, a lot of work went into the transformation. The roof has been removed and the A and B pillars have been replaced with components from a 911 Targa. The racing decals have also been removed to give the car a production-ready look, but the enormous fixed rear spoiler is still in place.

Unless someone makes a conversion in the same vein as the McLaren P1 GTR road car, this is sadly the closest we’re going to get to a street-legal Porsche 935 for now. As for the real car, only 77 examples are planned for production, each costing a whopping a whopping €701,948 ($816,840) in Europe. US pricing will be announced at a later date.

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2018 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS Review

Porsche’s burgeoning 911 range offers many alternatives to the standard Carrera models, the GTS range sits in the middle of this hierarchy and has some of the finer items on the extensive options list with a few unique features of its own too.

Power and performance levels hit the sweet spot between the base models and the full-fat Turbo cars, and with the Targa 4 GTS you also get a crowd-stopping foldable roof section that in itself offers a middle ground between the coupe and cabriolet models.

What’s it like inside?

The Targa variants are no different inside to their coupe and convertible counterparts, fit and finish is extremely good and the front seats are comfortable and cosseting in true Porsche tradition. The recently revised infotainment system controls most of the major and minor functions although the center console still features a number of buttons for the more commonly accessed features.

The folding metal Targa roof is cleverly packaged but it does take up a fair bit of space and the rear seats are a tight fit for anyone tall enough to get on the rollercoaster at the fairground.

How does it drive?

The clever folding roof does add a fair bit of heft and the Targa 4 GTS is closer in curb weight to the Cabriolet models than the Coupe. The handling is still incisive though and few drivers would notice any difference on the road. The wider track and all-wheel drive system give the Targa 4 GTS serious traction out of corners, the steering is accurate too and the uprated brakes (over the standard Carrera models) are powerful and remain fade free even after repeated heavy use.

Refinement levels are high and the ride remains firm but comfortable even with the large 20-inch standard wheels. The most intrusive noise that permeates the cabin comes from the wide tires that make themselves heard over coarse surfaces.

What about the performance?

The powertrain is shared with the rest of the GTS range and it is the now familiar 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-6 engine which produces 450 horsepower (30 more than in the Targa S) and 405 lb-ft of torque in this application. This model is all-wheel drive and either a 7-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission can be optioned.

The PDK transmission gets the Targa 4 GTS to 60 mph in 3.5-seconds, one tenth of the coupe but identical to the cabriolet. The manual gearbox adds some driver involvement although it takes an extra 0.4-seconds to get to 60 mph.

Fuel consumption figures also favor the PDK equipped cars, as they offer 20 mpg in city driving as opposed to 18 mpg. Both achieve 26 mpg in highway driving. Both acceleration off the line and in-gear pick up is excellent for the class and you will have to look a lot further up the sports car pecking order to improve on these numbers.

What are my options?

The Targa 4 GTS is very similar to the slightly cheaper Targa 4S although with PASM sport suspension, Sport Chrono Pack, sports exhaust, sport design bumper, sport seats and the Carrera S Powerkit. It does however offer GTS specific features too such as center-locking Turbo S style 20-inch alloy wheels, embroidered headrests and slightly less vital GTS decals. Optioning these items individually will also cost more than just choosing the Targa 4 GTS in the first place.

Aside from these differences the rest of the standard features mirror the Targa 4S’ offerings. Notable items include 2-zone climate control, 4-way power front sport seats, park assist front and rear with reversing camera, touchscreen infotainment system with integrated Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity as well as a hard drive music storage system.

Premium Packages add a number of additional luxury items such as LED headlights, auto-dimming mirrors, 1-way power sport seats or 18-way adaptive units, front seat heating and ventilation, keyless entry and ambient LED lighting.

The iconic Targa bar can also be painted in contrasting silver and there is a range of body colors and bespoke customization options too.

Standalone options include a rear wiper (the rear window is glass), ceramic composite brakes a variable steering system and interior trims in Alcantara, leather, carbon fiber and Aluminum finishes.

The Verdict

The eminently capable Porsche 911 may already be more than enough for most but the well-positioned GTS models add another layer to the driving experience that may well be worth the price.

The clever roof on the Targa 4 GTS looks good whether it is up or down and refinement and performance levels are still excellent.

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