At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit today (13 January), Porsche is presenting the latest addition to the iconic 911 sports coupé family: the 911 Targa. While enthusiasts will recognise cues from the classic Targa concept, pioneered by Porsche in the late 1960s, this latest model is the first to combine state-of-the-art open roof technology with the distinctive coupé appearance.
Just like the legendary original 911 Targa model, the new model features a characteristic wide bar in place of the B-pillars aft of the doors, a movable roof section above the driver and passenger, and a wrap-around rear window — with no C-pillar. But, unlike the classic models, the roof segment of the new Targa can be opened and closed at the push of a button. When the button is pressed, the fully automatic system stows the roof top behind the rear seats, providing a real spectacle.
The rear-biased Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive fitted as standard is a further typical dynamic Porsche feature, and guarantees that the latest 911 Targa also offers optimum driving dynamics on all road surfaces and in all weather conditions.
With these features, the new 911 Targa presents itself as a high-quality, innovative reinterpretation of the classic first edition from 1965. The model shares a great deal in common with the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet models; up to the window line, the technology and body of the vehicles is virtually identical. The combination of the wide rear body that is typical of all-wheel drive 911 models, the Targa roof bar and the dome-shaped rear window create a low-slung profile that gives the latest 911 an extremely sporting appearance.