New Porsche 911 Targa: the missing one

Antonio Roncero @roncero_antonio 18 May 2020 2 min.

Following the Coupé and the Cabrio, the Porsche 911 range now welcomes the 911 Targa body style, which recovers all the charm and essence of the original 1965 911 Targa.

In 1965, Porsche came up with the idea of combining the rigidity and safety advantages of a closed body with the open-air driving experience of a convertible. The result was the Porsche 911 Targa, a formula that has endured over time.

Now, Porsche once again reinterprets the original concept and presents the third body variant of the new Porsche 911, after the Coupé and the Cabrio. And, as with the 1965 911 Targa, its main hallmarks are retained: a large roll bar, with the roof section above the front seats removable, and a wraparound rear window.

One of the main differences between the 4 and 4S versions lies in the wheels and tyres fitted. While the 911 Targa 4 uses 235/40 ZR-19 tyres at the front and 295/35 ZR-20 at the rear, the 4S moves up to 20- and 21-inch wheels respectively, with 245/35 tyres on the front axle and 305/30 on the rear.

Twin-turbo flat engine and all-wheel drive

Beyond the aesthetic differences with the Coupé and Cabrio versions, there are no mechanical novelties when compared with their siblings in the range.

Two versions are offered: the 911 Targa 4 with 385 CV (283 kW) at 6,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 350 Nm from 1,950 to 5,000 rpm; and the 911 Targa 4S, with 450 CV (331 kW) and a maximum torque of 530 Nm, in this case between 2,300 and 5,000 rpm. Here you can read our road test of the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S.

Both versions come as standard with Porsche’s all-wheel drive, as well as the evolved 911 chassis, with the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system and variable damping control, which is standard on the Targa. On the 4S, the electronic rear limited-slip differential Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV Plus) is also standard.

The Porsche Wet mode, which detects water on the road surface and alerts the driver to switch to this programme, is standard on both versions. Optionally, they can be fitted with ceramic brake discs.