by Brian Potter July 28, 2008 2:00 PM
Filed Under: German, Porsche
After the facelifted Carrera and Carrera 4 debuts, Porsche is following up with the 911 Targa facelift. Available in the same variants and 997 facelift upgrades, the 911 Targa 4 and Targa 4S feature more powerful direct injection engines, PTM Porsche Traction Management replacing all-wheel drive and Porsche's new 7-speed Doppelkupplungsgetriebe or double-clutch gearbox.
The visual highlight of the 911 Targa, as before, is the 1.54-square-metre glass roof made up of two segments, the elegant sliding roof at the front and the tailgate. When opened completely, the roof slides within seven seconds beneath the tailgate, offering an open space above the passenger compartment of 0.45 square metres. The sliding roof comes as standard with a new sunblind offering even greater privacy than before and, when closed, covering the entire area of the sliding roof and opening and closing electrically independently of the roof itself. The glass roof and the tailgate come in special anti-sunglare glass, protecting the occupants even in bright sunshine from UV radiation and excessive heat.
Compared to the 0-100 km/h time of 4.7 sec and 4.5 time of the facelifted Carrera and Carrera S, respectively, with PDK trans, the heavier 911 Targa 4 accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds while the Targa 4S does it in 4.7 seconds.
Top speed is also a little slower of 289 km/h (179 mph) for the base Carrera while the Targa S is 284 km/h (176 mph). Carrerra S top speed is 302 km/h (187 mph) and the Targa 4S notches slight below at 297 km/h (184 mph).
Expect market launch and pricing information to be released after its October public debut in Paris.
Introducing the new 911 Targa, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is completing the fastest generation change the world has ever seen in the 911 model series: Two new power units with direct fuel injection improve both performance and the economy of the new model, the fast-shifting PDK Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe or double-clutch gearbox replaces the optional Tiptronic S automatic transmission, and electronically controlled PTM Porsche Traction Management takes the place of the former all-wheel drive.
The latest model series in the new generation of the 911 comes as before in two variants, as the 911 Targa 4 and the 911 Targa 4S. The “basic“ version is now powered by a 3.6-litre flat-six developing maximum output of 345 bhp (254 kW) and giving the car a top speed of 284 km/h or 176 mph. The power unit featured in the 911 Targa 4S displaces 3.8 litres, developing maximum output of 385 bhp (283 kW) and accelerating this outstanding sports car to a top speed of 297 km/h or 184 mph.
The visual highlight of the 911 Targa, as before, is the 1.54-square-metre glass roof made up of two segments, the elegant sliding roof at the front and the practical tailgate. When opened completely, the roof slides within seven seconds beneath the tailgate, offering an open space above the passenger compartment of 0.45 square metres. The sliding roof comes as standard with a new sunblind offering even greater privacy than before and, when closed, covering the entire area of the sliding roof and opening and closing electrically independently of the roof itself. The glass roof and the tailgate come in special anti-sunglare glass, protecting the occupants even in bright sunshine from UV radiation and excessive heat.
With the launch of the new Carrera, Porsche is introducing direct fuel injection also in the company’s range of sports cars. The advantages are an increase in engine power by up to 8.5 per cent, a reduction in fuel consumption by 11.2 per cent, and a decrease in CO2 emissions by 13.6 per cent, depending on the respective model and its features.
Introducing the new Doppelkupplungsgetriebe or double-clutch gearbox featuring no less than seven gears, Porsche now offers a very interesting option as an alternative to the manual six-speed gearbox. PDK is replacing the former Tiptronic S transmission and excels in particular through its unparalleled speed in shifting gears, combined with superior fuel economy all round.
Featuring this outstanding transmission, the new Targa leaves hardly anything to be desired in terms of dynamic driving pleasure: The 911 Targa 4 accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and the even more powerful S-model completes the same exercise in 4.9 seconds – in each case with the manual six-speed gearbox. The optional Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe shifts gears even faster to set an even higher standard, the 3.6-litre Targa 4 with PDK accelerating to 100 km/h in exactly 5.0 seconds, the Targa 4S offering an even faster and more dynamic 4.7 seconds.
Yet another change in technology comes on the car’s all-wheel drive: In the new 911 Targa electronically controlled PTM Porsche Traction Management replaces the former all-wheel drive with its viscous multiple-plate clutch. This superior system combines the driving pleasure so typical of a Porsche thanks to the engine at the rear and rear-wheel drive as the primary concept with an even higher standard of driving stability, traction, and agile handling. To ensure this supreme class at all times, PTM feeds exactly the right share of engine power and traction additionally to the front wheels in every driving situation through an electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch. And as on all new Carrera 4 models, a mechanical rear axle differential featured as standard gives the car even greater driving dynamics.
Fascinating? no. Looks good? yes. Sporty? mostly. Amazing? not really. Worth the money? depends on how much you value your dollar, personally for the price there are many other cars I would sooner buy.
That is my point exactly. You are a hypocrite. The exact same mod on a car you don't like classifies it as pretty much exactly the same, but on a car you like... my god it's genius and a totally different car because of it. As to what I would buy instead. Well, for less then the price of the cheapest 911 model which is the 911 Carrera with 325hp and 0-60 of 4.8s. I could buy... a Viper (600hp/under 4s), a fully loaded Z06 (505hp/3.7s), a GTR (480hp/3.4s), Fully loaded Lexus ISF (416hp/4.6s), Fully loaded BMW M3 (414hp,4.8s), BMW M5 (500hp/4.8s)... the list goes on and on... and for less then the price of a top of the line GT2 for $240,000... I would rather buy a fully loaded Gallardo, Bentley Continental GT (and ariel atom), Fully loaded F430... the list goes on and on.
and yes you are probably right, it is a matter of taste. Personally I like new tastes, the same old mashed potatoes and roast beef though tasty gets old really fast...
That is'nt my point. Mustangs , Vipers etc are powerful and fast. They're GREAT cars.BUT A PORSCHE IS A PORSCHE. Telepathic handling, unquestionable reliability and quality. But best of all, a Porsche has that style which makes you feel like a million dollars pretty much the instant you climb into one. It's something a muscle car will never be able to do.
Your point was that this glass roof makes the car totally different. My counter point was that you only think that because you are a porsche faithful, and when it comes to any other car it would seem a cheap add on designed to help the brand sell more cars. Those were only 2 of the cars I listed... also, "Telepathic handling" haha no it drives like a hammer, "unquestionable reliability and quality" hmm doubtful, it is a sports car and from all the people I know who have owned porsches things go wrong, and since it is a porsche it costs a lot to make things all better. "But best of all, a Porsche has that style which makes you feel like a million dollars pretty much the instant you climb into one." all of the car's I mentioned do that. "It's something a muscle car will never be able to do" even the viper/fully loaded z06.
Please don't judge cars based on their nationalities. I don't like Porsches just because Porsche is German( I'm from India).It's just that they're the most practical sports cars in the word. AND YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON IN THE WORLD TO SAY THAT PORSCHES ARE UNRELIABLE, AND CAN'T HANDLE!!!!! My uncle in the U.S.A owns a 98 Boxster and he doesn't have any sort of trouble with it."once every few days I might see a boxster.........have seen only one GT2 so far".THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL!!!!!! THEY'RE RARE!!! I am sorry!!!! I respect your views as much as I respect mine. But face the truth, comparing Ford to Porsche is like comparing HONDA to MERCEDES-BENZ.
When people(the Germans in this case) do good things, is it wrong to appreciate them??? After all, appreciating the Germans does'nt mean bending over for them. In other words, when you think about Germans, think of Dr Karl Benz and Dr Ing Fc Ferdinand Porsche. NOT Hitler or the Nazis.
I am not judging the cars, I am judging the people who devote themselves to only those cars. It's like the comment Bremen made calling people who like big engined cars narrow minded on the new vette. It doesn't mean that I hate small engines, it's just that I can appreciate a car more then just for the hp/liter ratio, cause at the end of the day that ratio is one of the few that has no effect on how well a car will perform.
let me rephrase that, I am not judging the car because it is german, I am judging the people who devote themselves to it, and I am judging this car in comparison to the rest of the worlds market in multiple ways. That being said, a couple of the cars I listed that I preferred over the 911 were german. To that list I would like to add the Audi S5, and RS5 once it gets made.
as to the handling and reliability. It is a high end sports car, the people who buy them generally don't want to admit how much they have to spend to upkeep them, look at how long it took people to realize just how expensive ferrari's are. As to handling, Porsche has done an amazing job for a rear engined car, but part of racing/driving a car is pushing it to and beyond it's limits. If a car scares you when you do push it beyond its limits because it is simply unrecoverable, that is bad handling. A good car should inspire confidence in the driver, when pushed to it's limits the porsche 911 series simply does not do this.
Hey Joe, do you really think that Europeans would buy foreign cars when they have local cars, plus targa has been around for a while its a trademark, plus there is nothing better than a GT2.
The more comments on this site I read the more I realize how stuck up europeans are, if they are all like you then I doubt anything that isn't german would ever sell in europe. That being said, you cannot criticize any nation for loving it's own cars. But you can open your mind once in a while and realize why other people like other cars. As for the GT2, I already mentioned cars that I thought were better then it. Your opinion that the GT2 is the best car in the world strides from your own german faith. I have been using faith a lot recently, why? Faith=believing without proof. And frankly anything a german company does you believe is the best thing in the world, that to me = faith.
joe this car were looking at is in a german point of view this car has better specificatons than a mustaing gt weather it is a normal based tagra or s or 4s this vehicle is a light wait vehicle not to mension the handling on it is outragious caomparing to a american car american cars have bad handling heavy metals bad brakes bad grip this is the reason why these people would choose a porsche over an american car
anyway my point is, you dont see people in europe buying US cars maybe not enough Jap cars, but you see heaps of asian and american porsche customers, that says something, obviously money is not a problem and porsche have a certain appeal in other cultures and environments, so no matter how much porsche make their cars look the same, people will still buy them and have a great interest in them.
I don't see heaps of porsches... once every few days I might see a boxter. Heck I have seen 4 R8's now and only one GT2 to date. So, if I go by your logic, since I rarely ever see them they must be almost bankrupt.
hmm, corvette is great but its just joined the bandwagon of every other supercar, I prefer the classic vettes and fords back then in the 60's and 70s when they were unique and didn't try to out do other cars by moving to a monopoly style of car.
you logic is stupid. So just because this car is better then a mustang, when it does get a minor add on like glass roof panels it all of a sudden becomes a totally different car? sh!t no, the reason why I used the mustang is because nobody on this site respects it and it would better illustrate how minor of an add on this is.
what have you driven joe and what cars do you own you have big talk. what do you have to back it up. if you actaully drove porsches daily you'll know. goof
joe this isint a totally new tagra 4 this is just a facelift model gosh! id rather drive the old taagra four than a mustaing saleen but its good that you respect this car but just because were saying oo we like the tagra 4 more than a mustaing dont all of a sudden go with the tagra 4 keep youre mind set to what you like not what we like
Personally, there are just 2 things I really don't like about this car: That C-pillar which doesn't look very Porsche, and the new design of the rear lights. You can solve the C-pillar easily, you just need to buy any other 911 that's not a Targa... Now for those lights, well I guess this marks the end of nice-looking Porsche rear ends. Now my real point is: For all of those who love to compare the 911 with the Vette or the GTR, first I'm not a huge fan of any of those (I have to admit the 3 of them are incredible machines, they're just not my favorite cars), but if there's something that the japanese or american cars CAN'T offer, and Porsches can, that's excellent quality and reliability. You might spend more in a 911 Turbo than in a GTR or a Vette, and they might be a little bit faster around the Nurburgring than the 911, but how many 30 or even 40 year-old Corvettes or Skylines which work absolutely perfectly can you get online today? Check how often do the parts in any 911 need to be changed? EVERYTHING lasts longer, in fact, MUCH longer than in most other cars. There are even fluids that never need to be changed in those damn German cars! I know that after this, many people will get upset and will start telling me about how much have Vettes evolved from simple fast-straight-going cars to Nurburgring record setters, or how reliable are japanese cars nowadays, but just ask anyone who has a 911 if he's ever had any major problem with the car. The 911 is a car that has only been evolving, getting better, faster and safer for almost 50 years... and no other manufacturer can say that about any of their models.
the reason why porsche and ferrari are more expensive is because they build the car with their own parts, as in engines, brakes, suspension, prtty much the whole car, porsche hae 40 years worth of technology in their hands, toyota and ford and many other car manu.'s plot in a general engine, suspension and tweak it so its powerful and thus all they worry abot is the chassis and aero and just take the technology from elsewhere.
think of it this way, porsche and ferrari are homemade.
Let these things change too you are faithful to. PORSCHE WILL CHANGE. This 911 Targa looks from back like old Simca, do not loose your faith, new one will look like...
Hold up... you guys need a middle party... an "opinion broker"... now... first of all you would have to be dumb or blind to see that this car is your typical Porsche evolution, meaning yes it looks slightly different but it would take someone who gives a hoot to actually see the difference... Joe Limon has a point... if a Mustang had gotten a facelift akin to the one the Porsche got, you guys would be all over it... but you also have to admit that Porsche, and maybe Bentley to an extent, are the only manufacturers that can get away with such a light update... nuff said.
