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2007 Porsche 911 Targa 4S Road Test

Back in 2003, I dubbed Porsche's 911 Targa "the perfect combination of coupe

This is a car you'll really want to drive 365 days a year. (Photo: Porsche)

and convertible." Four years later, after a most enjoyable week behind the wheel of the totally revised version, I found myself agreeing with me once again. This is indeed the best blend of coupe and roadster that money can buy. In 4S trim, mind you, it's even more enticing with a full-blooded 355 horsepower on tap, more than the old 320 horsepower Targa that I previously tested and again more than the new “base” Targa 4 which makes due with 325 horsepower.

The entire car, while similar in shape and function, is altogether different than the machine I drove back then. Nothing remains the same, actually, with all available engines having been upgraded, all-new body panels giving it a much more attractive and more classic appearance, and a completely revised interior that finally lives up to its six-figure price tag.

The Targa's roof system hasn't changed, which is a good thing as it's so critically important to its character. For those not familiar with the idea of the Targa

Almost the entire roof is glass, either shutting out the world in near silence or wide open to the sky. (Photo: Porsche)

roof, read on. Otherwise, skip a paragraph down. The modern day Targa roof bridges the gap between coupe and convertible, just like it did in 1967 when the first Targa debuted. Actually, the new roof operates in a way that's not totally unlike the T-top style panel that car initiated, although it's much more sophisticated now. In place of the removable metal roof the old car employed, the Targa's roof is a large panel of glass that slides backwards and underneath the revised rear window at the touch of a button. Think of it as a giant panoramic power-operated sunroof. Being that the Targa maintains the Carrera Coupe's front and center pillars, it more or less looks like a regular 911 coupe, although keen eyes will notice the rear quarter window is triangular in shape rather than rounded, and the rear glass is squarer at its bottom and blends into the glass roof at its topmost point. Due to the size of the opening when fully retracted, it offers plenty of fresh air, especially if the side windows are open.

What's new for this latest generation of Targa? In principle, not much. Porsche has basically kept the roof mechanism from the 996-generation car, but has improved on it ever so slightly. The big, 4.85 square foot glass roof is now more thermally efficient in that it is capable of filtering out more of the sun's infrared energy than before (up to 83-percent).

Seven seconds and it's open skies, or shelter. (Photo: Porsche)

More importantly, Porsche's engineers have found a way to shave nearly two kilograms off of the glass panel's weight, which improves the Targa's center of gravity. Oh, and to cap it all off the roof is speedier when opening and closing, taking just seven seconds. That's faster than any standard Porsche convertible, not to mention that the operation is not limited by the vehicle's speed. Whereas the standard Cabriolet can open and shut its roof at low speeds to prevent stoplight embarrassment, the Targa can open and shut its glass panel even if it's traveling at top speed. Doing so, mind you, is not recommended, not only for the safety considerations of doing anything that distracts from driving at 179 mph, but also because driving that fast anywhere in North America could be a rather costly proposition.

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