Retro-inspired 2015 Porsche 911 Targa confirmed for 2014 Detroit Auto Show

By Stephen Edelstein January 8, 2014

porsche 911 targa confirmed 2014 detroit auto show — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Porsche will bring a classic body style back to life at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.

Headlining Porsche’s presentation next week will be the 2015 911 Targa. What kind of car is that, you ask? Why, it’s a targa.

The 911 Targa debuted in 1965 as a clever compromise between the open-topped romance of a convertible and practicality of a coupe. Featuring a removable roof panel and fixed back window, the 911 Targa allowed Porsche drivers to feel the sun on their faces, without most of the annoyances that usually accompany soft-top ownership.

Rumors that the United States would ban convertibles in the 1970s made the Targa and its integral roll bar an especially attractive option.

Porsche eventually ditched the removable roof panel for a glass roof, but the latest Targa will reportedly revert back to form. When word of the 2015 911 Targa first appeared back in September, it was suggested that the new car would have a “fully-automatic roof system.”

The Targa will likely be based on the 911 Carrera and Carrera S, meaning it will be offered with a 3.4-liter flat-six producing 350 horsepower and 287 pound-feet of torque, or a 3.8-liter six with 400 hp and 325 lb-ft.

Expect the usual transmission choices – seven-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch PDK – and optional all-wheel drive.

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Detroit Auto Show

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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