Porsche 911: The Targa Reinvented

Bari, Italy - An introduction of the all-new Porsche 911 Targa would be incomplete without a brief look back at the history of the model.

Looking back into the annals of automotive history, Porsche will always be able to brag about the fact that they built legendary cars—and also the fact that they essentially redefined the word "Targa." Much like the now defunct Austin, the English brand that literally invented the diminutive form of "minimum" with the MINI, Porsche has influenced the word "Targa," which was initially selected to mark the German automaker’s success at the well-known Targa Florio road race in Sicily.

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In the late 1960s, when Porsche chose this name to designate the first 911 to feature a hard top that was fixed to the windshield and the roll bar, the manufacturer inadvertently made the term synonymous with all roofs with removable sections, commonly known as "T-Tops." This model was created in response to a rumour that the American government was planning on banning convertibles because of their poor safety record in rollover accidents. The Targa’s roll bar mitigates this danger while offering drivers the chance to enjoy a ride in the open air.

The Targa was an instant hit, capturing 40% of 911 sales as soon as it was released in 1967. This percentage later fell to about 13%. Personally, I was not charmed by the first Targas because they didn’t keep the coupe’s pure lines and sacrificed some of the body’s legendary rigidity. In 1996, Porsche came up with a solution, the 993, which was both simpler and more esthetically pleasing, but also more apt to generate a concert of unusual noises, ranging from clanking metal to dripping water coming from the not-so-watertight roof. In fact, the vehicle came with a massive retractable roof that slid under the rear window, to the detriment of rear visibility. I know what I’m talking about because I actually bought one of these problematic 911s. According to the Porsche engineers who attended the launch of the most recent model, “It was catastrophic and not exactly one of the German automaker’s success stories.” But let’s return to the present and talk about the newest Targa, which Porsche let us drive in southwestern Italy’s Bari region.

Bold Design

The new Targa is a unique concept designed by Grant Larson, an American who has been working for Porsche for more than 20 years. He has revived some elements from the original models, including the three gills and Targa monogram on the grey aluminum bar. The style is reminiscent of the previous version, but the 2015 Targa really kicks things up a notch with its amplified rear section. The vehicle’s new roof is also easier to use. It is now electronically powered, so you just have to push to a button to tuck away the massive rear window and the roof panel that rests between the windshield and the centre roll bar. The window slides over the rear engine while the roof panel hides behind the rear seats (which make this model a 2+2). All this takes 19 seconds.

Kudos to the engineers who pulled off this feat of engineering. In fact, just one company has been able to produce the tempered-glass rear pane made of two thin partially laminated layers of glass encapsulating very thin defroster and satellite radio wires. During a short rainfall, I noticed that this window even repels water. An outstanding achievement.

One thing everyone wants to know about, is the vehicle’s overall rigidity. Porsche engineers have admitted that the 911 coupe is twice as rigid as the Targa, but the Targa is better than the convertible that it is derived from. The crumbling roads of the Apulia region quickly confirmed it, as no body sounds were noted during our long drive. Porsche claims to have driven the vehicle more than 160,000 kilometers without the body demonstrating the least sign of fatigue. This solidity is partially attributable to the Targa’s suspension, which is slightly more flexible than the coupe’s. This makes it more comfortable, too. The Targa is quieter than real convertibles—even at high speeds. You can converse without having to raise your voice.

Full Sun

The 911 coupe and the Targa are mechanically identical, except that this retractable roof model comes standard with all-wheel drive and two variants of the traditional flat-six engine (350 horsepower in the Targa4 and 400 horsepower for the 4 S). Unlike many manufacturers, Porsche has not done away with manual transmissions. Buyers can choose a seven-speed manual gearbox or a PDK (not to be confused with PKP), a rapid-fire sequential gearbox that works automatically or via wheel-mounted paddles. You might have fun with the manual gearbox (one of the best of its kind) but keep in mind that the PDK reduces shift time significantly which results in better performance and lower 0-100 times.

The Targa’s remarkable roof notwithstanding (it will almost certainly be imitated by the competition), this vehicle offers performance and road handling that are very similar to the 911 coupe. And that’s despite the extra 90 kilograms. It’s just as fun to drive and the vehicle’s sporty aspirations have not been sacrificed. When you scan the interminable list of options (the dark side of all Porsche transactions) you can even get a variable volume exhaust system . This clearly demonstrates that Porsche knows that the Targa will appeal to clients looking for serenity and comfort aboard a versatile vehicle that can stand up to Canadian winters or take full advantage of sunny summer days.