For those Porsche purists mourning the days of air-cooled engines and hydraulic steering racks, here is some consolation: a French magazine has confirmed that Porsche will reinstate the 911 Targa to their lineup at next year’s Detroit Auto Show. In addition to being an attractive and safer option for Porschephiles looking for an open-top experience, the Targa-roofed 911s have significant brand history with Porsche, making the new Targa sure to sell well with those nostalgic for 911s of the past.
The 911 Targa was first introduced in 1967 as a precautionary measure for Porsche — the company believed that fully convertible models would be outlawed by the NHTSA by right of their compromised safety. However, the Targa’s fixed front and rear windshields provided built-in rollover protection for passengers, allowing Porsche to offer an open-top model without fear of safety regulations. The “Targa” name came from the famous Targa Florio Road Race in Sicily, a race in which Porsche was extremely successful throughout the 1950’s, speaking to the Targa’s motorsports-oriented history.
The modern 991 Targa pays definite homage to its predecessors, with a lightweight aluminum or carbon fiber removable roof and a black roll bar incorporated into the wraparound rear window. Even the three small air vents present in the original 901 Targa’s roll bar will be present in the 991 Targa. Porsche’s respect for tradition and history is very present in the Targa’s design, a factor that will add to its appeal with classic Porsche purists.
With the exception of the roof and roll bar configuration, all other features on the 991 Targa will be carryovers from the standard 991. The 911 Targa will utilize the 911 Carrera’s 3.4-liter H-6 making a respectable 350 horsepower and 288 lb.-ft. of torque, while the sportier Targa S will utilize the Carrera S’s 3.8-liter flat-six cranking out 400 horsepower. Expect both the lightning-quick PDK and 7-speed manual transmission to be available.
After its launch next month, the 2014 Porsche 991 Targa will most likely hit showrooms by summer or early fall 2014. Stay tuned during the Detroit Auto Show, where TFLcar.com will be covering every aspect of the Targa’s reintroduction.
Please enjoy this TFLcar.com video review of the 2012 Porsche 911 (991).
