Everyone knows that Porsche is synonymous with words like, powerful, fast, hot, expensive, and jaw-dropping oh my God what do I need to do to get one of those? Porsche is the dream car of small children and armchair drivers. The simple mention of a Porsche can make the average person break out into an excitable sweat.
Porsche of course kept its unwritten promise to her fans with the release of the 911 Targa 4S in November of 2006. With permanent all wheel drive and slightly larger rear body profile than the standard 911 Carrera, the 911 Targa 4S is destined for greatness just like all her sisters.
This serious sports car is geared toward performance, and of course she is more than happy to deliver. The Targa Concept car, which was released to the public in 1966, offered the unique driving experience of convertible convenience with top of the line hard top performance.
This free spirit offers the freedom of open air driving with race car performance and of course let’s not forget the basics, like the 355 horse power flat 6 engine that pulsates with anticipation the moment you turn her over. Listed at 295 pounds per foot of torque, she is ready to rock your world as soon as you are ready to roll. Ramping from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in 4.7 seconds should get your juices flowing. If that doesn’t impress you, the top speed of 179 miles per hour should.
We all know Porsche designs fast cars. What makes this little beauty stand apart from the crowd of fast cars in the modern era? For starters she is Porsche through and through with her own distinct and unique personality. Her unique blend of elegance and performance mesh beautifully. One of her most distinct styling features is the single pane sliding glass roof. This meets with the glass rear hatch, and both blend seamlessly into the traditional lines that make the ever famous Porsche statement.
The glass roof is a clever styling feature, but it enhances the interior significantly, making the interior very light and airy even when the glass roof is closed. Speed is always enhanced when it is encompassed in the feeling of freedom. The two-ply specially tinted translucent glass top is designed to mechanically open in under seven seconds, regardless of the car’s relative speed. With attention to every detail, the new top is 4.2 pounds lighter than her predecessor and opens up to a gaping 4.8 square foot opening.
The wind noise was reduced thanks to a new sealing system and naturally they improved cabin turbulence with the help of an exceptionally designed wind deflector. The wind deflector was designed so well that even in less than perfect temperatures, the open top provides a comfortable ride.
As all high performance cars are meant to be, the Porsche 911 Targa is powered by a six speed manual transmission, and those who drove it reviewed it as having “short, precise shift throws.” For those who prefer the convenience of a semi automatic, the Targa offers the five speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission. This allows manual gear changes via a rocker switch rather than the traditional clutch. The all wheel drive system responds to the driving conditions and directs power to the front wheel anywhere from 5% to 40%. This of course allows for much better handling and well balanced proportioning in cornering while testing the 911 Targa 4S limitations not to mention improves traction when it comes to slippery road surfaces to due rain, snow, or ice.
While Porsche is not necessarily known for its ample cargo space, they did suppy the 911 Targa 4S with about 8 cubic feet of cargo room when the rear seats are folded down. The upward tilting rear window was supplied with gas struts to create an easy access tailgate entrance.
As should be expected, the Porsche 911 Targa 4S caused quite a stir at its showing at the North American International Auto Show. Some (jealous?) exhibiters called it “flaunting,” while the public received her with immense interest. Though there are still very few drive reviews on this model, those who have been fortunate enough to slip their fingers around the sweet Porsche’s steering wheel describe the experience with words such as, “superior, enthralling, glorious,” and “instantly orgasmic.”
As it should, the Porsche automakers are quite confident in their ability to produce machinery that makes people shudder at the mere thought. Once they passed the 2,000,000th produced Boxster series, many felt that the introduction of the Targa 4S was a commemorative introduction. Naturally in quality taste that is Porsche, they would have chosen the mega star of their fleet for such a commemoration. The 911 Targa 4S has that mega start quality. Though she may look a lot like her predecessor, the inspired 996 Targa, she has been completely overhauled and redesigned from bumper to bumper. She is a far cry from the same old hat in new packaging. All the way down to the new aluminum strip that gracefully arches down the tell tale 911 slope to the tiny details of the interior, this Targa wants to burst on the scene as a elegant but powerful force to be reckoned with.
So how much would one of these pulsating heart stoppers cost a prospective owner? The base model comes in at around $95,000. Of course, the base model alone would outperform, out-impress, and out-thrill just about any other souped up model out there, but with Porsches, every detail matters.
The body hugging leather seats that just cry out for a warm soul hold ample potential as the Porsche Traction Management keeps all four wheels securely speeding toward your destination. To get every ounce of Porsche promise out of this stunning beauty you would in fact need about $122,000 to drive it complete right off the lot.
Despite Targa’s impressive standings and her overwhelmingly warm reception, she is not expected to make historical sales or even replace the ever endeared Boxster. Sometimes no matter how amazing and wonderful your creation is, you simply can never outdo the original classic.
© 2007 Kiersten Stetser and Ken Leonard for www.sport-cars.org
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