There are few more iconic sports car shapes than the Porsche 911, and I’d argue there are no more iconic targas than the 911 Targa. It helps that Porsche is one of the few major manufacturers still making the things, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is the one that defines the template.

What is a targa? Not quite a hardtop coupe, not quite a convertible, a targa attempts to split the difference. Whether it’s something like the split T-Tops of the ’80s and ’90s or the more comprehensive setup you see here, a targa has always been a good choice for someone who wanted the feeling of open-top motoring without all the compromises that a convertible brings to the table.

Compromises

Mind you, there are still a few compromises here. Porsche’s 911 Targa 4 GTS weighs 3,653 pounds, about 200 pounds more than a comparable Carrera 4 GTS, 50 more even than a Cabriolet, but it comes with a number of advantages. Perhaps most significant? The look. That iconic, fat B-pillar roll hoop that defines this car is just as strong as ever on this, the latest version of the Porsche 911, the 992.

Still there and still creating some massive blind-spots, but harkening back to the 1965 911 Targa that kicked all this off. This…