With a kerb weight of 1,920kg the new Panamera GTS is certainly no light-weight, but in every other respect Porsche have fettled their four-seater sports saloon to go harder, faster and deliver a more rewarding drive.
Using the uprated 4.8-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine from the S/4S, the GTS gains 30 bhp and 20 Nm of torque resulting in 424 bhp at 6,700 rpm and 520 Nm at 3,500 rpm.
The GTS’ naturally-aspirated V8 drives all four wheels via a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.5 secs, reaching a top speed of 179mph. Combined fuel consumption is 25.9mpg with CO2 emissions of 256g/km.
Porsche have developed a Sound Symposer which directs intake noise from the engine into the interior at the touch of a button. By activating the Sport button, intake vibrations between the throttle valve and air filter are channelled via the A-pillar to enhance the driving experience.
The GTS also comes with an adjustable sport exhaust, controlled by a switch in the centre console, which features a “last mode” function that remembers the last setting and restores it when the engine is started.
More sporting chassis
As you would expect of a GTS model, adaptive air suspension has been fitted as standard combined with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). The result is an increase in both comfort and driving dynamics achieved by adjusting the spring rate and electrically adjusting the damping system, combined with a self-levelling height adjustment function.
With the air suspension at its normal level the Panamera GTS sits 10 mm lower than the other models in the Panamera range and its damping is designed to be tauter, reinforcing the sporting personality. Dynamic performance is further enhanced by the combination of 19-inch diameter Panamera Turbo wheels, 5 mm rear wheel spacers and larger brake discs from the Turbo – recognisable by their red brake callipers.
The Panamera GTS is also equipped with the Sport Chrono package as standard, which tailors the responsiveness of the engine, transmission and chassis according to the driver’s preference. In the ultimate Sport Plus mode, the adaptive air suspension lowers the vehicle to its low setting and switches to a harder spring rate. The rear spoiler angle of attack also changes to a pre-set performance-oriented position.
How about a few more acronyms?
PDCC with PTV Plus represent Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC), which limits body roll during cornering by using active front and rear anti-roll bars and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus), which varies torque distribution to the rear wheels by an electronically-regulated rear limited slip differential.
Design and equipment
For GTS read Turbo-lite – you’ll see the Turbo’s Sport-Design front-section together with its adaptive four-way rear spoiler.
The appearance of the Panamera GTS is further characterised by numerous black exterior styling details, including high-gloss black for the side window trim, decorative trim on the rear lid, the headlight washer unit cover, the rear diffuser and the side air outlet panels.
A further tell-tale sign are the GTS’ Bi-Xenon headlights with black inner bezels. These feature four LED daytime running lights, as per the Panamera Turbo, which are located in the main headlight cluster. The Panamera GTS is available with the option of Carmine Red paint, first introduced on the Cayenne GTS and with a choice of leather and Alcantara covering the adaptive 18-way adjustable sports seats.
The SportDesign steering wheel with PDK shift paddles and twelve o’clock marking on the steering wheel rim enhance the GTS’ dynamic looks and sporting functionality, whilst ‘GTS’ lettering is liberally applied on the front door entry guards, instrument cluster and the embroidered headrests.
Porsche has put together special optional equipment packages married with a black interior, exclusively for the Panamera GTS. The decorative stitching on the foot mats, top of the dashboard, upper edge of the door, armrest, door trim and centre console, the door closing handle along with the seat stitching are executed in Carmine Red or GT Silver.
The Porsche Panamera GTS will be on sale in the UK from February 2012, priced from £90,409.
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