Driven: Porsche 911 Targa 4 Review

DRIVEN: Porsche 911 Targa 4 Review

Following a test drive of the Porsche 911 Targa 4, here is Motor Verso’s first drive review.

What’s the Porsche 911 Targa 4 all about?

The Porsche 911 Targa 4 is essentially an open top version of the 911 coupe, the advantage of this over the cabriolet is that it still keeps the 911 coupe design but has the benefits of still being able to take the roof off. The first Targa was released in 1966 and has become iconic from a design perspective because of the full width roll bar behind the seats.

The latest iteration of the car looks as amazing as the first.  The Targa has all the beauty of the 911 but is complimented by a few Targa styling touches that include the previously mentioned classic roll bar, new rear windows, and boot design.

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The 911 Targa 4 is powered by a 3.4-litre flat 6 engine, which is mounted at the rear of the car. The engine creates 350bhp and 390Nm of torque, this will get the car from 0-60 in 5.0 seconds and will keep going all the way up to 175mph. The Targa on test came with a 7 speed PDK gearbox that puts the power down to all 4 wheels using an all-wheel drive system.

How does it drive?

The 911 Targa 4 is a 911 at heart, so it is going to be a good drive. Stepping foot inside a 911 is always great, but when it is a Targa 4 it is a little bit more special. So once inside, to get the full experience, I removed the roof and put the heated seat on, we’re good to go.  Starting the car up is a toe curling experience as you hear the growl come from behind you. Moving gently off in the car it’s clear you are in a sports car as you feel low to the ground and you can feel the suspension working to iron out the bumps in the road.

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When you experience your first bit of straight road is when you fall in the love with the 911 Targa 4; touch the left paddle to drop it into second, hit the accelerator and in no time you can be flying well beyond any legal road speeds. The 3.4-litre pulls very well and sounds amazing with the roof off.

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When you fancy driving the car a bit harder you can put the car into Sport or Sport Plus mode. The modes will optimise the systems in the car which include the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Porsche Stability Management (PSM), Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) and also adjusts the active exhaust system. Once you activate the Sport mode the car feels instantly more alive; the suspension becomes tenser and the PDK system will leave you in a lower gear for longer; teasing you to explore the car even more. And the Sport Plus mode builds on this even further, but you would only really need to use this on the track.

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The best part about testing out the 911 Targa 4 on the road was finding some nice country roads, the handling dynamics on the 911 Targa are so finely tuned and assisted by that 4 wheel drive system means you are able to take corners at ridiculous speeds without even making the car sweat.

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Targa 4 is running on standard steel brakes that perform amazingly well. They are that good they can stop the 911 from 60mph in just 2.5 seconds; enough braking power to easily shift all your organs up against your rib cage.

What’s it like inside?

The inside of the latest 911 Targa has a premium design and feel, it certainly lets you know that you are in an £88,000 luxury sports car right from the moment you get in. There is a lot of premium leather, nice aluminium touches, and plenty of buttons to play with.

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Sitting in the car it simply just feels sporty, the driving position is bang on, you have lots of dials in front of you, and with the roof opened up you feel ready to explore.

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The Experience

The Porsche 911 Targa 4 experience is a highly unique driving experience, the open top roof feature allows you to keep a classic looking 911 coupe design, and the 4 wheel drive system means that you can cross any road conditions whilst enjoying the full experience of the environment through the roof. Having the roof off also allows you to hear the full symphony of the 3.4-litre straight 6, feel the sun on your face and smell the environment as you pass it by.

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Verdict

The 911 Targa 4 does have around a £10,000 premium over the 911 Carrera 4 which sounds like a lot, but what you are actually paying for is the exclusivity of the Targa design mixed with the extra advantages of having the open top.

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Video Higlights

Specification

Porsche 911 Targa 4

  • Price: £88,765
  • Engine: 3.4-Litre
  • Power: 350bhp
  • Torque: 390Nm
  • Transmission: 7-Speed PDK
  • 0-62mph: 5.0 Seconds
  • Top speed: 175mph
  • Weight: 1,635kg
  • Economy combined: 32mpg
  • CO2: 204g/km

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Author: Paul Hadley