They say that Porsche makes a 911 for everybody. There's the Carrera Cabriolet for those who simply want to pose around town. There's the 911 Turbo S for those who are always late. There’s the 911 GT3 for the track enthusiasts. And sat amongst them all is the Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS, the best of both worlds. For those who want to look good, go fast, and have fun on a track, the Targa 4 GTS is the perfect car. It's the one with a roof that gets eaten by a robot…
Exterior
The all-wheel-drive Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS in its Carmin Red color, carries a more serious stance, both in appearance and performance. The GTS models get standard center lock wheels, which are some of the most appealing and coolest things to ever grace a road car. Tucked into those broader hips are a set of 20-inch rims that are achingly well stanced.
The new Sport Design front apron emphasizes the sporty character. The front end is aerodynamically optimized. A low front spoiler and increased rear spoiler extension further reduce the lift forces on the front and rear axles.
The blacked-out trim treatment adds menace to the aesthetic, somewhat offsetting the nostalgic, elegant cheeriness of the classic Targa which is now painted black, rather than silver as on the previous GTS. It goes from a coupe to alfresco in twenty seconds with the press of a button, the back end rejoins the car in a true transformers-style performance.
A strengthened chassis and widebody proportions, four-wheel drive and that spectacle of a roof mechanism doesn’t come light. Porsche claims a 1,660kg total weight but surprisingly it’ll disappear up a winding road ever so rapidly.
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Interior
The cockpit is very driver centric, everything you need is right where it should be. There are buttons to control most things, even though the touchscreen infotainment system does a cracker job. Cabin upgrades include the Alcantara trimmed steering wheel and super-supportive sports seats.
The engine, transmission and suspension are all switched between modes via a four-position dial on the otherwise spartan steering wheel, its gloriously uncluttered spokes falling beautifully to hand. The rear seats are for formality only, It’s the front where the magic happens.
Drive
There's 450 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque to play with. That's a phenomenal amount of power from a turbocharged engine, making the GTS a very spicy proposition. The engine builds ever more revs, while the intake noise, mechanical clatter and barking exhaust taunt you to go faster and faster and faster.
A high-powered engine demands outstanding braking power - a requirement fulfilled by brake discs with a diameter of 350 mm at the front and 330 mm at the rear. A taut suspension offers outstanding composure and a comfortable ride. There's more traction than before, its powerful brakes are well-weighted, and that compact steering wheel adds to the focused driving experience.
Out on the road, the Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS is sensational to drive, offering more punch than a standard coupe as well as a deeper exhaust note that complements newfound visual menace. The 7-speed PDK allows you to take charge, with the paddle shifters making you feel like nothing short of a true driving God.
The power delivery is amazing and there is plenty of mid-range torque with minimal throttle lag. In a straight line, it is seriously quick and will get you from 0 to 100 km/h in under 4.0-seconds. On the bends, there’s virtually no body roll, thanks to its adaptive dampers, picture perfect steering and fade free brakes.
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Verdict
Dynamic, comfortable and efficient. Porsche is expanding the 911 product line with the GTS models. The Targa is a brilliant balance between posing and performance that is sure to raise goosebumps. At over AED 600,000, it’s a timeless work of art that also performs, it's a supercar you can drive every day, it’s reliable and retains its value far better than any luxury sedan of the same price.
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