Porsche 911 Targa 4S launched in Malaysia

In conjunction with the opening of the Porsche Centre Sungai Besi, Porsche also launched the 911 Targa 4S. By Jerrica Leong

Our UK counterparts did a brilliant feature by bringing the 911 Targa 4S back to the track of the legendary race, the Targa Florio that spawned the car’s name back in March. We’ve read about it and marvelled about it. Now the 911 Targa 4S is officially on sale in Malaysia and sitting in the Porsche Centre Sungai Besi that just opened its doors last week.

This time around, the topless 911 makes a comeback with the characteristic fixed Targa bar that the previous few generations have missed. Porsche is also extremely proud of the Targa’s new innovative roof concept that opens and closes in 19 seconds. The roof consists of two moving parts: a soft top and a glass rear window. The glass rear window tips back to allow the soft top to stow away in a Z-shape.

If you’re worrying about the glass top hitting something, don’t worry, Porsche has seen fit to keep parking assistance working while you’re either deploying or stowing your Targa top. The sensors will sound a warning if they detected an obstacle within the range of less than 40cm. This will also help prevent the Targa’s rear window from colliding with another object standing behind the car.

And now for the power unit. The 911 Targa 4S comes with a 3.8-litre flat six engine hidden under the bonnet. That engine generates 400bhp and when mated with a seven-speed PDK transmission and a Sport Chrono package, the Targa sprints from 0-100kph in just 4.4 seconds. Like its predecessor the Targa 4S is fitted with the intelligent all-wheel drive system, Porsche Traction Management (PTM) that combines typical Porsche driving fun with even greater driving stability, traction and agile handling. Even with a 3.8-litre that generates so much horses, the Targa 4S has a fuel consumption reading that ranges from 10.0 to 9.2l/100km and emits 237-214g/km of CO2.

The lightweight aluminium and steel construction inspired by the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet probably contributed to the performance the Targa 4S can achieve. To make it a little more distinctive as an all-wheel Porsche and different from its 911 Carrera siblings, Porsche has extended the rear end 44mm wider; the wheel arches of the rear axle have each been widened by an additional 22mm and the rear tyres are each ten mm wider.

The Targa 4S’ chassis is equipped with the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) as standard that has rebound buffer springs on the front and rear suspensions to make the car more chuckable around the corners than its two-wheel drive siblings. Porsche Torque Vectoring also comes as standard in the Targa 4S to help improve steering response and steering precision by targeted brake interventions at the rear wheel in highly dynamic driving situations.

Optional accessories includes Power Steering Plus that provides additional convenience and makes manoeuvring speeds below 50kph easier and the Sport Chrono package previously mentioned before. Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control also comes as an option for the Targa 4S along with Porsche Dynamic Light System.

So now that the Porsche 911 Targa 4S is officially in Malaysia how many do you think will we spot on the road? We’re curious hopefully the next time we’re posting about the Targa 4S we will be posting from behind the wheel! Let’s hope.