2007 Porsche 911 Targa in US-CAN Dealers before LA Debut
Text & photos edited by Brian Potter
Source: Porsche AG
edited 11-23-2006
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Porsche Marks 40th Anniversary of Legendary 911 Targa
Cars are arriving this week at Porsche dealerships throughout North America.
Targa features permanent All-Wheel Drive and wider body style
Porsche, one of the most recognized and successful independent makers of high-performance sportscars, announced the recent arrival of the newly redesigned 2007 911 Targa 4 and 911 Targa 4S at many Porsche dealerships throughout North America a week before its official debut Thursday, November 30th at the Los Angeles International Automobile Show.
This means many Porsche enthusiasts will get their first look at the new 911 Targa in showrooms throughout the United States and Canada prior to the new car’s official on-sale date after the auto show reveal.
For the first time in the 40-year history of this unique, stylish model, the 911 Targa is available exclusively with permanent all-wheel drive and a rear body profile that is 44 millimeters (1.73 in.) wider than the standard 911 Carrera®.
Porsche’s 911 Targa concept, originally launched in 1966 and named after the storied Targa Florio race, was the first car of its type to offer all the driving sensations of a convertible without sacrificing the benefits of a solid roof. Then and now, the Targa continues to evoke a distinct cache unlike any other sports car, conveying serious sports car performance with the independent free-spirited thrill of open-air motoring.
As with the previous 911 Targa model, the most striking feature of the elegant sports car is the large, sliding-glass roof and glass rear hatch, which blend sleekly into the classic 911 lines while providing the 911 Targa with its own unique personality. A polished, anodized aluminum trim strip runs the entire length of the roof frame, emphasizing the 911’s classic silhouette.
The glass roof is not just a styling exercise, however; it also provides for a convertible like interior feel. The electrically operated roof panel can be retracted at all vehicle speeds in just seven seconds, providing a spacious 4.8 square-foot opening. With the top open, turbulence within the cabin is also reduced by a wind deflector, allowing for open-roof motoring even during colder weather. A semi-translucent, black-cloth sunblind provides protection from excessive sunlight. A simple switch on the center console operates both the glass roof and roller blind.
The 911 Targa 4 is powered by Porsche’s venerable flat-Six Boxer engine, delivering 325 horsepower from 3.6 liters. A true sports car, the 911 Targa 4 will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and reach a top test-track speed of 174 mph. The more powerful 911 Targa 4S variant features a 3.8-liter engine producing 355 horsepower. This model sprints from 0 to 60 mph in only 4.7 seconds and has a top test-track speed of 179 mph.
The 911 Targa’s all-wheel-drive system ensures well-balanced proportioning of power in corners during spirited driving and improves traction on wet or slippery road surfaces.
Pricing for the new models in the U.S. and Canada is $85,700 (USD) and $119,100 (CAD) for the 911 Targa 4, and $95,900 (USD) and $133,200 (CAN) for the 911 Targa 4S.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, GA, and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne® sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 300 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 214 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.
New Porsche 911 Targa Revealed
Text & photos courtesy Porsche AG
07-17-2006
Eleven series continues to grow
In November 2006, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany, will be offering dealers two new variants of the eleven series at the same time – the 911 Targa 4 and the 911 Targa 4S. Never before seen: for the very first time, the Targa models will be available exclusively with permanent all-wheel drive and a body that is 44 millimeters wider at the rear. As with their predecessor (the Type 996), the most striking feature of both of these elegant sports cars is the large glass roof and folding rear window. The Targa 4 is powered by the familiar flat-six engine, delivering 239 kW (325 bhp) of power from 3.6 liters. It accelerates the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 280 km/h. The more powerful S variant features a 3.8-liter engine producing 261 kW (355 bhp). This model sprints to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 288 km/h.
Thanks to Porsche’s VarioCam Plus valve control system, the Targa 4 develops maximum torque of 370 Newton meters at 4,250 revolutions per minute. The equivalent for the S version is 400 Newton meters at 4,600 rpm. Power transmission is via a six-speed manual gearbox with short, precise shift strokes. Optionally, customers can choose Porsche’s well-known five-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission, allowing very sporty gear changes using the finger pads mounted on the steering-wheel spokes.
As with the coupe and cabrio versions of the Carrera 4(S), power transmission is by all-wheel drive with a Visco multi-plate clutch, which depending on driving conditions applies between five and 40 percent of the driving power to the front axles at all times. The system thereby ensures well-balanced propulsive power in bends when driving to the limit, and improves traction even on wet or slippery road surfaces.
The outward distinguishing feature of the Targa 4(S) is a large glass roof blending harmoniously with the sports car’s lines and lending it a distinctive personality. A side-mounted polished, anodized aluminum trim strip running the length of the roof frame emphasizes the elegant side outline.
The glass roof is not just a visually appealing highlight, however, but also ensures a light, airy interior. It can be opened in only seven seconds to as much as half a meter, no matter what the speed, by means of two electric motors. The maximum roof opening area is then 0.45 square meters. The roof unit is of two-ply specially tinted glass, which is 1.9 kilograms lighter than its predecessor. Wind noises are kept to a low level even at high speed by a newly developed sealing system. A wind deflector minimizes turbulence inside the vehicle, allowing the roof to be opened even at lower temperatures. The semi translucent black cloth roller sunblind provides protection from excessive solar radiation. The glass roof and roller blind are operated by a rocker switch on the central console next to the handbrake lever.
The gas strut-operated, upward-tilting rear windshield makes it easy to load the 230-liter capacity trunk with rear seats in the folded position. The tailgate can either be unlocked by a switch on the driver side doorsill or by the remote control button on the key fob. Closing is facilitated by an electric closing aid.
The basic euro-price for the 911 Targa 4 is 79,000 euros, or 87,900 euros for the 911 Targa 4S. In Germany, the prices are 91,843 euros for the 911 Targa 4 and 102,167 euros for the more powerful S version (including sales tax and country specific requirements).
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