The 911 Targa is widely considered the “individualist’s” Porsche—it’s for the person who wants the open-air experience of a convertible but finds the traditional cabriolet’s silhouette less than perfect. With its signature silver roll bar and wraparound glass rear window, it is arguably the most beautiful car in the current 911 lineup.
The Design: Retro Meets Modern
The Targa is a masterclass in heritage-inspired design.
- The Targa Bar: That brushed silver roll bar is a direct nod to the original 1967 Targa. It’s functional, stylish, and serves as the centerpiece of the car.
- The Wheels: This specific car is fitted with 20/21-inch Carrera Exclusive Design wheels. Their five-spoke look is a modern reimagining of the classic “Fuchs” wheels that defined the 911s of the 60s and 70s.
- The Mechanism: Watching a Targa open is mechanical theater. The entire rear glass section lifts up and hangs over the back of the car while the roof panel tucks itself away. It’s a 19-second show that never gets old.
Performance & Engineering
Underneath that stylish exterior, the Targa 4S (the most common trim for this look) is a beast.
- All-Wheel Drive: All 992 Targas come standard with all-wheel drive (denoted by the “4”). This makes it incredibly planted and a legitimate year-round daily driver, even in wet or cold climates.
- Power: Typically powered by a 3.0L twin-turbo flat-six, producing roughly 443–473 horsepower (depending on the exact model year and trim). It will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in about 3.4 to 3.6 seconds.
- The “Weight” Factor: Because of the complex roof mechanism and the heavy glass rear, the Targa is the heaviest 911 variant. While a professional racer might feel the extra weight in a sharp corner, for 99% of drivers, the steering remains surgical and the grip is endless.
Why You’d Love It
- The Best of Both Worlds: You get the security and quietness of a coupe when the top is up, but the soul of a roadster when it’s down.
- Curb Appeal: In Chalk with those Fuchs-style wheels, this car has a “timeless” look. It looks like a classic car that just happens to be brand new.
- Interior Quality: The 992 interior is a massive step up in tech, featuring a crisp 10.9-inch touchscreen and the iconic analog tachometer right in the center of the dash.
The Verdict
The Targa isn’t the fastest 911 (that’s the Turbo), nor is it the most track-focused (that’s the GT3). Instead, it is the ultimate grand tourer. It’s the car you take on a long weekend drive to the coast—it’s fast, incredibly comfortable, and looks better than almost anything else on the road.
