In what is probably the most predictable
car unveiling ever, Porsche has pulled the wraps off the new 911 Targa. The 992
version pairs the latest developments of Zuffenhausen’s evergreen sports car
with the power-retractable targa top design that debuted on the outgoing 991.
This means that the large metallic roll
hoop and wraparound rear windscreen – design cues lifted from the original
Targa, introduced in 1965 – remain as they are, and the entire rear section
continues to cantilever to allow the roof to be stowed in as little as 19
seconds.
Otherwise the exterior design is as per
the standard 992, incorporating larger air intakes, a much wider front track,
flush door handles, full-width tail lights, a wider active rear spoiler, the
“pause button” brake light and larger tailpipes integrated within the rear
bumper.
Inside, you still get a fairly handsome
horizontal dashboard with four digital gauges and centre-mounted analogue rev
counter, a tall centre console with a shift-by-wire PDK gearlever and the
latest Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with a 10.9-inch centre
touchscreen, crowdsourced navigation data and Connect Plus with Apple CarPlay
connectivity.
They also launches with the model
year updates for the wider 911 range, including the addition of optional
Porsche InnoDrive with adaptive cruise control, as well as the enhanced
Smartlift feature that remembers where you would activate the front axle lift
on a given route and deploys it automatically.
The Targa is only available in
all-wheel drive Targa 4 and Targa 4S variants, both powered by a 3.0 litre
turbocharged flat-six engine. The base version makes 385 PS and 450 Nm of
torque, while the 4S churns out 450 PS and 530 Nm – increases of 15 PS and 30
PS respectively compared to the 991.
Transmission options include an
eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission and the new seven-speed manual, the
latter only available with the 4S in concert with the Sport Chrono package. The
all-wheel drive system has been further developed with a water-cooled front
axle and a reinforced clutch, while the suspension features standard Porsche
Active Suspension Management (PASM) dampers and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV)
Plus with an electronic locking rear differential.
Also lifted from the standard 992 models
is the Wet mode, which uses sensors in the wheel arches to detect water and
calibrates the traction and stability control to ensure optimum traction in
inclement weather.