Panamera GTS: four-door sports car

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart’s sportiest Gran Turismo is leaving the pits: the Panamera GTS. The clue is in the name. At Porsche, GTS stands for Gran Turismo Sport, promising extraordinary Porsche performance ever since the legendary 904 Carrera GTS back in 1963.

More power and upgraded brakes, a body lowered by ten millimetres and the sporty tuned chassis with air suspension and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) are the major technical modifications that make it the Panamera model capable of cutting it on the racing circuit – without sacrificing practicality. The sportiest of all Panamera models also conveys this to occupants and the outside world by its striking sound.

In terms of looks, the new Panamera GTS signals its independence by distinctive design features in the front-end, side and rear area as well as black highlights. The interior is rigorously tailored to the sporty personality with sports seats, SportDesign steering wheel with shift paddles, exclusive GTS leather interior and Alcantara surfaces.

The power unit in the new Panamera GTS is a modified 4.8-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine, delivering 430 hp at 6,700 rpm, trumping the engine in its Panamera S/4S sister models by 30 hp. Maximum torque increased from 500 Nm to 520 Nm. The way in which at the push of a button the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmits the engine output to the all-wheel drive (PTM) – thanks to the Sport Chrono package featured as standard – is especially dynamic. This collaboration enables the Panamera GTS to sprint to 100 km/h in under 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 288 km/h. With NEDC fuel consumption of 10.9 l/100 km – only 10.7 l/100 km with low-friction tyres – the Panamera GTS remains as much of an efficiency role model in its milieu as all Porsche models.

The standard values for sprint and top speed do not do full justice to the sporty characteristics of the new Panamera GTS. Its chassis in particular makes it fit for the racing circuit: The adaptive air suspension and PASM featured as standard connect the chassis and body, constantly adapting to the driving challenges by regulating levelling settings, adjusting height and spring rate as well as electrically regulating the damping system. The damping is designed to be tauter, which helps agility and further reinforces the new Gran Turismo’s sporty personality.

Five millimetre thick wheel spacers between the wheel and the wheel carriers increase the rear axle track width, giving the Panamera an even more stable ride. The required grip is provided by 255/45 size 19-inch tyres on the front axle and 285/40 on the rear axle. Deceleration on the sporty Panamera is provided by the superlative braking system of the Panamera Turbo.

The Panamera GTS is available for order as of today with deliveries starting in March 2012. The basic retail price is 137,576 USD in the GCC.