Targa Cayman which way will it go?

Porsche is talking about a Targa Cayman. As a big fan of the Dino, I see the Cayman as the closest thing I can find to a small modern Dino because of the nice curves (I wish Ferrari would have built the "Baby Ferrari" but they did the California instead.)

If Porsche does build one, I am hoping we get a removable roof panel and not the huge glass sliding moon-roof design that Porsche has used before.

Question- was the big glass sliding roof option on the 911's a failure? ( I never see any on the street?)
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I don't think so, just more of a rare car with not too many wanting to pay for the option. The Cayman Targa would work. The slope on the back could be stylized better.

 

Agreed.

I like the open panel design. Caymans aren't selling well, so maybe this would help.

 

As a former Boxster S owner, I would love to see a Cayman Targa. A very good looking car.

The Carerra Targa with the sliding roof had some problems early on, but those have been sorted out. It is an expensive option and that glass weighs a lot.

 

I was expecting to hate the idea, but it looks really good in that first pic. My only question on the Cayman targa would be, where do you put the roof? To keep the weight down I would love to see them just do a removable panel, as opposed to sliding roof.

 

Sliding roof would probably add 200 pounds and for many that would be a deal breaker. Removable panel would probably be the best option, although the Cayman just as it is looks pretty darn good.

While it would also add weight, a Caymen 4 would be very cool.

 

the question would be, why not just do a Boxster with a hardtop where the central panel can be opened like a targa? others have done this...Smart Roadster, Qvale, etc.

 

A Boxster with a hardtop wouldn't have the pretty lines of the Cayman.

 

I hope they do it with a removable panel. The first pic looks nice...

 

a Cayman targa won't have the pretty lines of a Cayman

 

It could be a beautiful car, but I'm afraid we will get something "German Practical" instead of "Italian Art"

I also don't understand how putting weight (more glass).... high-up above the center of gravity, could ever be a good idea in a mid-engine car known for its handling, based on its low engine placement.
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There's probably some legal issues with a removable top these days. What if it were to fly off when driving? My Gawd.

 

the first rendering of the cayman targa looks fairly nice. it deals with that ugly (to me) bubble roof.

 

Base Corvette coupes and Grand Sport coupes still come with removable roof panels.

 

I agree....bubble roof is the only part that I don't like either.

 

Government Motors can probably write their own rules and don't care. Privately run companies have to be a little more cautious.

 

Looks good to me....espcially knowing the direction the 911/997 is going.

 

I like the removable panel idea. Instead of a heavy moving glass piece you're removing weight from the top with a panel, à la Porsche 944
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Lotus Elise also offers removable roof panel.

 

You just have to marvel at Porsche marketing.
They put a hardtop on the Boxter "to add stiffness" so thus charge a premium.
Everyone else charges a premium for a convertable.
Then they chop the top on the Cayman and add a premium again.
PT Barnum would be proud.

 

The Cayman Targa would look very good, if it has a removable panel like the past 911's.

 

I'm guessing you haven't heard of Zeintop/Zeintec... the image below is a Boxster with an aftermarket hardtop by Zeintec. The company is having 'issues', and was restructuring in another country last I heard, but this proves that the Boxster hardtop can look almost identical to the Cayman.

This with a removable panel would be the ultimate solution... hardtop, targa and full convertible options all in one.

-Tad
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Window area looks messed up. I can't imagine it would be easy to remove the top for full convertible mode.

 

I think targas are tough to sell when a full convertible version is available and in this case, it would even be cheaper. Look what happened with 355s.

Dave