The latest models in the current 911 series, the sliding-top Targa 4 and 4S, and race-based 911 GT3 RS all feature wide-body profile
Porsche’s 2007 911 Targa 4 / 4S and 2007 911 GT3 RS made their world auto-show debut today at the Paris Auto Show. For the first time, the sun-loving Targa models will be available exclusively with permanent all-wheel drive and a rear body profile that is 44 millimeters (1.73 in.) wider than the standard 911 Carrera®. The 2007 GT3 RS, the street-legal 911 model on which the latest racing variants of the storied 911 Carrera are based, features the same 44mm-wider rear profile, which on the GT3 RS caches a 415-horsepower, dry-sump, 3.6 liter flat-Six with a class-leading 8400 rpm redline.
Porsche’s Targa concept, originally launched in 1966 and named after the storied Targa Florio race, was the first car of its type to offer all the driving sensations of a convertible without sacrificing the benefits of a solid roof. Then and now, the Targa continues to evoke a distinct cache unlike any other sports car, conveying serious sports car performance with the free-spirited thrill of open-air motoring.
As with the previous Targa model, the most striking feature of the elegant sports car is the large, sliding-glass roof and glass rear hatch, which blend sleekly into the classic 911 lines while providing the Targa with its own unique personality. A polished, anodized aluminum trim strip runs the entire length of the roof frame, emphasizing the 911’s classic silhouette.
The glass roof is not just a styling exercise, however, as it also provides for a light, airy interior. Moreover, the electrically operated roof panel can be retracted at all vehicle speeds in only seven seconds, revealing a spacious 4.8 square-foot (0.45 m/sq.) opening. Made of specially tinted two-ply glass, the new Targa’s translucent top is 4.2 pounds (1.9 kg) lighter than its predecessor, and wind noise is kept low at higher speeds by a newly developed sealing system. With the top open, turbulence within the cabin is also reduced by a wind deflector, encouraging open-roof motoring even at lower ambient temperatures. A semi-translucent, black-cloth sunblind provides protection from excessive sunlight, and both the glass roof and roller blind are operated by a rocker switch located on the center console.
Gas struts make it easy to open the upward-tilting rear window, providing access to over 8 cubic-feet (230 liters) of cargo capacity with the rear seats in the folded position. The tailgate can either be unlatched by a switch on the driver’s-side doorsill or by the remote control button on the key fob.
The 911 Targa 4 is powered by Porsche’s venerable flat-Six Boxer engine, delivering 325 horsepower from 3.6 liters. The Targa 4 will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds (0-100 km/h, 5.3 sec.) and reach a top test-track speed of 174 mph (280 km/h). The more powerful Targa 4S variant features a 3.8-liter engine producing 355 horsepower. This model sprints from 0 to 60 mph in only 4.7 seconds (0-100 km/h, 4.9 sec.), and has a top test-track speed of 179 mph (288 km/h).
Thanks to Porsche’s VarioCam® Plus intake-valve control system, the Targa 4 develops maximum torque of 273 lb.-ft. at 4250 rpm. The 3.8-liter mill in the Targa 4S provides 295 lb.-ft. of torque at 4600 rpm. In both of the new Targa models, power is routed via a standard six-speed manual gearbox with short, precise shift throws. Optionally, customers can choose Porsche’s updated five-speed Tiptronic® S automatic transmission, which allows gear changes via rocker switches mounted on the steering-wheel spokes.
As with the Coupe and Cabriolet versions of the Carrera 4 and 4S, power is transmitted to the pavement by a standard all-wheel drive system featuring a viscous, multi-plate clutch. Depending on driving conditions, the all-wheel-drive setup distributes between 5- and 40-percent of the engine’s torque to the front wheels. The all-wheel-drive system ensures well-balanced proportioning of power in corners during spirited driving and improves traction on wet or slippery road surfaces.
Also making its debut in Paris is the 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Beyond its unique livery, the GT3 RS is distinguished from the GT3 on which it’s based by broader rear flanks and reduced weight, further distilling the driving experience to that of a racing car, but one which meets all the requirements for street-legal sports cars. This purist’s variant of the 911 GT3—a model particularly well-suited for track outings—will arrive in time for spring 2007.
Not since the venerable 1973 911 Carrera RS has such a production Porsche been available in this market. The Carrera RS was a special, lightweight 911 produced to homologate the vehicle for racing. That tradition continues with the new 911 GT3 RS, which is modified to serve as the homologation model for a range of worldwide racing series.
The RS’s immediate predecessors have garnered more than 50 victories and five championships in the American Le Mans Series, as well as overall victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The modifications made to the 911 GT3 RS begin with the bodywork. Compared to the GT3, the rear of the RS is 44mm wider, as it is based on the fuller-bodied 911 Carrera 4 models. The muscular-looking rear end conceals a wider track that not only improves directional stability, but also increases the potential for lateral grip on this two-seat coupe.
Despite its specialized body, the GT3 RS is lighter than the GT3. This weight-saving was achieved through the use of—among other solutions—a carbon fiber composite for the front lid, and an adjustable carbon fiber wing. Modifications on the GT3 RS geared specifically toward race-regulations include the rear wheel carriers, split rear-suspension wishbones, and the carbon-fiber components.
Though peak output of the 911 GT3’s 3.6-liter flat-Six remains the same—415 horsepower at 7,600 rpm, on the way to an impressive 8400 rpm redline—the quick-revving nature of the highly-tuned Boxer mill is enhanced even further in the GT3 RS with a unique, single-mass flywheel.
The new 911 GT3 RS will be available in two standard finishes: Black or Arctic Silver metallic. As an option, the GT3 can also be decked out in brilliant orange or green paintwork. All vehicle insignia and the wheels themselves are styled in orange or black to contrast with the body color. The 911 GT3 RS’s interior lives up to the vehicle's race-derived styling. Internal trim is black, with the roof lining, steering wheel and gear stick trimmed in high-quality Alcantara leather.
The Porsche 911 Targa 4 and 911 Targa 4S go on sale in North America in November. Pricing for the new models in the U.S. and Canada is $85,700 (USD) and $119,100 (CAD) for the Targa 4, and $95,900 (USD) and $133,200 (CAN) for the Targa 4S. The 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS will reach the North American market in the spring of 2007, at a price to be announced.