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In 1997, Porsche unveiled the 911 Carrera Type 996, the fifth version of the 911. It was totally redesigned and made use of six-cylinder boxer engines that were water-cooled for the first time. Beginning in December 2001, the Targa was offered alongside the Coupe and Cabriolet. The 911 Targa had an electrically actuated glass roof with a surface area of more than 1.5 square meters, just like its predecessor. Never before had a Porsche 911 had so much glass surface area. The new Targa was also the first 911 to feature a retractable rear window. This made it simple to load suitcases, bags, or other luggage into the back storage compartment, which has up to 230 liters of storage capacity.
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Porsche 911 Targa “Soft Window” 1967–1969
Porsche created the first 911 Targa out of perceived need rather than originality, fueled by worries that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) may outlaw convertibles with completely retractable soft tops. The original Targa, which went on sale for the 1967 model year, had the same rollover bar “hoop” directly behind the driver’s head, but instead of the standard fixed back glass, it had a flexible clear plastic window portion that could be added to or subtracted from the vehicle.
Because of this, these so-called soft-window Targas essentially resembled full-bore Cabriolets with an ungainly roll bar sticking out of the middle of the cabin. Although it was a creative idea, customers found the rear window to be difficult to install or remove and occasionally not totally watertight. Starting in 1968, Porsche offered both the well-known fixed-window Targa and the soft-window Targa, but the latter was largely dropped following the 1969 model year. Although few chose that option, individuals in the know could custom order the soft window through the 1971 model year.
The Porsche 911 Targa is a design idea that emerged out of necessity.
There was only a coupe available when the Porsche 911 F-model was introduced. Soon after, Porsche planned to unveil a cabriolet, but there were several restrictions, particularly in the USA. Due of this, it was almost impossible to sell a typical cabriolet in the US. However, the engineers at Zuffenhausen demonstrated their ingenuity by bringing the Porsche 911 Targa to the Frankfurt IAA in 1965. The vehicle also included a soft top rear roof portion behind the Targa bar, an aluminum and leather cover, and a fixed roll bar. The Porsche 911 Targa’s distinctive trademark was its silver Targa bar. The iconic Targa silhouette was finished for the 1969 model year when a permanent, heated glass took the place of the rear soft top. Out of the 112.000 F-models produced, the Porsche 911 Targa sold more than 23,000 units.
However, why did Porsche refer to the safety cabriolet as a Targa? To start, “targa,” an Italian term, can be translated as “shield.” There’s more, too: The Targa Florio, a race, was held on Sicily’s public roads. It was one of the most prestigious races in the world in the early 1960s. Porsche has had great success there, taking home the championship five times between 1956 and 1964 with the 550, the 718, and the 904.
top targa
In the Porsche 911T Targa from 1972, the word “Targa” first appears.
A targa top, also known simply as a targa, is a semi-convertible car body design with a removable roof portion and a full width roll bar behind the seats. The phrase, which was initially used on the 1966 Porsche 911 Targa, is still Porsche AG’s registered trademark.
Although the back window is typically fixed, some Targas have plastic foldable windows that can be removed, turning them into convertibles. Sometimes referred to as a targa band, targa bar, or a wrapover band, a targa band is any piece of generally fixed metal or trim that rises up from one side, crosses the roof, and descends the opposite side.
In contrast to T-tops, which often have two distinct roof panels above the seats that fit between the window and central t-bar, a targa top typically has two separate roof panels that fit between the window and central t-bar.
The Porsche 911 Targa was released when?
At the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September 1965, Porsche debuted the 911 Targa. The Targa is a wholly unique vehicle that is the first safety cabriolet in the world to feature a fixed safety or roll bar. It is neither a cabriolet nor a coupe, nor a hard top nor a saloon.
Thanks to a detachable folding roof and a fold-down plastic rear window, driving in the open air may now be enjoyed in open-top automobiles in a number of ways: entirely closed, fully open, or merely with the center roof part removed or the back window folded down. The Targa idea served as the catalyst for a completely new form of Porsche driving experience that would later appear in other vehicles like the 914 and Carrera GT in addition to all following 911 models.
When did Porsche bring the Targa back?
The Targa was still alive, though. For the final air-cooled 911, the 993 series, Porsche resurrected the Targa in 1996. This new Targa didn’t have a detachable roof panel; instead, it had a big panoramic glass roof that opened rearward with the aid of an electric motor, much like a sizable sunroof. This allowed the roof to be opened and closed from within the car with the stroke of a button and, according to Porsche, retained structural stability better than the conventional Targa panel. There was no longer a need to exit the vehicle to complete the conversion from coupe to convertible. Despite being a revolutionary concept, this design saw a decline in Targa model sales, however it persisted for the 996 and 997 generation 911s as well.
In 2014, Porsche at at last created a satisfactory middle ground for the 991 model 911. The new Targa would have a removable panel like the older Targas had, but it would retract beneath the rear window automatically. Market research revealed that individuals who spent more than $100,000 on a 911 Targa were willing to make these concessions in exchange for push-button simplicity, despite the fact that it is a complicated operation and significantly heavier than the original Targa panels. The 2021 Porsche 911 Targa from the 992 series maintains the same Targa roof design.
The Porsche Targa is what model?
The 911 Coupe’s long, flat bonnet and steeply sloped windscreen are the clearest expressions of Porsche DNA. And the original 911 was distinguished by a roofline that softly descended toward the back.
The open-top 911 has always been distinguished by a greater sense of freedom and a plenty of fresh air. Thanks to its fully automated fabric hood, the Cabriolet has the graceful form of the 911 Coupe versions when it is closed.
The word “targa” is a feature of the most fashionable 911 model. The 911 Targa is a classic that will never go out of style thanks to its distinctive roll-over bar and cutting-edge roof design. It is a 911 open-top variation that also has the security and comfort of an enclosed vehicle.
What Porsche Targa is the quickest?
The 2021 Porsche 911 Targa mechanically adheres to the example set by the 997 Targa years before by only providing an all-wheel-drive configuration. Customers can choose between the Targa 4 and Targa 4S at launch, both of which are powered by the same engine as its equivalent Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S sisters. This implies that the Targa 4’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine, mated to an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, produces 379 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. When you upgrade to the Targa 4S, the 3.0-liter engine gains 443 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. In addition to the eight-speed PDK that is standard, you also have the choice of a seven-speed manual transmission that is included with the Sport Chrono package.
To drive very, really fast, you don’t need the S or GTS, as we just learned in the standard 992 Carrera. The Targa 4 can reach 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 179 mph when both have PDK and Sport Chrono installed, while the Targa 4S can reach 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 188 mph. Naturally, given that this is a Porsche, anticipate a decrease in acceleration when a Targa is tested by outside parties.
Are Porsche Targas uncommon?
You cannot travel around Los Angeles without coming across a Porsche 911. The sight of the backward sports vehicle from Germany blends in perfectly with the surrounding landscape of strip malls, food trucks, snow-capped mountains, and the Pacific Ocean. The dovetail design of the 911 merges with the surroundings after 50 years in Los Angeles.
Porsche purchasers spend five figures on distinctive hues in order to distinguish out. Or they might spend $20,100 more than the cost of the coupe to purchase the Targa, which comes close to becoming a convertible. Even if you don’t receive targas painted in Frozen Berry or Peridot Green, they are unusual and a rare sight. Our eyes have never gotten used to the unconventional appearance of the Targa, which is why it stands out among leased Mustang convertibles and black Priuses.
Fear gave birth to the Targa. Because of the risk to occupants in rollover accidents, safety activists in the United States threatened to abolish convertibles in the 1960s. A straightforward and deliciously off-kilter reaction to this grave threat was the Targa. Its rollover hoop was created with the goals of appeasing bureaucrats, saving lives, maintaining structural stiffness, and preserving open-air driving. The odd stopgap, created for laws that were never implemented, nevertheless persisted after the 1983 release of the 911 Convertible.
The Targa looks like something Citroen’s designers would make; it is oddly appealing yet not awful. It should come as no surprise that the French have a name for this particular atypical appeal: jolie laide, or ugly pretty. Many Hollywood celebrities possess it. It is in a barely-perfect condition that is intriguing but never repulsive. In order to be noticed in Los Angeles, you need to be particularly beautiful.
What material makes up the Porsche Targa’s roof?
The superb Porsche 911 Carrera, the Cabriolet, and even the capital-T Turbo have all been seen. The Targa versions of Porsche’s 992-generation 911 are now on display for customers who choose “both” when presented with the coupe vs. convertible question. The 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4 and Targa 4S are here.
Other than the roof, which is comprised of two flat magnesium sections holding a soundproof Targa top together and is distinguished by a broad roof bar that is available in either silver or black, everything about this 911 is standard. For ultimate comfort while semi-open-top cruising, the large rear greenhouse is heated, and an extended wind deflector may be installed in the upper windshield frame.
Similar to the previous Targa, the open-air conversion is accomplished via a ballet of sliding body panels and other mechanical tricks that give the impression that the back half of the car moves to conceal or expose the roof. By pressing a button, the new car’s Targa portion may open or close in 19 seconds.
The new Targa models only have all-wheel drive, as their names imply. The Targa 4 and 4S will come standard with Porsche Traction Management and Wet Mode, which will help with traction even more. No, none of this will transform the 911 into an off-road rock-crawler, but some owners have chosen to go ahead with it nevertheless. In addition, both vehicles come with Porsche’s eight-speed PDK transmission as standard equipment, with the exception of the 4S, which comes standard with a seven-speed manual transmission that also includes the Sport Chrono package.
Both Targas are powered by 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six engines, same like the standard Carreras. This translates to 379 horsepower, 331 pound-feet of torque, zero to sixty in four seconds flat (0.1 seconds faster than the previous Targa 4), and a top speed of 179 mph in the Targa 4. In contrast, those choosing the 443-hp 4S may anticipate 390 pound-feet of torque, 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds (0.4 seconds faster than the previous model), and an open-top Porsche with a peak speed of 188 mph.
Porsche currently expects the ordinary 2021 911 Targa 4 and Targa 4S to arrive at U.S. dealers in late 2020. The company also promises a “special edition” 911 Targa to be unveiled in June. When that happens, the Targa 4 will have a sticker price of $120,650, while the 4S would cost $136,550, which is more than a Kia Rio is worth.