Porsche unveils all-new 911 Targa

PORSCHE has unveiled the newest additions to its 992-series 911 range – the fourth-generation Targa 4 and Targa 4S – which will join the Australian line-up on a permanent basis from September priced at $275,800 and $314,100 (plus on-road costs) respectively.

As with previous generations, the 992 911 Targa convertible sportscar can be distinguished from the coupe and cabriolet by its iconic ‘wide roll hoop’, slightly higher roofline behind the front seats and wraparound rear window, with the roof itself folding away in a claimed 19 seconds.

The design of the roof mechanism has not been drastically changed compared to the previous 991.2 version, but rather tweaked and adjusted to better suit the 992’s new architecture.

Porsche says the Targa roof system typically adds an extra 20kg compared to the regular cabriolet variants and is 70kg heavier than the equivalent coupe. 

As with their Carrera 4 and 4S counterparts, both Targa variants will touch down with a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six cylinder offered in two states of tune: 283kW and 450Nm in the 4 and a more potent 331kW and 530Nm in the 4S.

Both variants are fitted standard with the familiar eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission which feeds power to all four wheels.

In the Targa 4, this translates to a 4.2-second dash from 0-100km/h – 0.1 seconds faster than the outgoing model – while the 4S slashes that time to 3.6 seconds, almost half a second quicker than its predecessor. Both of these times are based on the optional Sport Chrono Pack fitted. 

Top speed for the Targa 4 is pegged at 289km/h while the 4S will push on above 300km/h to a 304km/h v-max.

According to Porsche AG’s global 911 and 718 model lines vice-president Frank-Steffen Walliser, the decision to offer the Targa variants exclusively with all-wheel drive was made after analysing previous Targa sales figures.

“We have seen in our data that four-wheel drive is important for customers and Targa customers care to fully spec their cars, so definitely on the shopping list would be four-wheel drive so we combined them,” Mr Walliser told Australian journalists, including GoAuto, ahead of the Targa’s unveiling.

“They do not really look for the dollars so we see cars with a lot of options and I’d say fully loaded.”

Standard equipment on both versions includes Porsche’s active suspension management (PASM) system, LED headlights with Porsche dynamic light system plus, grey top tinted windscreen, electrically folding exterior mirrors, auto-dimming mirrors, metallic paint, surround view, lane-change assist, comfort access, front seat heating, powered 14-way sports seats with memory function, 10.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, digital radio and a Bose surround sound system.

The 4S adds an electronic rear differential lock with fully variable torque distribution forming part of the standard Porsche torque vectoring plus system – an optional extra for the Targa 4.

Stopping duties front and rear are taken care of by four-piston callipers on the Targa 4 which grip onto a set of 330mm discs in all four corners while the 4S ups the ante with six-pot units up front and bigger 350mm discs all-round.

So far this year ending April, Porsche has recorded 147 911 sales, enough to see it thus far claim top honours as the best-selling $200,000+ sportscar with a dominant 35.2 per cent market share.

This figure, however, is down 36.9 per cent compared to the same period last year where it notched up 233 sales.

According to Porsche Cars Australia head of public relations Chris Jordan, the Targa body style has accounted for about half of all Australian-market all-wheel-drive 911 sales over the past five years, with around 20 per cent of all Carrera sales being AWD variants.

2020 Porsche 911 pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs