Porsche 911 (992) Targa

Just in time for the summer season, Porsche is presenting the third body variant of the current 911 in the 992 series, and fans of the rear-engined sports car should be able to guess that it is the semi-open Targa, whose history now goes back 55 years. In 1965 the 911 Targa showed how a safe convertible was imagined in Zuffenhausen. This was due to various safety discussions on the important US market, from which some manufacturers deduced the fully open convertibles would soon be banned. In the 911 Targa, Porsche therefore installed a wide metal rollbar behind the seats, made the roof section between the windshield and the bar removable and foldable, and in the early model years installed a retractable fabric soft top with a plastic rear window behind the bar. From 1969 on, a panoramic rear glass window was installed instead of this fabric part. Since then the Targa version has been available in all 911 model series, although since the 993 an electric panoramic glass roof has been fitted instead of a removable central roof section. With the 991, Porsche returned to the metal bar behind the doors in 2014, but now the removable roof part automatically disappears behind the seats.

A refined version of this top-lifting system is now also used in the new 992 Targa. Within only 19 seconds more or less fresh air can be directed into the interior. The remaining design of the aluminium body is the same as with the other 992 models. Accordingly, the boot lid with recess can be found at the front, which remembers of the early 911s, and the wide LED light strip at the rear. The Targa offshoots have also adopted the interior from their model siblings. To the right and left of the centrally positioned rev counter behind the steering wheel are two frameless free-form displays and a 10.9-inch touchscreen display in the center of the dashboard. The standard Porsche Communication Management infotainment system (PCM) includes a cloud-data-based online navigation system and Apple CarPlay.

Already since the 997 series, the Targa has been available only with permanent four-wheel drive. This tradition continues with the 992. The Targa 4 has a three-liter six-cylinder boxer engine with 283 kW/385 hp, which is 11 kW/15 hp more than in the predecessor. In addition, there is a maximum torque of 450 newtonmeters, which is available between 1,950 and 5,000 rpm. With this an in combination with the optional Sport Chrono Package, it takes 4.2 seconds to accelerate from a standing start to 62 mph and goes on to a topspeed of 179.6 mph. Above this is the Targa 4S with 331 kW/450 hp (22 kW/30 hp more than before) and 530 newtonmeters, which, with the Sport Chrono Package, reaches 62 mph after just 3.6 seconds and accelerates up to 188.9 mph. Both power stages transmit their power to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. However, the seven-speed manual transmission is also available on customer request. In addition to the standard brake system, the carbon-ceramic brake system (PCCB) is also available as an option.

The PASM system (Porsche Active Suspension Management) with electronically controlled variable dampers including two maps (‘normal’ and ‘sport’) selectable from the cockpit is fitted as standard. The Targa 4S also comes with PTV Plus (Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus) with electronically controlled rear axle transverse lock. Via sensors in the front wheel arches, the 992 detects whether the road surface is very wet at the moment and warns the driver via a lamp in the cockpit if this is the case. The driver can then select the ‘wet’ mode, which ensures the best possible traction. Various driver assistance systems are now also available at extra cost. For the first time in a Targa there is ‘Porsche InnoDrive’ including proximity cruise control. In addition, the Smartlift function has been further developed. It allows to lift the car for kerbs or other obsticles and can now be pre-configured via the on-board computer.

From August, the first examples of the Porsche 911 (992) Targa 4 and Targa 4S will be available from dealers. In Germany the prices start at 128,486 € (Targa 4) and 143,956 € (Targa 4S).

Images: Porsche