When Porsche introduces a new 911 update, you know exactly what that means: derivatives. The Porsche 911 has more derivatives, body-styles and variants than just about any other automobile in production, and after unveiling the latest 911 Carrera and Carrera S, Carerra 4 and Carrera 4S, in both coupe and cabrio formats, the next version due for release is the 911 Targa.
Porsche defined the term Targa when it borrowed the name from the famous Sicilian race, the Targa Florio, and applied it to its lift-roof-section model, bridging the gap between its convertibles and coupes. The outgoing 911 Targa features a sliding panoramic roof section, but we'll have to wait and see what tricks Porsche has up its sleeve for the newest version.
[Source: GermanCarScene]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael @ Jun 29th 2008 11:08AM
I've always liked the current 911 Targas. Hey... you know what would be awesome? A Targa Cayman/Boxster.
styleguy @ Jun 29th 2008 1:33PM
Though, it'd only be a Cayman. The Boxster is roadster only. But I would love to see new iterations of the Cayman and Boxster!
matt @ Jun 29th 2008 11:33AM
I doubt it'll be much different. Just the engine bump and the PDK, I bet.
Dausman @ Jun 29th 2008 12:15PM
Porsche is one car maker that has utilized a continual evolution process while always in the pursuit of perfection.
Many nip at their heels but has any other truely equaled or surpassed Porsche as the gold standard of this class of "mass" produced cars?
Zane @ Jun 29th 2008 12:08PM
I wish the Turbo were available in Targa. If Porsche can have the 'vert and hatch variant of the turbo, why not a targa?
Mobius_1 @ Jun 29th 2008 12:42PM
I think the Targa is the most stylish of 911s, as the Cabrio is too poseur and the Coupe is not really about style. My friend's dad's got an old one and it looks quite cool, after all, coupe's performance edge is less of a factor when the generation-in-question becomes history
The Weakonomist @ Jun 29th 2008 1:13PM
how about a version without 4wd? Given the funds, a Targa S would be divine. I second a targa cayman, but removable instead of sliding glass.
Michael @ Jun 29th 2008 5:37PM
Yeah, cf. Lotus Elise and Acura NSX. In fact, the 911 Targas used to have removable tops. A quick search on Wikipedia tells me that the Porsche 993 was the model that first featured the sliding roof instead of a removable top. It would be rather awesome if Porsche changed the new Targa models to return to the original design. Eh, either way.
Has anyone driven one of the recent Targa 911s? How is the visibility? I read in one review that the top, when "off," (back) renders rear visibility impossible. Is this true? If so, they should probably work on that...
mk @ Jun 30th 2008 2:59AM
@michael...
there was an article a couple weeks back, about an aftermarket add-on for the 996/997 cabrios, that replaced the bodywork over the convertible top with a trimmed peice of glass, and left the center open, with a removeable panel, much like the classic targa.
I wonder if Porsche got wind of that, and are incorporating it for the new Targa.
I like the concept of a 996/997 targa, and it is cool and all, but it seems like a coupe with a big sunroof, and much heavier very high in the bodywork.
Convertibles offer a more open experience and handle better, and the coupes look better, are stiffer, and are more secure, without the Targa's heavier roof.
And usually I like glass roofs....
I never knew why they felt the need to bring the targa's quarter windows to a point, rather than the coupe's more organic shape, anyway...
wushu @ Jun 30th 2008 5:45AM
Yawn, yawn, and more yawn. The 911 is outdated. When is Porsche AG going to wake up and realize the future is its mid-engine Cayman platform and offer more Cayman models, especially a higher performance one with a 3.8L engine and LSD? Then the 911 will truly die and we can finally all move on.