Porsche 911 Targa: Dramatic debut of a modern classic

The latest Porsche 911, today revealed to the world at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, is a dramatic combination of old and new, mating the classic Targa concept with today’s cutting-edge roof technology...

And doesn’t it look terrific? There was much ooh-ing and aah-ing in the Classic Driver office when the first picture was released, thanks to the characteristic wide bar that replaces the 911’s existing B-pillars. This bar is an unambiguous testament to the first 911 Targa of 1965 – when the stainless-steel-clad rollover bar was a necessary, functional feature adopted to address strict American safety regulations. Today, it has become a striking design element to complement the lines of a modern 911.

As with the original Targa of the 1960s, the latest Porsche also features a wraparound rear window with no C-pillar plus – of course – a removable roof section above the front seats. But thanks to modern technology, today’s 911 driver can open and close the Targa roof at the touch of a button. Porsche promises that the innovative, automated process of stowing the roof behind the rear seats will be an eye-catching spectacle in itself. 

There will be two model variants, both offered exclusively with all-wheel drive. The 911 Targa 4 has the 3.4-litre, 350HP engine, while the 911 Targa 4S delivers 400HP from a displacement of 3.8 litres. Acceleration from rest to 62mph is given as 4.8 seconds and 4.4 seconds, respectively.

The new models will be launched onto the market in May 2014 and, in Germany, will carry price tags of 109,338 euros for the 4, and 124,094 euros for the 4S, inclusive of VAT and country-specific equipment.

Photos: Porsche

Classic Porsche 911 Targas can be found for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

244M GBP super luxurious yacht to mimic Monaco and include a go kart track replica of the circuit

To be 155 meters long

Plans for a very luxurious yacht named "The Streets of Monaco" by UK-based ship designers at Yacht Island Design have been revived, promising to create a floating replica of the actual location.

The ambitious project is estimated to cost a whopping 244M GBP (about 402M USD or 295M EUR) and will mimic important landmarks of the city-state, such as the Prince's Palace, Port Hercule, Hotel de Paris, Loews Hotel and the famous La Rascasse. It will also have a go kart replica of the actual legendary Formula 1 circuit, along with a helipad, jacuzzis, jet skis, a mini submarine and swimming pools.

"The Streets of Monaco" super yacht will be 155 meters (169 yards) long and will be able to accommodate 16 guests and 70 members of the crew which will all be travelling at a top speed of 15 knots.

Plans for the yacht were originally disclosed in January 2011 but so far developers weren't able to find potential clients willing to pay the exorbitant price tag. Rob McPherson, one of the project's founders, told Daily Mail they are "looking for clients either private or commercial with the vision to realize this new and interesting design direction." He also said a lot of people have expressed their desire to take a cruise with the yacht and they also received "a number of enquiries for potential commercial applications."

A brochure of the project can be found at the second source link below.

Source: dailymail.co.uk and 'The Streets of Monaco' brochure (PDF)

spectacle

Leg 2: Ogier in front as competitors reach Monaco / Etape 2 : Ogier leader à Monaco

The 2014 world champion arrived in Monaco this evening at the top of the 82nd Rallye Monte-Carlo’s leaderboard following two days in France’s Hautes-Alpes, Drôme and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence regions. The Volkswagen/Michelin driver is currently 51.1s clear of fellow Frenchman Bryan Bouffier (Ford), while Ulsterman Kris Meeke (3rd, Citroën) trails by a further 47.5s. The last four stages, on Saturday, include the celebrated Col du Turini.

Le champion du monde en titre est entré ce soir à Monaco en leader du 82e Rallye Monte-Carlo après deux étapes disputées dans les Hautes-Alpes, la Drôme et les Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Le pilote Volkswagen/Michelin compte désormais 51s1 d’avance sur son compatriote Bryan Bouffier (Ford) et 1min38s6 sur le Britannique Kris Meeke (Citroên). Il reste quatre spéciales à parcourir demain, dont le fameux Col du Turini.

When he found himself leading the Monte Carlo on Thursday evening in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Bouffier humbly predicted that rival Ogier would no doubt succeed in passing him on today’s long stages.

The second morning was marked by pouring rain as the VW driver turned on the pressure to win both visits to the longest stage of the rally (Vitrolles-Faye, 49.03km), as well as Sisteron-Thoard (36.85km) where he smashed the previous record that had stood for 21 years by more than a minute!

Bouffier did all he could to stay ahead of Ogier, and was fastest by two-tenths of a second on SS8. However, a spin on SS9, then another 32 seconds squandered on SS11 probably put an end to his dreams of Monte Carlo glory.

With a margin of 51.1s in his favour, Ogier appears to be heading for his first win on the event as a WRC qualifying round. However, more horrible weather – and possibly snow on the Col du Turini – is predicted for Saturday, so the last day won’t be easy for anybody.

Briton Kris Meeke (Citroën DS3 WRC/Michelin) seems to have a firm grip on third spot, since he is more than a minute ahead of team-mate Mads Ostberg (4^th). The promise of an exciting battle between Meeke and Kubica failed to materialise when the Pole put his Ford Fiesta RS WRC off the road 32km into SS9.

It’s been another day of ups and downs for Jari-Matti Latvala who was ill-at-ease on the portions of shiny ‘black top’ asphalt on SS7, before picking up a puncture two stages later. The Finn concluded the leg with the fastest time on SS11 which enabled him to steal fifth place from Elfyn Evans (Ford) who made a poor tyre call for SS9 and SS10.

After losing time with a misted windscreen on SS8, Mikko Hirvonen (7^th, Ford) is now only 29s short of Evans and more than three minutes clear of Andreas Mikkelsen (VW) who was caught out by a patch of ice on SS10.

In addition to Kubica, the other main retirements so far are the two Hyundai i20 WRCs which failed to complete Day 1 (‘off’ for Neuville on SS1, and electrical problem for Sordo after SS4). The 1994 Monte winner François Delecour was eliminated after just 3km with a broken accelerator pedal.

The WRC-2 standings are currently led by Ukraine’s Yurii Protasov (Ford Fiesta R5), ahead of Robert Barrable (Fiesta R5) and Lorenzo Bertelli (Fiesta R5), while the RC2 order is still led by Italian Matteo Gamba (Peugeot 207 S2000) following the retirement of Olivier Burri (Fiesta S2000) on SS7. The only registered WRC-3 competitor is Quentin Gilbert who is still going, despite a penalty of 4m50s. The best-placed RC3 runner, however, is Sébastien Chardonnet (Citroën DS3 R3) who is 12^th overall.

Leader surprise hier soir au volant de sa Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Bryan Bouffier avait lui-même prédit la remontée de Sébastien Ogier en tête du classement général aujourd’hui, sur les longues spéciales du Gapençais et du Pays dignois.

Sous une pluie battante, Sébastien Ogier est effectivement passé à l’offensive. Il a remporté à deux reprises la plus longue spéciale du rallye, Vitrolles-Faye (49,03 km, puis la mythique Sisteron-Thoard (36,85 km), dont il a battu le record datant de 21 ans de plus d’une minute. Bryan Bouffier s’est bien battu, enlevant l’ES8 pour 2/10^e de seconde, mais un tête-à-queue dans l’ES9, puis 32 secondes concédées de nouveau dans l’ES11 ont peut-être mis fin à ses espoirs de victoire.

Avec 51s1 d’avance, Sébastien Ogier semble bien parti pour remporter son premier Rallye Monte-Carlo version WRC, même si demain, on annonce un déluge sur les Alpes-Maritimes et peut-être de la neige au « Turini ».

La troisième place semble elle-aussi jouée. Le Britannique Kris Meeke (Citroën DS3 WRC/Michelin) compte désormais près d’une minute d’avance sur son équipier Mads Ostberg (4^e). Le match entre Meeke et Kubica a tourné court quand le Polonais est sorti de la route au Km 32 de l’ES9, envoyant sa Ford Fiesta RS WRC en contre-bas de la route.

Jari-Matti Latvala a connu le bon et le moins bon aujourd’hui : en difficulté sur les plaques de goudron noir de l’ES7 puis victime d’une crevaison dans l’ES9, le Finlandais a fini l’étape avec un meilleur temps dans l’ES11 qui lui a permis de prendre la 5^e place à Elfyn Evans (Ford, mauvais choix de pneus ES9/10).

Lourdement handicapé par un pare-brise embué dans l’ES8, Mikko Hirvonen (7^e, Ford) est à 29 secondes du Gallois et possède plus de trois minutes d’avance sur Andreas Mikkelsen (VW), piégé par une plaque de glace dans Sisteron-Thoard (ES10).

Le Slovaque Jaroslav Melicharek (Ford) ferme la marche des WRC. Son équipier du team JipoCar, Martin Prokop (Ford) a disparu dans l’ES2 (alternateur). Les nouvelles Hyundai i20 WRC n’avaient pas bouclé la première journée : sortie de route pour Neuville dans l’ES1 et panne électrique pour Sordo après l’ES4. Vainqueur il y a 20 ans, François Delecour a dû abandonner après 3 km de course seulement (pédale d’accélérateur cassée).

En WRC-2, l’Ukrainien Yurii Protasov (Ford Fiesta R5) est leader devant Robert Barrable (Fiesta R5) et Lorenzo Bertelli (Fiesta R5). Julien Maurin (Fiesta S2000) a abandonné dans l’ES1. La catégorie RC2 est toujours dominée par l’Italien Matteo Gamba (Peugeot 207 S2000) depuis le retrait d’Olivier Burri (Fiesta S2000) dans l’ES7. En WRC-3, Quentin Gilbert était le seul engagé et il est toujours en course malgré 4min50s de pénalité. La catégorie RC3 est menée par Sébastien Chardonnet (Citroën DS3 R3) qui pointe à une excellente 12^e place au classement général.