How Porsche Made the Targa’s Iconic Pop-Top Even Better

1 | Shaped Glass

The most complicated piece of the Targa puzzle wasn’t the mechanics; it was the glass. The rear window was judged by most parts manufacturers as too big and curvy to make. But after a two year search, Porsche found a supplier with an oven large and sophisticated enough to bake the enormous pane.

2 | Mechanical Ballet

Press a button and the Targa transforms. As hydraulic cylinders raise the rear glass, two panel covers lift and move inward, allowing the roof’s arms to rise and pivot back. Hydraulics pull the magnesium-coated Teflon top over the roll bar and stow it in a rear compartment just above the engine.

3 | Safety Meets Style

The defining characteristic of the original Targa was its metal hoop concealing a roll bar. In a nod to the car’s heritage, Porsche retained the familiar basket-handle look. But today’s design isn’t as simple: Die-cast aluminum panels hide intricate mechanics and a massive molded steel roll bar.

4 | Open Sesame

It’s hard to sell a $100K car that requires the owner to do manual labor. The original Targa’s roof was a rigid scaffolding covered in vinyl; popping the top meant lifting it off. The new, fully automated system is quicker and easier—the driver only has to lift one finger.