Merc1
Premium
In the Metal
The key aspect of interest in the 911 Targa is its large, sliding glass roof. It's not a convertible and it's more than just a sunroof, with a history dating back to when it looked like full drop-tops would be banned by the safety gnomes. Convertibles weren't banned and the Targa has carried on as the quiet man of the 911 range, culminating in this latest mildly facelifted version. There's a pleasing line to the Targa, with its chrome strip running down the edge of the roof line, while the large glass rear window lifts up to ease access to the small amount of storage space underneath it. The glass panel above the front passenger compartment retracts under the rear screen in a nifty seven seconds, opening up the cabin to the sunshine. With the roof drawn back, the Targa's interior has the feel of a convertible, especially with the door windows dropped, so this could well be the 'soft-top' for Britain.
Otherwise, the Targa has the same revisions as the rest of the 911 range, which means mildly tweaked front and rear lights and a lightly updated cabin. There's also a reflective strip running between the rear lights that harks back to the seminal 993 series 911; it adds a certain flair to the Targa in our book.
What you get for your Money
In 4S form, the Targa provides the latest 380bhp version of Porsche's 3.8-litre 'flat' six engine. There's no forced induction for this unit, just a rev-happy nature and that classic 911 engine note, though it seems a mite more muted in this latest iteration of Porsche's upscale coupé than in previous models. For the 4S, the engine is connected to its electronically controlled four-wheel drive system by either a six-speed manual gearbox or the latest seven-speed PDK twin-clutch 'box - the latter a £2,288 option.
Full Story: The Car Enthusiast - | First Drive | Surrey, England | Porsche 911 Targa |
M
