In 1906 a race called the Targa Florio was launched in Sicily by wealthy motoring enthusiast Vincenzo Florio, and between 1955 and 1973 it was one of the most dangerous challenges on the World Sportscar Championship calendar.
The race was originally run over 148 kilometres in the Madonie mountains but in 1951 it was reduced to 72 kilometres which consisted of picturesque but extremely demanding roads with 900 curves to be negotiated over ten laps.
The race quickly became legendary with the local population flocking to see the world’s greatest marques compete against each other. Porsche were one of them and were hugely successful, claiming 11 victories before the Targa Florio was removed from the calendar on safety grounds following a number of fatalities involving drivers and spectators who stood dangerously close to the roads.
It is actually still run today, although not competitively and is more of a tourist attraction with vintage and classic cars, and it still lives on at Porsche.
Because of their considerable success in the event Porsche named their hardtop convertible version of the equally iconic 911 after the race – the 911 Targa.
The Targa first saw the light of day in 1965, two years after the original 911 was launched and has since become a legend in its own right, due to its distinctive design. It was originally built as a ‘safer’ 911 cabriolet because of the rollbar which has now evolved into its signature feature, making the car something of a design icon.
And it is that stylish appearance that has ensured that the Targa has remained a much-loved and important part of the 911 family and the latest version – the seventh generation – is more impressive than ever, particularly the Targa 4S.
I have driven two other versions of the revamped 911, the Carrera S and the Turbo, both magnificent in their own way and the Targa is just as impressive.
Like its stablemates it has a redesigned front with new four-spot day running lights, and sharper bonnet design and tweaked front spoiler. The side view looks the same as its predecessor but the rear also has a new, beefier, look with threedimensional tail-lights and rear air intake which now has vertical, rather than horizontal, air vents.
With the roof up it has the outline of a 911 coupe but with the roof down – it takes about 20 seconds of majestic technical genius as it folds neatly away – it looks sensational, with a confident, distinctive and stylish look of its own. It truly stands alone in open-top motoring.
This fully automated roof system is the feature highlight of this car’s design and it is almost a moving work of art to see it in action.
Apart from the roof, the interior of the Targa is identical to other 911s with a new and much improved Porsche Communication Management infotainment system and a new refined screen on the centre dash.
The sports steering wheel now has the drive mode selector dial on it, rather than on the centre console. You can choose between Normal, Individual, Sport and Sport Plus, and there is a button at the centre which, when pushed, gives you a power boost for 20 seconds, for overtaking.
Apart from its gorgeous design, the Targa 4S, which as the name suggests has four-wheel-drive, is also slightly heavier than the rearwheel-drive 911 Carrera S, which means it is also a tad slower and not quite as hard edged when it comes to handling, but it is still a brilliantly engaging drive and it has rear-axle steering which improves its agility.
The new 3-litre twin turbo engine which has replaced the naturally aspirated flat six, is a masterpiece with 420bhp and 500nm of torque. It is hooked up to a seven-speed PDK automatic gearbox which also has a manual mode with sequential shifts and paddle-shifts. It will get you from 0-100kmh in just four seconds with the car in Sport Plus mode and has a top speed of 303kmh and that performance comes with a delightful soundtrack from the sports exhaust system.
As with all 911s, it is hard to find fault with the lack of space being the only downside, although you are unlikely to buy this car if you want useable rear seats and enough luggage space for a week away with the kids. It is strictly a sports car.
The fact that this Targa is a little heavier than the Carrera S won’t bother most people because its appeal lies in its timeless design but it is also considerably more expensive – it costs around Dh60,000 more than the RWD Carrera S and Dh40,000 more than the Carrera 4S.
However, iconic design combined with cutting edge engineering and technology doesn’t come cheap and the one thing the Targa 4S does guarantee is that you are driving a Porsche that stands out from the crowd and still delivers the kind of performance and intimate driving experience that has made the 911 such a legend.
