Targa. A name which, when it follows the number 911 at Porsche, stands for the perfect balance between the pleasure of driving with the wind in your hair, and the comfort of driving in a coupé. This is linked to the removable hardtop concept, which is the essence of the Targa concept at Porsche!
Thus, regardless of the generation of the 911, this variant of the iconic Zuffenhausen sports car has always offered its owners maximum versatility. And the culmination of this tradition culminates in the latest model year of this variation. Porsche Rive-Sud, your reference Porsche dealer in the eponymous area, gives you its opinion on the more vitamin-rich version, the 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S, following its test drive!
Exterior styling: beautiful and deliciously retro!
The first contact we had with our 2021 911 Targa 4S test car was in front of the Porsche dealership on the South Shore of Montreal, not far from St-Hubert and Longueuil. And this one was eminently visually striking!
Oval headlamps on the extremely curved front wings, a ribbed front hood, equally rounded and very wide rear wings, a superbly vintage silver fixed arch, and an expressive rear light strip reminiscent of the 911 Type 964: the 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S takes the best of each generation in its own way to offer a modern interpretation of the Targa concept while honouring the history of this car.
However, the colour combination of our example was the most impressive. With its very exclusive Gentian Blue Metallic exterior and red roof, plus the superb Carrera Exclusive Design wheels painted in Jet Black Metallic, we were instantly charmed on the South Shore of Montreal, even before we started the test drive!
Theoretical specifications emphasizing performance and everyday versatility!
However, a Porsche 911, and even more so a Targa, is first and foremost a high level of performance that can be used every day! And our 911 Targa 4S Type 992 is no exception to this rule.
Indeed, our model is equipped with a very vigorous 3.0-litre turbocharged flat-six engine delivering all of its 443 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque to the four wheels (all-wheel drive as standard), via an 8-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox. However, a 7-speed manual transmission is also available for purists.
For our model, Porsche Canada promises a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 3.6 seconds thanks to the blistering speed of the PDK transmission, aided by the Sport Chrono Package our 911 was equipped with. The theoretical top speed on the track is given as 304 km/h. These figures gave us the impression that the driving experience would be incomparable, which we would of course try to confirm during the test drive!
Interior: a perfect balance between tradition and modernity, for an immense driving pleasure.
Now it's time for us to get inside our Porsche 911 Targa 4S, without starting our test. Indeed, we take a few minutes to admire the cabin, which has all the makings of a real work of art.
And this starts with the dashboard design, which is very clean and horizontal, so that we can concentrate on what matters: driving pleasure and the road! Even before the engine is turned on, our experience is enhanced tenfold by the Bordeaux Red Exclusive Manufaktur leather covering the interior. This is complemented by a superb Slate Grey to offer a two-tone interior that blends perfectly with the brushed aluminium elements. Thus rigged, our cockpit has a timeless classic look of the finest effect!
And this cabin, with its traditional features, is surprisingly elegantly equipped with all the latest technology you would expect from a prestigious vehicle. Power seats with 18-way memory function, night vision, intelligent cruise control, lane change assist and Burmester's top-of-the-line sound system: our 911 Targa had everything we could have hoped for to carry out our test drive in the best possible conditions starting from Porsche Rive-Sud!
On the road: high performance combined with unlimited versatility.
The time has come for us to wake up the flat-six engine that has been sleeping behind our backs. It comes to life with a cavernous metallic voice, suggesting that our test drive is going to be a good one!
Once the roof was stowed, we left the dealer's parking lot and headed for the nearest highway entrance. But we didn't have to wait for the latter to be pleasantly surprised by our ride. On the road leading to the highway, we were impressed by the quality of its damping: it is certainly firm, but the suspension absorbs all the irregularities of the road without ever jarring us with any parasitic movement. The steering is communicative and easy to adjust, and above all, very precise, even at low speeds. Impressive!
Here we are already on the ramp to the motorway. This is the perfect opportunity to test the acceleration potential of our Porsche sports car. After dropping a gear and barely touching the right-hand pedal, our 2021 911 Targa 4S leaps forward in an indescribable rush, slamming us into our seats with force. We even have to keep an eye on the speedometer to make sure we don't exceed the speed limit on the fast lane, which we reached long before we entered.
We then confirm these first impressions with two lightning passes about two kilometres after entering the motorway. Each time, our Targa takes off explosively, roaring the flat six at our backs and teleporting us far ahead of the vehicles in front of us. The figures given by Porsche Canada are more than confirmed: they even seem very conservative!
Next comes a series of high-speed corners in the shape of an 'S', the perfect opportunity to test the chassis and steering at higher speeds. As the car enters the first curve, the front end is imperial, placing itself exactly where we want it. The rear end follows suit, while remaining firmly attached to the road. When the car changes direction for the second curve, it changes direction flat out and positions itself where we want it to. Our 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S of the day is both rigorous in its handling and comfortable for its passengers. A real tour de force!
As we turned back after about 10 km, a heavy rainstorm started, and we barely had time to put the roof back on to avoid getting soaked. However, this setback was the perfect opportunity to test the soundproofing on board with the roof closed, but also the efficiency of the all-wheel drive, which is standard here. Once again, our "Targa 4S 992" lived up to its name: there was no noise on board except for the soft, distant whisper of the flat-six engine, while all four wheels remained literally welded to the road despite the impressive rainfall.
Conclusion: the 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S is the most versatile Porsche 911 Type 992!
This is how we would sum up our opinion after this unforgettable test drive of our 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S. One of the best looking cars in its class, unrivalled performance that is safe and easy to use at all times, a flat-six that sounds great when the top is down, and a range of equipment that rivals the best limousines: this latest version of the 911 Targa concept is simply a no-fail car.
Still have questions? Come see us as soon as today at Porsche Rive-Sud, your reference Porsche dealer between St-Hubert and Longueuil! You will be able to book your test drive of your future Porsche 911 Targa 4S very easily. We will also take this opportunity to inform you about Porsche offers and Porsche leasing and financing programs that will allow you to get behind the wheel of YOUR own 2021 911 Targa 4S. We look forward to seeing you at the dealership!
August 5, 2021