Porsche to Debut New 911 Carrera Targa at Frankfurt

    ATLANTA, Aug. 8 Porsche today announced it will debut an
all-new 911 Carrera Targa model at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt,
Germany, on September 11, 2001.  The 911 Carrera Targa will offer Porsche
customers a third 911 Carrera body style in addition to the 911 Carrera Coupe
and Cabriolet models, as well as introduce some unique attributes.
    Porsche has not offered a 911 Targa in North America since 1997.  The all-
new 911 Carrera Targa expands on the concept of the previous model, which
featured a large power-operated sliding glass roof that slid under the rear
window.  In the all-new 911 Carrera Targa, the sliding glass roof panel covers
nearly five square feet, or about twice the area of the standard sunroof on
the 911 Carrera Coupe.  Two electric motors open the glass roof almost
silently.
    The biggest difference from the previous 911 Carrera Targa is that the
rear window in the new model is hinged to open, providing convenient access to
the rear luggage compartment.  In the new 911 Carrera Targa, folding the rear
seatbacks down provides access to 8.1 cubic feet (230 liters) of cargo space,
compared to 7.1 cubic feet (201 liters) in the 911 Carrera Coupe.
    Like the redesigned 911 Carrera models that Porsche is introducing for
2002, the all-new 911 Carrera Targa shares the new 911 Turbo-inspired front-
end styling and new 3.6-liter, 320-horsepower engine, along with interior
enhancements.  The new 911 Carrera Targa model weighs about 150 pounds more
than the 911 Carrera Coupe and will accelerate from zero-to-62 mph (100 km/h)
in just 5.2 seconds, compared to 5.0 seconds for the Coupe.  North American
pricing and availability of the new model will be announced at a later date.
    Porsche unveiled the first 911 Targa model at the Frankfurt show in 1965
and introduced it to North American customers in 1967.  Named for the Italian
Targa Florio road race where Porsche had enjoyed much success, the 911 Targa
model presented a truly innovative approach to open-air motoring (there was no
911 Cabriolet until 1984).
    The first 911 Targa featured a large, removable hard roof section over the
doors.  A stainless-steel-covered structural hoop over the mid-section of the
car provided both additional body reinforcement and a unique (and often
imitated) design element.  Behind the hoop, a soft roof section folded down
under a tonneau cover.  For 1968, buyers could choose a fixed, wraparound
glass rear window on the 911 Targa, and this became a standard feature for
1972.
    The 911 Carrera Targa model continued with this body configuration until
1993, and Porsche introduced the sliding glass roof on the 1996 911 Carrera
Targa.