Motoring theatrics: Porsche reveal the 911 Targa GTS
![Motoring theatrics: Porsche reveal the 911 Targa GTS](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HfGjZfXyXNdoAKCGibEUh-415-80.jpg)
Walk into any Porsche showroom and one thing you won’t be stuck for is choice. The brand prides itself on offering its clients a mind-boggling array of options – from trim spec to component upgrades, colour palettes, on-board gadgetry, etc. And then, of course, you have to specify the model itself. Porsche knows full well that that individuality is important among its taste-conscious owners.
Now, the Stuttgart powerhouse has chalked up another tempting morsel onto its ever-expanding specials board. The new 911 Targa GTS harks back to the unapologetically rakish 911 Targa from the late 1960s. Updated in the mid-90s, the Targa maintains a half-and-half approach to open-top motoring.
The original Targa was developed to accommodate impending US safety regulations that would have mandated a roll bar on all convertibles for passenger safety. The US was then a prosperous hunting ground for Porsche, so the rumour was heeded and engineers set to work. As technical misjudgements go, this one was inspired and the result – a ribbon of stainless steel and a fully glazed rear section – became one of the iconic forms of Porsche design.
The all new 2015 model is a combination of retro styling and hi-tech engineering, specifically in connection to the retractable roof mechanism. This is worth paying special attention to, for in just 20 seconds of electric theatrics, motors engage to lift the rear window clear while the unwanted roof panels are folded away into a dedicated storage hub. The rear window then gently glides back into position.
Aesthetic beauty is unimpaired, but the additional weight of the roof gadgetry does impact performance figures slightly (although 4.7 seconds for 0–62mph and a top speed of 188mph should suffice for most people).
The overall sense one gets from driving the Targa GTS is one of complete assurance. The needle sharp handling dismisses any fears of a weight issue and the 430 hp produced from the 3.8 litre six cylinder plant will rarely leave you wanting. The Targa isn’t an out-and-out racer, nor was it designed with earth shattering performance in mind. Instead, the Targa reflects its refined and stylish roots. That’s not to doubt its capabilities as a driving tool – engage Sport Plus on the centre console and the rasping and backfiring exhaust note wills you on hypnotically as everything tightens around you to remind you this isn’t all about sunglasses and covetous glances. Conversely, pop the Targa into pootle mode and you could be calmly chauffering your two (small) children to a school music recital. Flexibility is everything and the W* car pool is a much poorer place for the Targa’s departure.
In the words of Ferdinand Alexander Porsche himself, 'a formally harmonious product needs no decoration; it should be elevated through pure form'
Chasing 0–62 mph in 4.7 seconds and with a bounding top speed of 188 mph, the 911 Targa has enough power under the hood for most performance enthusiasts
The GTS provides sharp-handling and an exhilarating driving experience – in part due to the car's Sport Plus mode, which helps hug corners at high speed
The extra traction afforded via Porsche’s latest four-wheel-drive system is especially evident on damp surfaces – yet the car still feels like it could be a rear-wheel drive because of the torque vectoring system, adding to the sporty, racing feel
The fully automatic roof system can be opened or closed automatically in just 20 seconds
Flexibility is everything and the W* car pool is a much poorer place for the Targa’s departure
INFORMATION
Porsche 911 Targa GTS, from £104,385. For more information, visit Porsche’s website
Wallpaper* Newsletter + Free Download
For a free digital copy of August Wallpaper*, celebrating Creative America, sign up today to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories
-
Take off: Mathieu Lehanneur's Olympic Cauldron rises into the Parisian night sky
The Paris 2024 Olympics’ opening ceremony was closed with a soaring cauldron spectacle that will go down in history
By Hugo Macdonald Published
-
Phaidon’s new Graphic Classics is a lavish greatest hits of graphic design
Graphic Classics is a compendium of seven centuries of visual culture, from the everyday and ephemeral to visionary works that reshaped our world
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Birley Chocolate hits the sweet ’n’ chic spot in London’s Chelsea
The new Birley Chocolate shop, a sibling to Birley Bakery, is a confection of colour as delicious as its finely crafted goods
By Melina Keays Published
-
Driven: the electrically enhanced Porsche 911 raises the bar for the sports car stalwart
The new Porsche 911 Carrera GTS marks the debut of Porsche’s T-Hybrid system, boosting performance and efficiency. We get behind the wheel
By Rory FH Smith Published
-
Coming soon: a curated collection of all the new EVs and hybrids that matter
We've rounded up new and updated offerings from Audi, Porsche, Ineos, Mini and more to keep tabs on the shifting sands of the mainstream car market
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Porsche transforms the Macan into its newest all-electric model
The new Porsche Macan 4 and Macan Turbo are compact electric SUVs that mark a major step in the company’s transformation into a luxury EV maker
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
24 transportation design innovations for 2024
From electric cars to new airports and sports boats, here’s a non-exhaustive list of 24 of the most interesting transportation design innovations to expect in the coming year
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Zoute Grand Prix is a car fest like no other at a pristine Belgian beachside town
Amy Serafin takes to the well-heeled streets of Knokke-Heist to experience the Zoute Grand Prix, its annual cavalcade of classic car-related events, from a rally to an auction
By Amy Serafin Published
-
Porsche and Frauscher take to the waves with all-electric 850 Fantom Air boat
An electric sports day cruiser, the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air is a swift and luxurious floating showcase for the sport car maker’s advanced electric drive systems
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
New book ‘Artifacts’ charts the history of Porsche through its archives
Unwrap this beautifully designed book and dive into Porsche’s extensive historic archives, courtesy of Type 7 and ERG Media
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Singer Vehicle Design unveils newly reimagined Porsche 911, the DLS Turbo
Inspired by the full-blooded endurance racers of the 1970s, this bold Dynamics & Lightweighting Study is the ultimate in bespoke, retromodded supercars
By Jonathan Bell Published