The new Porsche 911 (992) Targa is here to question your priorities

By topgear, 18 May 2020

The soft-top 911 with a retro flavour is back in the type 992 generation. Welcome to the new Porsche 911 Targa 4, and the 911 Targa 4S. Hah, yes, you’re right, they do look like the old ones!

This is a car of few surprises. Because the 992-generation 911 is pretty closely based on the old 991-gen car, the intricate roof mechanism and general look of the glassy, hooped backside hasn’t changed much.

Porsche says the new Targa has ‘more powerful roof actuators’, but the folding origami dance still takes 19secs, and you still can’t do it on the move because the massive rear clamshell hangs over the back of the car in the process.

So much so, the 911’s parking sensors are called into action in case you try to operate it while backed up to a wall, tree, or small child. Safety first.

It looks mighty fine though. 911 Targas have tended not to be the driver’s choice of 911, because they’re around 40kg heavier than even the 911 Cabriolet, but in black, from the rear, this new 992 version does look devilishly good. It’s sort of the anti-GT3. A 911 for admiring, not rinsing.

(Click HERE to read Ruf's version of a 991 Turbo Targa, the Turbo Florio)

That’s not to say it ain’t fast. The standard Targa 4 (yep, they’re all four-wheel drive, rather oddly for a fair-weather machine) has been boosted 15hp to 380bhp. The Targa 4 S has gained 30hp, and is now a 450hp machine. It’s good for 303km/h, while the baby Targa is 15km/h slower. The 4S hits 100km/h in 3.6secs, while the entry-level car takes 4.2secs. Quicker than a 911 Turbo S of not-so-very-long ago, then.

Both will most likely be sold with the 8spd PDK, but you can spec a manual, if you’d like a properly rare groove old-school new 911. A curious mix, but the Targa is an oddball kinda car. It’s the least focused version of the world’s best all-round sports car, which some may scoff at, but just look how good it looks in black…

STORY Ollie Kew

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