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2014 Porsche 911 Targa unveiled and detailed


The silk has been officially pulled off the 2014 Porsche 911 Targa -- although official photos also leaked onto the internet from a Chinese website in the early hours of the morning. As expected from spy photos and earlier leaks, the 911 Targa echoes the classic roof design of its 1960s ancestors, while the B-pillar has been beefed up to add more strength.

The roof is comprised of a soft top, lightweight magnesium frame and glass rear window. The centre roof section slides back at the touch of a button, furling neatly behind the rear seats in a 19-second choreography that includes the window opening and tilting to allow the fabric top to pass and be stowed into its compartment, while the window closes once it's clear.

Porsche is initially launching with all-wheel drive Targa 4 and Targa 4S variants, carryng the 257kW/390Nm 3.4-litre and 294kW/440Nm 3.8-litre flat sixes, each availavle with a seven-speed manual or PDK dual-clutch auto transmission. The German carmaker claims a 0-100km/h time of 4.8 seconds for the Targa 4 and 4.4 seconds for the 4S.

The chassis has been given a working over to ensure it maintains its road manners with the new roof, helped by torque vectoring to aid cornering and the option of the Porsche Sports Chrono pack to up the performance.

Porsche has confirmed that the 911 Targa will apear locally by mid-year, and command a premium of $2,300-$3,300 over existing Cabriolet models.

2014 Porsche 911 Targa pricing:

Porsche 911 Targa 4 manual - $247,900

Porsche 911 Targa 4 PDK auto - $253,850

Porsche 911 Targa 4S manual - $285,100

Porsche 911 Targa 4S PDK auto - $291,050