Detroit show: Porsche pops the top on 911 Targa GTS

PORSCHE has celebrated the 50th anniversary of its open-air 911 Targa by giving the latest model an injection of GTS premium performance for the first time.

Unveiled at the Detroit motor show overnight, the all-wheel-drive 911 Targa 4 GTS gets 316kW of power from its 3.8-litre flat six engine – up 22kW on the Targa 4 S – along with a suite of GTS and Carrera 4 go-fast bits, including the much-loved wide-bodied derriere.

Porsche Cars Australia confirmed the new variant for local sale in the second quarter of this year, priced from $305,300 (plus on-road costs) for the seven-speed manual – a premium of $18,100 over the 911 Targa 4 S. The seven-speed automatic PDK transmission adds $5950, at $311,250.

The original 911 Targa – named after Italy’s Targa Florio road race – was born out of American car safety restrictions that threatened to ban open-top cars.

Porsche’s solution was to add the rollover hoop and to semi-enclose the car.

The arrival of the new Targa flagship – a year after Porsche revived the Targa at the same show – continues Porsche’s policy of applying its GTS premium performance enhancement packages across the range. These include the new 911 Carrera GTS, also due in Australian showrooms in the second quarter of this year.

In the case of the Targa 4 GTS, the package includes the Sports Chrono performance package and active suspension, meaning race-style handling at the push of a button.

The vehicle rides on fat 20-inch black-painted alloy wheels with central locking nuts. The wheels are 10mm wider at the back, adding 22mm overall to the rear width of the body with its flared mudguards.

The black theme is carried over into the sport design grille and GTS badges.

The trademark rollover bar is metallic silver, matching slim side skirts.

Porsche says the new variant can sprint from zero to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds – 0.7 seconds faster than the Targa 4 S. Despite the extra zing, the Targa 4 GTS consumes no extra fuel, slurping 9.2 litres per 100km.

Unlike the original 1965 911 Targa with its manual roof, the new 911 Targa 4 GTS’s targa roof stows electrically.

Inside, the sports seats trimmed with black alcantara get red double stitching and GTS logos on the head rests.

The Sports Chrono stop watch sits in the middle of the dash, alongside the familiar three-dial instrument binnacle with its central red tacho.