The 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition. Not a copy. Not a replica. But a reinterpretation that pays particular tribute to the roots of the Porsche brand.
An ultra-modern car with historic details. Do they go hand-in-hand? Can the attitude to life of bygone times experience a revival as we head to the future? And can we bring iconic Porsche classics back to the road? All questions to which we wanted to find answers. And ultimately did so.
The result? Porsche Heritage Design. Four cars, inspired by four epic eras, with a single vision: to reawaken the emotions of that time in brand-new vehicles. Reshaping the spirit of the times. The starting flag comes down with the first model, the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition. This reinterprets the classic design features of the 1950s – and also takes a look at the 60s. Because good ideas are simply timeless. So it’s no surprise that the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition invokes not only one, but two special style icons: the legendary Porsche 356 and the first generation of the 911.
Key theme: fabric. A feature that has played an important role for Porsche from the outset. “Corduroy, Pepita, Pascha and Tartan. All textiles and patterns from our history that we are reviving in the interior,” reports Volker Müller, Head of Color & Trim Design Style at the Porsche Design Studio in Weissach. “It was particularly exciting to study and test the old fabrics and patterns – to reinterpret these according to current standards of safety and comfort, and return them to the road,” explains Stéphanie Kleiböhmer from the Porsche Color & Trim Design Style team. “Because fabric and surfaces are something very special that evoke memories. Maybe of childhood. Of bygone times. Of a Porsche from back then,” adds Volker Müller. Corduroy in Atacama Beige is used as a style-defining feature on the seats and door panels of the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition. “However, the extremely high wool content of the original cloth no longer meets today’s standards,” says Volker Müller. Other fibers have therefore been used. The result: a sharper look.
Gold-colored logos. A design feature steeped in tradition. While the first Porsche models still bore silver-colored logos, the gold-colored signature at the rear became increasingly common from the mid-1950s – lending vehicles an ‘exclusive touch’. With the launch of the Porsche 912 and Porsche 911 T in the mid to late 1960s, the gold-colored logos were gradually replaced by silver-colored and black anodized logos. A high-quality, historical design element that the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition revives – and brings to the modern age. Because gold-colored logos also adorn the edition’s rear and iconic Targa bar.
Porsche continues to make more exciting versions of the 911, this latest example was created to help us all reimagine the past in the exciting present. The Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition is certainly a great introduction to what we all hope to be a fascinating era for the icon that is the Porsche 911.
