Porsche has just unveiled the 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4 and 4S models. The world premiere event was a digital online unveil.
Just like the original Porsche 911 Targa from 1965, the latest 992 generation 911 Targa variants will feature the iconic Targa bar, a retractable roof section above the front seats, and a wraparound rear window. The eighth-generation 911 Targa 4 and 4S will hit dealer lots late this year.
What Makes it a “Targa”?
Just like the 1965 911 Targa 2.0 that started it all, the latest generation Porsche 911 Targa offers “the advantages of open-top driving in a cabriolet combined with the everyday comfort and interior feeling of a coupe.”
The fully automatic roof system is what really separates this car from the rest of the 911 lineup. At the touch of a button it can be automatically opened or closed in just 19-seconds. The roof is constructed with two flat magnesium elements that hold the fabric roof in place securely and help define the silhouette of the car. Sadly the downside to that program is that there is a bit of extra weight up high on the vehicle, which doesn’t help handling any.
While you’ll see most of these cars with the standard silver Targa bar, you can also order the Targa bar in black. The 2021 Targa comes with “Targa” emblems on each side of the bar, a trait carried through every generation of the model.
Three Pedals & a Stick, As It Should Be!
The latest Porsche “PDK” automatic transmission is an 8-speed dual-clutch system that comes standard on the 2021 911 Targa 4 and 4S models. The big news though is that for no additional charge you can order a Targa 4S with a 7-speed manual transmission. This manual trans option includes the desirable Sport Chrono Package as standard.
911 Targa Power & Performance
Whether you let the PDK dual-clutch system do the work or you choose to row your own gears, the power from the Targa’s 6-cylinder, 3-liter, twin-turbo boxer engine will be put to the ground through all-four wheels. All 2021 911 Targa models will have Porsche’s intelligent all-wheel drive, Porsche Traction Management (PTM), as standard equipment. Introduced on the 2020 911, the upgraded front-axle drive system comes standard on the Targa. This system has a water-cooled clutch and differential unit that has reinforced clutch discs, which enhances all road condition traction.
This flat-six engine puts out 379 HP and 331 lb-ft of torque in the 2021 911 Targa 4 model. With the PDK and optional Sport Chrono Package the 911 Targa 4 goes from a standstill to 60 MPH in just 4.0 seconds. The top speed is 179 MPH.
In the Targa 4S model the same 3-liter twin-turbo engine is massaged to put out 443 HP and 390 lb-ft of torque, 23 HP and 20 lb-ft more than the outgoing model. The Targa 4S sprints to 60 MPH in just 3.4 seconds, with the PDK transmissions and optional Sport Chrono Package. That is four-tenths quicker than the outgoing car. Top speed on the 2021 Targa 4S peaks at 188 MPH.
2021 Porsche Targa Technology
As with all modern Porsche 911 cars, the new Targa models get a full suite of impressive tech. The 2021 Targa gets Porsche InnoDrive, including adaptive cruise control, as an option with PDK- equipped models. Because the car rides so low, the optional Smartlift feature for the front axle is also a great option. It allows you to program frequently visited locations where the front end of the car needs to be raised up to clear obstacles. Never worry about that speed bump or steep curb entry into your favorite shopping center again.
Technology that helps greatly with the sporty driving dynamics that Porsche is known for is the rear limited-slip differential. A rear LSD is standard on both 2021 911 Targa models. You get Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTS Plus) standard on the Targa 4S with PDK and as an option on the Targa 4. PTS Plus includes an electronic rear limited-slip diff with fully variable torque distribution. The 2021 Targa 4S manual cars come fitted with a mechanical rear limited-slip differential.
What’s The Price of the 2021 Porsche Targa?
The new 911 Targa 4 will set you back at least $120,550. That price includes a $1,350 delivery, processing, and handling fee. The 2021 911 Targa 4S model will set you back at least $16,000 more, with a starting price of $136,550.
Expect to see the 2021 Porsche 911 Targa models hitting U.S. dealer lots late 2020. But be sure to get your orders in soon on what is sure to be an iconic and relatively rare modern sportscar.
Also be sure to stay tuned, as Porsche has promised to debut an even more exclusive special edition of their latest 911 Targa in June.
