Targ-of-War : Porsche 911 (type 991) Targa 4 GTS Drive [review]

By davidkhoo, 21 February 2017

Porsche 911 (type 991) Targa 4 GTS Drive Review : Targ-of-War

If we’ve learnt anything from the Ruf Turbo Targa, the Turbo Florio, it’s that the 911 Targa can readily deal with more power.

If anything, the 4 and 4S Targa always felt like it could do with a little more poke, as well as sharper dynamics, which the GTS model now satisfies.

Moreover, now that the 911 Targa has a proper ‘T’ roof, it’s a beautifully proportioned 911 that lets the driver enjoy the best of the Coupe and Cabriolet worlds, yet never feel like one’s making a compromise.

Since the four-wheel-drive GTS models already boast the wide-body, they are differentiated from the C2 GTS models at the rear (like in the 997.2) by a continuous horizontal light strip between the tail-lights – the rear-drive cars get a black trim strip.

Apart from the silky black 20-inch rims, black air-intake grilles and sports exhaust tail-pipe, the Targa also features its ‘T’ roof bar in an anodised black finish, which is a decidedly striking look for our Lava Orange test-car.

The cabin ambience feels convincingly sporty too, with its blend of Alcantara and black anodised brushed aluminium trim.

The standard Sports seats Plus and GT sport steering wheel complete the package, with perfect driving ergonomics for the enthusiast who wants to be able to place the car properly on a nice stretch of winding roads.

The seats, especially, are grippy enough to keep you snug in the lateral shifts, but comfortable enough for long haul road-trips.

Like the other GTS cars, it’s all about achieving a sweet balance between the engine performance and chassis tuning, since there’s more to life than outright speed.

With the GTS enhancements, there’s a newfound agility and balance to the Targa’s on-road manners, and it isn’t just another pretty face.

The added performance gives the Targa 4 GTS more of a sense of urgency that the regular 4 S lacked, especially with the 100km/h sprint from standstill now coming up in under four seconds.

More importantly, with the suspension tweaks, its 1.6-tonnes kerbweight no longer seems as pronounced, especially when you’re in maximum attack mode.

In-gear acceleration feels more ferocious and with the T-bar open, and this and the cabriolet are two of the finest ways to enjoy the soundtrack of the GTS at full pelt.

As far as ‘spec-up’ models go, the GTS is still one that combines performance with looks to create a compelling package – equipping a Targa 4 S from scratch isn’t going to be any cheaper, and the Targa 4 GTS is endowed with power and looks to make it an even appealing proposition.

PHOTOS Porsche
VIDEOS David Khoo

Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS (991.2)
Engine 2981cc, flat6, biturbo
Power/rpm 450hp/6500rpm
Torque/rpm 550Nm/2350-5000rpm
Transmission 7spd PDK dual-clutch
0-100km/h 3.7secs
Top Speed 306km/h
Fuel Consumption 8.7l/100km
CO2 196g/km

Related Articles