Porsche 911 Targa spied – 911’s third body style is back

Spy images show Porsche testing the 992-generation 911 Targa before its release later this year. Like the 991 generation before it, Porsche has given the next Targa a retro nod with its single roll hoop. This feature sits atop an identical body-in-white to the recently revealed 911 Cabriolet.

As before, we expect the fabric middle section to be electrically retractable. It will slip underneath the wraparound glass, a subtle nod to the 1970s original with three vertical slip vents on the hoop.

The car is otherwise identical to the Coupe and Cabriolet. It boasts a myriad of personalisation options such as the Sports Design package. The previous generation only got an all-wheel-drive Carrera 4. But the 992’s adoption of the wide body across the range could see Porsche offer a two-wheel-drive once again.

What’s under the hood of the Targa?

The new car will be fitted with the same 3-litre turbocharged flat-six as seen in the Carrera S Coupe. However, there is a slightly less potent non-S model also in the works.

What’s less certain is whether Porsche intends to spread the Targa body beyond its traditional Carrera derivatives. Historically, Porsche has rarely offered a ‘Targa Turbo’, but with the new 911’s improved GT credentials, it might well offer a rather interesting alternative to traditional grand tourers such as the Bentley Continental GT, or McLaren’s incoming GT.

Either way, if a 911 Cabriolet is not really your cup of tea, but you want something a little more open than the Coupe fitted with an optional sunroof, the new 992 Targa should remain a different option with a retro twist.

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