By Mike Torpey on 2011-11-17 - Driving Force news editor and responsible for organising our daily output. He was staff motoring editor of the Liverpool Echo for 20 years.
GT performance for
the purist
PORSCHE has lifted the wraps on the model the German company describes as the purist member of its Gran Turismo family.
The new Panamera GTS will cost from £90,409 and boasts an uprated 4.8-litre V8 engine producing a massive 430bhp, while the air suspension chassis has been lowered and larger brakes are standard.
For maximum performance, the V8 drives all four wheels via a seven-speed Porsche PDK transmission, ensuring 0-62 acceleration in 4.5 secs and a top speed of 179mph. Combined fuel consumption is 25.9mpg and CO emissions are 256g/km.
And both driver and passengers can hear the GTS's engine breathing as a Sound Symposer directs intake noise into the cabin at the push of a Sport button.
Exhaust gases exit the Panamera through the standard exhaust system, which comes with larger pipe diameters to reduce back pressure and contribute to the increased engine output.
The car's tuned chassis also comes with performance-oriented options fitted as standard - like adaptive air suspension combined with Porsche Active Suspension Management which increases both comfort and driving dynamics.
Also standard is the Sport Chrono package, which in addition to the Normal and Sport modes offers the Sport Plus programme - which lowers the vehicle to the low setting and switches to a harder spring rate.
With its large air intake openings, the GTS features the front section of the Sport-Design package of the Panamera Turbo, plus its adaptive four-way rear spoiler. At speeds above 127mph it generates downforce on the rear axle to ensure high speed stability.
There are also black exterior styling details, Bi-Xenon headlights with black inner bezels, leather and Alcantara upholstery, 18-way adjustable sports seats, SportDesign steering wheel with PDK shift paddles and twelve o'clock marking on the steering wheel rim and GTS lettering.
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