New 2020 Porsche 911 Targa revealed with up to 444bhp

The Porsche 911 line-up has expanded again with this – the new 911 Targa. It’s on sale in the UK now, priced from £98,170, and is another drop-top alternative to the fabric-hooded 911 Cabriolet. First deliveries are expected to arrive in August.

The 911 Targa was introduced in 1965, and the recipe has fluctuated slightly throughout the 911’s various generations. This latest model, like the original, the G-Series Targa, the 964 version and the previous-generation 991 car, features no C-pillar. Instead, a large B-pillar loops from one side of the rear cabin to the other, with a large glasshouse for a rear window. A removable glass roof panel is fitted, with this one electronically stowing behind the rear seats at the touch of a button in 19 seconds flat.

“Looking in details at the sales figures we see there is a significant number of people who just want this iconic design of the 911. These are really good customers,” explains 911 product line boss Dr. Frank Walliser, revealing that nearly 20 per cent of 911 Carrera 4 buyers are now opting for a Targa bodystyle.

Elsewhere, this new Targa keeps the evolutionary design changes that were introduced on the latest generation 911. So, there’s the same wide tailgate and active spoiler, an identical pair of LED headlamps and a full-width LED rear light bar.

Staggered alloy wheels also come as standard, with the entry-level Targa 4 receiving 19-inch alloys for the front axle and 20-inch units for the rear. The more powerful (and more expensive) Targa 4S variant ups the diameter of both wheels by an inch. The interior goes unchanged from the rest of the line-up, and features a 10.9-inch central touchscreen display for infotainment.

Porsche has confirmed that two Targa variants are on their way to the UK, both of which are all-wheel-drive. The base model is the 911 Targa 4. It’s powered by a turbocharged 380bhp 3.0-litre flat-six, which is capable of propelling the car from 0–62mph in 4.2 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono package – and on a top speed of 180mph.

The Targa 4S uses the same engine, but power climbs to 444bhp. As such, the car’s 0–62mph falls to 3.6 seconds, while top speed rises to 189mph. Both versions use an eight-speed PDK automatic gearbox with wheel-mounted paddle shifters, but 4S buyers can instead choose a new seven-speed manual gearbox as a no cost option.

Chassis-wise, the Targa features adaptive dampers, an electronically controlled rear differential and Porsche’s latest “Wet Mode” traction control setting, which adapts the car’s controls for better stability in the rain. The entry-level model comes equipped with 330mm disc brakes and four piston calipers on all four wheels, while the range-topping Targa 4S features 350mm diameter discs and six-piston calipers for the front axle.The chassis and suspension tuning is bespoke for the Targa model, according to Dr. Walliser.

Porsche promises Targa buyers plenty of personalisation, and a special edition version of the model featuring these parts from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur will be revealed in June.

Prices for the Targa 4 start from £98,170, with the Targa 4S costing at least £109,725. That means that the Targa has price parity with the soft top 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet.

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