The Targa is a niche model, but as we know, there’s a 911 for every occasion. The Targa is named after the Targa Florio race in Italy, but its roots are pretty interesting. US safety laws made it difficult to sell drop-tops in the 1960s, so Porsche got around this issue by creating a coupe with a removable roof panel.
As soon as the problematic laws were ditched, most manufacturers reverted to traditional convertibles, but Porsche kept the Targa around because some customers preferred the design. To our eyes, the Targa is less frumpy than the 911 convertible, which has a rather sizeable and prominent rear end when the roof is down.
The current range of engines will likely be carried over, with subtle power boosts that the 911 doesn’t need. While other German manufacturers keep playing the horsepower game, Porsche has repeatedly proved that 500 horsepower is the sweet spot for sports cars. For proof, look no further than its latest lap record.