Porsche launch 991 Targa 4 GTS: the ultimate Pacific Coast cruiser?
It’s currently -1°C in Detroit, home of the North American International Auto Show. It’s certainly not 911 Targa weather however, Porsche has chosen the first major show of 2015 to launch the Porsche 991 Targa 4 GTS.
After launching Coupe and Cabriolet version of the new Porsche 991 GTS in October (with our first drive coming in issue 121), Zuffenhausen has now completed the GTS range with the retro-styled open-top sports car.
The standard Porsche 991 Targa already utilises the four-wheel drive widebody of the Carrera 4/Carrera 4S, making a Targa version an easy proposition for the engineers at Porsche.
Like its hardtop brother, the new Porsche 991 Targa 4 GTS comes with the 3.8-litre flat six with Powerkit as standard, resulting in 430hp. Other standard equipment includes the Sport Chrono package, PASM and sports exhaust.
The Porsche 991 Targa 4 GTS features a host of black highlights, including the ‘Targa’ and ‘GTS’ badging on the iconic silver roll hoop. Elsewhere, the black theme is extended to the centre-lock Turbo S wheels, as seen on the previously revealed Porsche 991 GTSs.
While Detroit is unlikely to be the new Porsche 991 Targa 4 GTS’s natural home ground, the latest open-top Porsche 911 is likely to sell well in North America, a market where Porsche saw overall sales grow by 11.1 per cent in 2014.
With the 991 Targa’s retro aesthetic and credentials as an excellent boulevard cruiser making it an ideal fit in Los Angeles, we can see the new Porsche 991 Targa 4 GTS proving popular on the West Coast, where it’s improved performance over standard Targas should set it apart in California’s excellent mountain roads.
To read our review of the Porsche 991 Carrera GTS, order your copy of Total 911 issue 121 now. Alternatively, download it straight to your digital device for immediate access to our definitive GTS opinion.
Comments (0)