Porsche reveals yet another 911 variant

Porsche has just taken the silky wrapper off its latest 911 variant: the Targa 4 GTS.

Revealed at the Detroit Auto Show, the 911 Targa 4 GTS (to give it its full name) is the 20th permutation of Porsche's legendary rear-engined sports car. However, this GTS isn't occupying the same sweet spot as the its Coupe and Cabrio brethren - the meat in the Carrera S and GT3 sandwich - as, unfortunately, the Targa is only available with four-wheel-drive.

But you do get all the other GTS accoutrements. That means the 3.8-litre flat-six engine from the Carrera S but with a healthy 30bhp boost to take its total output to 424bhp. That power is fed through a seven-speed manual gearbox as standard, with Porsche's seven-speed PDK paddleshift transmission available as an option.

The goodie list continues. The optional-on-a-Carrera PASM chassis is standard, gloss black 20-inch wheels from the Turbo S adorn each corner and a rorty sports exhaust system is hanging out the back. They've even chucked in the Sport Chrono package as standard. That adds a desirable dash-mounted stopwatch, launch control, active engine mounts as well as torque vectoring and a limited-slip differential. All Good Things.

However, most importantly, you'll also get lots and lots of letters across the back of the car so passers-by can decipher your 911 spec of choice with ease.

With the PDK transmission, this power hike gets the Targa 4 GTS from 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 186 mph. But, economy fans, you'll be glad to know it doesn't effect the MPG. Witchcraft.

The GTS spec - which initially was just a run-out special for the old 997 generation - is now flooding the 991 portfolio, bringing a different aesthetic with it. The cabin is awash with lighter-than-leather black Alcantara, blacked-out accents, GTS badging and smoked-out head and taillights.

With prices starting at £104,385, it's pretty expensive when you consider that you can bag a boggo GT3 for cheaper. But, as Porsche has done the hard speccing work for you, it'll save you more money than having to tick all the options on a standard Targa for yourself.

Tempted?