Elegance, exclusivity, class, and style - these are all words that we naturally associate with Porsche. But why does the word Porsche resonate with quality, you might ask? Simple, because the company has built nothing short of exemplary cars since 1948. The same is true with the Porsche Design Studio’s merch which range from Porsche car accessories to a $2000 leather jacket and everything in between. And there is the Chronograph -1 that first came out in 1972 and is sure to make a statement everywhere the wearer goes.
The Porsche Design Studio was founded by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in 1972, the grandson of founder Ferdinand Porsche. In 2022, Porsche set out to commemorate 50 years of its Design Studio with an all-new 911 Edition 50 Years Porsche Design. The company would build just 750 of these awesome cars based on the 911 Targa 4 GTS and would only be available in black and satin colors. The car was showcased together with a 1972 also built in 1972 and featured a 2.3-liter engine. There were Chronograph-1 design elements inside the car as well. Uwe Makrutzki, the Porsche Classic division head mentioned that they intended to return the 1972 model to be as close to the original model as possible. Yet he also mentioned that during the restoration, there were a few things that the team did differently namely creating a vehicle that blends both the traditional and modern design features. The T 2.4 Targa also has a slate grey steering wheel and seat belts. Let’s take a dive into the 911 Edition 50 Years Design and find out what it’s all about and why it's so special. So, if you are ready, let’s get into it!
The Edition 50 911 would miss the point if it didn’t come with its special features. Why the black color you may ask? Well, because black was the color of Porsche Design Studio’s first watch the Porsche Design Chronograph - 1. The company is set to commemorate this first watch with the 50 Years Porsche Design. Shift your eyes to the center console lid and you will see Ferdinand Alexander’s signature. There is also the 50 Years Porsche Design logo on the headrest. But that is not where the signature look ends. There is also the “50 Years Porsche Design” insignia that sits proudly on the engine grille.
To understand the Edition 50 Years Porsche Design, you’ll need to take a trip back in history. Back in the 1960s, Porsche’s founder Ferdinand Porsche decided that he wanted a 911 with an open top. But there was one issue; the concern that new automotive legislation in America would create a ban on building drop tops. This prompted Ferdinand to come up with the Targa. Buyers took well to the new Porsche design and sales skyrocketed well into the 80s. However, Porsche would receive its first major challenge with the introduction of the 993 Porsche Targa generation which featured a panoramic roof. Unlike the previous generation, this new model lost popularity with buyers and sales saw a rapid decline. But with the drop of the panoramic roof in the subsequent generation and a new B-pillar supporting an outwards protruding rear windscreen, sales began to recover. This new generation model was a 911 T Targa 2.4 with the “T” standing for touring. The car featured a sport configuration which then prompted a 2341cc 187hp flat 6. It also received design elements inspired by the Chronograph-1 watch with black and platinum hues and similar badging to the now Edition 50 Years Porsche Design.
The Targa 4 GTS is stunning and sharp to look at as is, but the neat little tweaks on the 50 Years Porsche Design just add to the appeal. It would be hard not to start by appreciating the gorgeous exterior the first time you lay eyes on it. The car rides on some 20 or 21-inch wheels with the brake pads painted black. The exterior of the car also comes in black while the Porsche logo, doors, rims, and bar show off a stunning satin platinum shade.
There is also no missing the quality that we’ve all come to expect from the Porsche 911 line. The inside is first and foremost quite roomy even for drivers who are over six feet. The interior materials are top-notch, and the stitching just adds to the allure of a quality and carefully crafted piece of engineering art. There is also the 5-gauge cluster and an upgraded, more responsive infotainment screen with larger icons. When it comes to luggage, you will get the 4.6 cubic feet of the Targa 4 GTS. You can get extra room behind the seats to carry any extra luggage you may have. But that’s about it.
Tucked nicely in the rear is a 3.0 Liter twin-turbo flat-6 which is the engine that you will find in the Targa 4 GTS. The 50 Years Porsche Design will do 0-60mph in just 3.5 seconds and will reach a top speed of 190mph. So clearly there aren’t many mechanical upgrades when comparing the 911 Edition 50 Years Design with the Targa 4 GTS. You can expect the same level of quality driving experience with the Edition 50 911. The power, feel and precision are all too familiar and all too reliable as is expected with Porsche. Only this time you get your Porsche with a Chronograph 1- 911 50 Years Porsche Design.
That said, it is by no means a carbon copy of the Targa 4 GTS as the latter is 70 kg heavier owing to the roof design. The engine produces 473hp and up to 570Nm of torque. It is mated to a standard 8-speed, dual-clutch PDK transmission. That said, you can also get the Edition 50 Years Porsche Design with a 7-speed manual transmission. The only thing that anyone would criticize with the engine is that the turbo doesn’t offer the resounding effects that you get with a naturally aspirated engine. Of course, it’s not that bad especially when you go up the tachometer. Anyone can understand as it is based on the Targa 4 GTS. That said, it would be hard to critique anything else with the car.
Porsches are still one of the most popular collector cars to date and it will come as no surprise that buyers and Porsche fanatics will be looking to quickly get their hands on one of the Edition 50 years Porsche Design and the designer watches that come with them. Let’s face it, buying a car can be a painstaking process. The process is made simple and quick with the right partner. If you are searching for your 911 Porsche, you can make the entire process simple for you by choosing Exotic Car Trader. There are plenty of options listed and you are sure to get the car for you. Even better, once you’ve finalized the deal with the seller, ECT can have the car sent straight to your doorstep.
As for the driving experience the paddle shift, steering wheel, and even the brakes feel comfortable and weighted to precision which makes you feel at ease driving even at higher speeds. With the paddle shifter, the driver can instantaneously make gear changes and the transmission will respond just as fast allowing you to propel yourself to exhilarating speeds. Pressing on the brakes will get you appreciating the level of engineering that has gone into the Edition 50 Years Porsche Design as the car moves to a halt from 70mph in just 142 feet.
You would think that the all-wheel drive system would cause a bit of front-end weight but this is overridden by the immensely powerful engine that you will not even notice. One great advantage of the AWD however is the superb grip. Something that the driver is sure to notice during those sharp turns. Other cool features include the Porsche Active Suspension Management sport suspension, huge brakes, sport exhaust system, and center locking wheels. The Sports Chrono package and the 18-way adaptive seats also come as standard on the 911 Edition 50 Years Design.
There’s a price to pay for all that power and exclusivity. The Edition 50 Years Porsche Design was priced at $197,200 which is $39,000 more than the Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS. But the car is not the only commemorative feature of the 50 Years of Porsche Design existence. The company also released two versions of the Chrionograph-1. There was the Chronograph-1 1972 which would only be 500 pieces and the Chronograph-1 911 Edition 50 Years Porsche Design which will only be available with the 750 vehicles.
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