We’ve all but lost count of the number of 911s that Porsche has in its stable, but that doesn’t mean we’re complaining — just noticing. Bolstering its roster for the upcoming model year at the 2015 L.A. Auto Show, Porsche unveiled the 2017 911 Targa 4 and 4S models, amping up the appeal of these open-roofed 911s with the handling and control benefits of all-wheel drive.
Porsche still gets the prize for over-engineered articulation with the 911 Targa models. Watching that roof panel being lifted and hidden behind the rear seats is a marvel we’d pay money to see. One push of a button is all it takes to engage the effect of open-air driving, while the integrity of the B-pillars and wraparound rear window remain.
Also: See the New and Redesigned Cars of 2016
Turbo power added
The 2017 Targa 4 and Targa 4S are both powered by a biturbo 3.0-liter flat-6 engine mated to a 7-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch (PDK) automatic transmission. In Targa 4 guise, the engine produces 370 horsepower, while the Targa 4S lets loose 420 horsepower and add rear-wheel steering to the handling benefits. Converted from 0-100 kilometers per hour, the expected 0-62-mph times are 4.3 seconds for the new 911 Targa 4 and 4.0 seconds flat for the Targa 4S. Top speed for both is expected to be around 180 mph. Porsche also tells us to expect better fuel economy than on the 2016 models.
Arriving in the U.S. in the spring of 2016, the 2017 Porsche 911 Targa 4 and Targa 4S will start around $109,000 and $123,000, respectively.
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