Ferrari has filed a patent with the European Patent Office for a new ‘Targa Top’ convertible roof design.
The move signals a potential return to the bodystyle for the Italian car maker after a 20-year hiatus.
The patent application refers to “a car with a ‘Targa Top’ body” that features a “coupé body with a rigid roof that is removable and is supported at the front by the upright of the windshield and at the rear by a robust, full-width roll bar”.
The Targa top style that Ferrari refers to is similar to that currently used by Porsche on the Porsche 911, but the new patent refers to the specific design and engineering involved. It proposes decreasing the aerodynamic turbulence associated with Targa tops by increasing the height of the windscreen upright, with a possible false insert that is installed when the roof is removed.
Ferrari claims that a Targa-style production car of its design would be “free from the aforementioned drawbacks” as well as being “easy and inexpensive to manufacture”.
It’s not known yet whether an existing Ferrari model will benefit from the new removable roof design, and the patent drawings illustrate an old F430 for reference. That mid-engined V8 model is a predecessor to the 488 GTB.
The 355 GTS of 1995-1999 was the last Targa-style Ferrari in mass production, although limited-run models such as the 575 Superamerica and LaFerrari Aperta were produced in small quantities since that car. A Targa-topped 488 would sit alongside the existing GTB and Spider convertible in the range, expanding a line-up that makes up a significant proportion of Ferrari’s annual sales.
Read more
Ferrari SUV: brand is "dead serious" about model, says boss
Join the debate
Add your comment
Targa or not....?
More a faff than a fashion thing?,like Sunroofs, many Moons ago Sunroofs were all the rage, pop it open let the air and Sun into your Car ,lovely, then we though it was posh to have a Leccy one, push a button and back it went, Aircon largely killed them off,oh yes there are still some today but there more a novelty, Targa tops?, well, you have to stop to remove them or put them back, who wants that hassle?
Peter Cavellini wrote:
Not so sure myself Peter. Have a Qashqai with panoramic roof that doesn’t open, and but love the light it lets in. Had Z4 with mechanised roof, great convenience, but heavy and complex, and decimated boot space when open.
A targa roof that could go in the boot might do for me, weigh a lot less, and be less complicated to fix.
Having said that I clearly don’t have the funds for a Ferrari, but don’t like any of the current batch anyway. :D
wrong again
Peter, sunroofs in decline? Purely in your head. And, do you really think that Ferrari would require its drivers to stop and open a manual targa one? That a Ferrari price level car with a targa roof wouldn't have an automated one like Porsche? We know you find it therapeutic for your massive attention seeking needs to comment on every article, but please try think for 2 seconds beforehand...
Top comment......
Folsom@, firstly, the last time I looked it was a free World, if I have an opinion I like to give it, I’m not always right, I welcome correction, and yes some say before they think but your supposed to ignore this be civil tolerant even,and, yo7 don’t have to say anything of course....,Targa Tops?... I learnt from a few posters, so I’m better informed now.....thank you!
Peter Cavellini wrote:
Have you looked at a carpark from above recently? You'll see that sunroofs are still very popular, my A6 Avant has one, and several of my previous vehicles have also had them. Most cars you can buy today still have a sunroof as an option.
A breath of ......?
I like my Air to be fresh, cold just so, and filtered so no Car exhaust or bad smells come in the Car, oh, and did I mention dust, what about Hayfever in the Summer?.....