The all-new 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS is the latest and greatest from Porsche. It is the 911 for everyone, with a perfect combination of performance, luxury, and style. With its 400+ horsepower engine and 7-speed transmission, it can go from 0 to 100 in just 4.3 seconds. And with its luxurious leather interior and sleek design, it’s sure to turn heads wherever you go. So if you’re looking for the ultimate driving experience, the new Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS is definitely worth a look.
These days, selling a sports car is not easy. Take the Mercedes-AMG GT, which was an equally attractive option for the 911 but found few buyers. Porsche figured out with the 2004-2012 997 generation that to justify the 911, they had to offer a car for every sports car buyer. If you cater only to diehard fans and specialists, you won’t sell enough; your market must be as broad as possible. The method has been successful, and the 911 program has grown into a behemoth with 23 vehicles each with an extensive accessory list. It also produced some oddities, such as the Targa 4 GTS.
The GTS is the 911 Carrera for enthusiasts, with 473 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque instead of 443 hp and 390 lb-ft. The Targa is the “lifestyle” 911, even heavier than the Cabriolet and less sporty because of its all-wheel drive. The 911 Targa 4 GTS is an interesting car, especially when equipped with a manual transmission. At the same time, it is also one of the best 911s you can buy today.
Like a sparkling drink, the Targa encourages you to relax and take life less seriously. The limits of contemporary high-performance cars are usually so great that it is difficult to reach them on ordinary roads. The GTS 4 Targa, on the other hand, is still extremely fast and has plenty of grip – but you don’t have to push it to the limit to have fun.
The suspension is a revelation. It is much better suited to uneven roads and presumably in this respect the Targa 4 GTS performs exemplarily on any road surface. The car floats above the road surface instead of trying to forcibly maintain its place on the road surface.
The Targa 4 GTS’s handling doesn’t seem to suffer either. Maybe on the track there is a difference, but who buys a Targa for track work? Compared to most cars on sale today, the Targa 4 GTS has excellent, communicative handling, although 911s with all-wheel drive lose some of the nuance found in their two-wheel-drive counterparts. It feels a little less traditionally 911-like because it’s powered a little less by the rear engine. Four-wheel drive gives drivers confidence in knowing they can handle any terrain or circumstance.
The optional manual transmission, something no other luxury sports GT car offers, provides a welcome but unusual touch to the Targa 4 GTS. It contributes to the feeling of carefree enjoyment here by involving the driver much more in the driving process. The fact that it is a 7-speed transmission can cause frustration when you want to go to sixth gear. In fact, this gearshift allows you to go from seventh to fourth gear far too easily due to its highly self-centering effect.
Therefore, in reverse, first, third, fifth and seventh gear, the narrow gates often result in a third gear while you are looking for the fifth, and vice versa.
While seven gears may be too much for one gearbox, the smoothness of the shifting and the light clutch make it a better overall experience.
The cabin and overall construction quality are world-class, and they are entirely appropriate for the €175,000 recommended retail price of this car. It is true that it is a considerable sum of money, but still you will not discover another sports car with higher driving pleasure. If you want a fast, drop-top four-wheel-drive 911, this is what it takes.
The 911 is a truly beautiful vehicle and while it comes across as less hardcore than many of its siblings, it is still more engaging than any other luxury sports GT car. In any case, it is easy to understand why the 911 has become such a modern success story.
