First look: High-tech tickle-up for 911 Targa

THE rapid-fire rollout of Porsche’s facelifted 911 range continues apace with the reveal of the 2009 Targa - almost exactly a month after the emergence of the model upon which it is based, the new 911 Carrera 4.

The heavily revised Targa, one of Porsche’s more popular 911 derivatives, brandishes all of the mechanical upgrades introduced in the facelifted all-wheel drive C4 range, as well as the advances wrought by the standard rear-drive Carrera coupe and cabriolet launched in Germany in June and due on sale in Australia on September 20.

Of course, that means it receives two new direct-injection boxer engines that are both more powerful and more economical as well as the revised 911 C2’s all-new seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK) double-clutch transmission, which replaces the previous five-speed Tiptronic S auto as the self-shifting option over the standard six-speed manual.

Since it continues to be available only in wide-bodied C4 AWD guise, the 2009 Targa also gains its donor model’s new all-wheel drive system, which features an electronically-controlled (not viscous) multi-plate clutch and first appeared in the Cayenne before making its 911 debut in the current Turbo flagship.

Dubbed Porsche Traction Management (PTM), it comes as standard with a mechanical rear differential, as with all new Carrera 4 models.

But there’s more, with the newest Targa 4 and Targa 4S also gaining, as standard, a new sunblind that slides, under its own power, independently of the 1.54 square-metre glass roof, which Porsche says offers improved privacy.

Both versions of the new 911 Targa 4 deliver improved performance and fuel-efficiency over their forebears.

Like the base 911, the entry-level Targa is powered by a 254kW (up 15kW) 3.6-litre flat six, which in this case is good for a claimed top speed of 284km/h.

The Targa 4S packs a new direct-injection 283kW (up 22kW) 3.8-litre flat six and can reach a claimed top speed of 297km/h.

Fitted with the optional PDK transmission, the Targa 4 blasts to 100km/h in a claimed five seconds, while the 4S does it in an alleged 4.7 seconds – in both cases 0.2 seconds sooner than the six-speed manual. Yet, as with the C4, fuel consumption for the base Targa 4 drops marginally to 10.1L/100km.

Like its C4 sibling, the T4 also gains bi-Xenon headlights as standard, comprising LED daytime running lights and, as a new option, Dynamic Bending Lights. LED technology is also featured in the tail-lights, between which is a new reflector panel.

Inside the MY2009 Targa, which continues to be 44mm wider at its rear-end compared with the C2, is a larger new touch-screen monitor, while the upgraded Porsche Communications Management (PCM) system is now Bluetooth, USB and iPod compatible.

The substantially new 911 Targa goes on sale here earlier than expected on October 25, alongside coupe and cabriolet bodystyle derivatives of the Carrera 4 and a month after the facelifted 911 C2 range.

Pricing for most facelifted 911 derivatives will be announced in the coming weeks, but expect price rises of at least $10,000 to account for their superior engine and transmission technology and higher specification.

The Targa’s appearance leaves just the GT3 and top-shelf turbocharged GT2 and Turbo as the final variants of the facelifted 911 to emerge.

Read more:

First look: Double-clutch for Porsche Carrera 4 too

First drive: 911 PDK redefines Porsche perfection

Plethora of new Porsche's by 2010

Inside 911's PDK and DFI

First look: PDK and DFI for facelifted Porsche 911

Porsche twin-clutch near