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Premiere Debut with a View

The rollout of the new 911 Targa 4 and the 911 Targa 4S concludes the fastest generational change ever in the 911 family. Porsche chose the spectacular panorama of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, for the world premiere of these outstanding new vehicles. A debut with a view.

By Photos by Elmar Brümmer Stefan Warter Page 26 Christophorus 334 Christophorus 334 Page 27

Targa di Garda:

Precipitous slopes. Tunnel vision. Backwind. Lemon trees in bloom. A sandy beach. Olive groves. The water’s edge. Beyond each curve, Lago di Garda presents a different vista. The new 911 Targa 4 changes gears fast—it accustoms itself swiftly to this kind of mind expansion. Page 28 Christophorus 334 Christophorus 334 Page 29

Take a look at that:

It’s like a fjord. It’s like the Mediterranean. Lake Garda’s diverse moods are an essential part of its character. But the Targa always remains in high spirits. The glass roof helps to sharpen perception of all the natural marvels. Page 30 Christophorus 334

The driver is taking notes, because the driver is a writer. Bodo Bella figura: Kirchhoff, who spends his summers here, is en route to Torri del Benaco: “I think that likening a face to a lake is a valid comparison. The panoramic roof of the new 911 Targa 4 After spending months in the city, which is faceless, my drive to the bests even the most stylish sunglasses lake already gives me a sense of fulfillment. It gives me a sense of joyous anticipation, even though it is a pretty long drive, and I south of the Alps—and certainly those curse anyone in the passenger seat who doesn’t share this feeling.” further north. To see and be seen. The scenic view of Lake Garda is a perfect Finally, we’ve arrived. An even happier feeling, because now the blend of the romantic and the dramatic. real tour begins. Lake Garda attracts any motorist who enjoys spectacular scenery, not just writers. It shares traits of Trentino, of Veneto, of Lombardia. A complex ambience: another reason why our car is headed this way. practical tailgate. Both segments come in special sunscreen glass to shield occupants from UV radiation and excessive heat. In a As the latest version of the classic Porsche sports car, the 911 smooth, synchronous operation, the moving segment slides be- Targa 4 and the 911 Targa 4S embody a universal 911 motto: neath the tailgate to fully open a 0.45-square-meter (4.8-square- they’ve got it all. That includes the new 3.6- or 3.8-liter six-cylin- foot) skylight in just seven seconds. Changing the new Targa 4 der boxer engines with direct fuel injection, the fast-shifting from a sunroom to a sunporch to suit the weather couldn’t be Porsche double-clutch transmission (PDK) or the electronically any easier. controlled Porsche Traction Management (PTM), and Porsche’s newest all-wheel drive system. Targa enthusiasts know that there Thank heaven for this midsummer night’s dream. Even in the has to be one more thing: the retractable roof that lets you con- cobalt-blue dusk it becomes obvious that the only constant about nect with the world around you. That’s why we are at Lake Gar- Italy’s largest lake is change. The topographic evidence abounds da, where lake and soul bond. Targa di Garda. The mood, the on the roads around the lake. Sometimes they force the Targa weather, even the water might change during a pleasure trip. All close to the rocky face of the Brescian Alps, and then the valley the better, then, that the car is always in the right mood. widens and flattens into a lakeside beach. Impressions inundate the Targa, captivating, memorable. Maximum acceleration is out One reason is its ever-present visual highlight: the glass roof that of the question here. Still, the PDK has many occasions to display spans a total of 1.54 square meters (16.5 square feet) and consists its unparalleled gear-shifting speed on this 140-kilometer (87- of two segments: the elegantly styled sliding portion, and the mile) circuit around the lake, with the start and the finish in A soul. Givethem aTarga. kinds ofbutterflies toLakeGarda.Giveyour momentsmore same lightnessthathasattracted morethanathousanddifferent ent beauty. SoweandtheTarga 4aredrivenonward. With the around thenextbendwithapromise ofmoreandentirelydiffer- such magicalplaces.Butthere isalwaysanotherviewbeckoning The temptationwouldbestrong tosubmitthemelancholyof to relaxinstyle. surrounding theGrandHotelFasano.Agreatplacetolearn how easy bythelakesideandvirtuallyirresistibleinsplendidpark goes twoways.Aftersomesightseeingit’s time to relax,whichis Po Valley. To seeandbeseen,herethevisual Targa experience northernhalf ofthelakewidensinto iera, wherethefjord-like promenade andtheterraceareourdestinationinGardone Riv- Here thelakeofmanyfacescanrevealitsnoblefeatures. The ury ofoldgrandhotelsblendswithMediterraneancasualness. tracks securelyallthewaytolowerwestshore,where lux- many curvesfollowtheshapeofshoreline.ThenewTarga engine andPTMprovidethestableridethat’s essentialasso shadow makestheexperienceallmorestimulating.Therear plete thecircuitaroundlake.Theresultingplayoflightand had tobecutthroughsheercliffsnolessthan75 timestocom- cipitous partoftheshoreline,oftenechointunnels.Thisroad companied bythesoundtrackofmountains.Andonpre- true fortheTarga andforthemind.Afloodofimpressions,ac- Often thebestwaytorelaxisgowithflow. That’s equally valuesareappreciatedhere.Bellafigura! uine class—these this familyofvehicleswasnamed.Unpretentiousnessandgen- though alwayswiththesafetyofitsintegralrollbar, afterwhich In thissettingtheTarga feelsathome.Itrejoicesindrivingopen, among theancientRomans. cial auraaroundthislake,whichfoundpoeticexpressioneven alpine water, andtoolittleneedforprivacy. Theremustbeaspe- around these370 squarekilometers(143 squaremiles)ofclear after thisweekendwithus.Therearejusttoomanysplendidsights shade, designedtoprovidegreaterprivacy, willfeelprettyuseless soundlikealiltingmelody.even theplace-names Thenewroller Riva, Limone,Gargnano,Sirmione,Lazise,Bardolino,Malcesine: curve alongLagodiGardaitfeelssmootherandmorerelaxing. The Targa isbynaturepowerfulandpurposeful,butwithevery CO more power, use11 percentlessfuel,andemit14 percentless theadvancedpowertraincanproduceupto8.5percent ment, really move,notjustitsroof.Dependingonthemodelandequip- FrancisofAssisi. WantSt. TheTarga tofeellikeaseagull? can groves, palms.And,ofcourse,lemontrees,broughthereby Mediterraneancypresses, oleander, cedars,olive you touchyou: enjoy alltheseasons.Anditletsdiversitythatsurrounds Hotsummers,mildwinters,theTargafood forthought. letsyou or, stimulatesthemind. transparencyis When you’redriving, Playing withthewind,evenwithoutanyturbulenceininteri- tic anddramaticatthesametime. north. We letthemcarryusalong.SurfingontheStrada,roman- theOrain thesouth,Ventopear incrosswordpuzzles: inthe Accompanied bykatabaticwinds,whosenamessometimesap- the GardesanaOrientalefromPeschieraalongeasternshore. Riva. DownthewesternGardesanaOccidentaletoSalò,andup Page 32 2 than itspredecessors. Christophorus 334 Christophorus B * 175mph) ⁄ h(Targa (176 4) ⁄ km 284(282)* Top trackspeed: 1,530kg(3,373lbs.)(Targa 4) (Targa 4) 4,400rpm at 390Nm(287lb.-ft.) Weight (DIN): 254kW(345 Max. torque: DirectFuelInjection⁄DFI 3,614cc(Targa 4) Power Aluminumsix-cylinderhorizontallyopposed output: Displacement: Induction: Engine: indifferentcountries.) (The technicaldatamay vary 4S Targa Targa 4and911 911 Technical Data w.rmescm⁄rils⁄5158.html ⁄ ⁄articles www.frommers.com www.goitaly.about.com www.gardalake.it isVerona. Thenearestairport (10 miles). withamaximumwidthof17 kilometers the A22highway, inlengthparallelto (32miles) It extends52kilometers Italy’s largestlake liesbetween the AlpsandthePo Valley. Lake Garda Acceleration: 0–100 km ⁄ h (0–62 mph): mph): h(0–62 ⁄ km 0–100 Acceleration: B The valuesi LOMBARDIA r escia Terme Darfo Boario n pa Salò Desenzano r e Bondone n Gargnano Gardone theses applytovehicleswithPDKt

Sirmione TIROL SOUTH

183mph) ⁄ h (Targa (185 4S) ⁄ km 297 (295)* sec.(Targa4.9 (4.7)* 4S) sec.(Targa5.2 (5.0)* 4) 1,540 kg(3,395lbs.)(Targa 4S) (Targa 4S) 4,400rpm at 420 Nm(309lb.-ft.) (Targa 6,500rpm 4S) at 283 kW(385hp) 3,800 cc(Targa 4S) water-cooled (boxer),

Garda Lake

Peschiera

G a rd Torri del Benaco es Limone a Bardolino G na Lazise a rde sa

n Riva a (Targa 6,500rpm 4) at hp)

Malcesine

Ve r ona VENEZIA r a n s m issio n .

Graphic: RWS