We can imagine that car tuners, being car fanatics themselves, always have little projects in the back of their heads of cars they would like to recreate with a modern twist. They have the tools and the knowledge, so the build is just a matter of time and demand. Expert Porsche tuners, RUF, have delved into that part of their cranium and have pulled out the new RUF Roadster based on the 1967 Porsche Targa.
The new RUF Roadster has an aerodynamically optimized, lower rear window and two extremely light, removable roof pieces made of carbon fiber. The "soft" rear window is made of a three-layer polyglass and an electric engine keeps the rear window tight.
Under the hood RUF provided a choice of two engines: a 400 HP six cylinder boxer engine or a turbo with 560 HP. These engines will be mated to either a a six speed gear box or a dual clutch gearbox with four-wheel drive available as an option.
The whole package is finished by 19" forged aluminum wheels in a five-spoke design.
The RUF Roadster will be built in a limited number in 2011 and will be sold for Euro 195.000 (or $270,000 at the current exchange rates).
Press release after the jump.
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We know that Porsche Carrera and Targa are already good looking cars, but if you feel like customizing them a bit TechArt has the right program for you.
For the exterior the tuner is offering a front spoiler with braking cooling ducts, front grille inserts, side skirts, mirror inserts, headlight rings, a roof spoiler and a choice of three different wings (Rear Wing I, Rear Wing III, or Rear Wing IV). And to finish up in style you can also choose from Formula I, II, or the new light-weight one-piece forged Formula III wheels.
For the interior TechArt is offering leather and all kinds of select materials, tastefully coordinated colors, a sense of design with unmatched precision and craftsmanship.
To improve the car’s performances the tuner is also offering new coil-over suspensions, steel-flex brakes lines that ensure an optimal pressure point at a consistent pedal force and an easy brake force
regulation.
The German sports car maker Porsche first unveiled the Targa in 1967 featuring a removable roof panel designed in response to concerns that the tightening U.S. safety restrictions would ban convertibles. The 2009 Porsche Targa 4 remains absolutely unique and truly exceptional wit its full glass roof, both the Targa 4 and 4S are on sale with prices starting at just $92,100 and $103,100 respectively.
Under the rear deck lid Porsche has placed a 3.6 Liter flat six rated at 345 HP in the four wheel drive version and a 3.8 liter delivering a total of 385 HP in the 4S. The Targa 4 can hit a top speed of or 176 MPH, while the 4S goes up to 184 MPH. At the same time fuel consumption for the 3.6 Liter model has been improved to 26.6 MPG and the 3.8 Liter unit is now good for 25.7 MPG.
Both models are available with the new Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) double clutch gearbox with no less than seven forward gears that allows the new Targa to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in exactly 5.0 seconds while the Targa 4S makes the trip in an even faster 4.7 seconds. In either case it is 0.2 seconds faster than the standard manual gearbox.
Press release after the jump.
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To get the most out of a Porsche exhaust system, it has to be tuned to a tone that would likely get its owners in trouble with noise ordinances in their well-heeled neighborhoods. But Porsche doesn’t want its enthusiasts to drive tames cars, and it developed a new adjustable sports exhaust system for the Carrera and Targa 4.
The heart of the system is the exhaust flap on each main silencer activated by the engine’s electronic control system and switching over to a more sporting sound as soon as the driver activates the sound mode. The system itself is activated by a separate button in the center console varying the sound of the exhaust as a function of engine load, road speed and engine speed.
So the price to have all this control at your fingertips, a paltry $2500.
Press release after the jump
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After the 911 Carrera and the Carrera 4 next to be unveiled will be the Targa facelift, on July 28.
Same as the other two 911 model, the Targa will feature LED daytime driving lights and bi-xenon headlights, Porsche’s double-clutch gearbox and increased power.
Stay tuned for more details!