2011 LA Auto Show – Porsche Panamera GTS World Debut

Porsche’s latest Panamera has broken cover at the Los Angeles Motor Show. The Panamera GTS, which sits between the S and 4S and Turbo models, is based on the all-wheel drive 4S.

Porsche fiddled with the naturally-aspirated 4.8-litre V8 powering the S and 4S to produce an extra 30hp (22kW) and 20Nm (15 lb-ft) of torque to endow the GTS with a total of 430hp (321kW) at 6,700 rpm and 520Nm (384 lb-ft) of peak torque.

Unlike the lesser models, the Panamera GTS is equipped with the Sport Chrono package and 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission as standard. Porsche claims the GTS will complete the 0-60mph dash in just 4.3 seconds (0-100km/h) in 4.5s) and on to a top speed of 178mph (286km/h). This makes it marginally faster and the S and 4S dual but still slower than the Turbo’s 186mph (300km/h) plus top speed. When mated to the PDK gearbox, the GTS returns 10.9 litres of fuel per 100km and emits 256g/km CO₂

The sports saloon is suspended on lowered air suspension and Porsche has also installed the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system to the car to further improve handling. With the system set at “Normal”, the GTS sits 10mm lower than any other Panamera.

The Stuttgart engineers have also inserted 5mm wheel spacers between the wheel and the wheel hubs to increase the rear axle track width, thus giving the car a wider rear track. The car rides on new 19-inch wheels wearing 255/45 front tyres and chubby 285/40 on the rear. An optional 20-inch wheel package is also available with 255/40 tyres on the front and 295/35 on the rear.

Besides chassis tweaks, the company has restyled the front bumper to incorporate larger air intake openings. Cosmetically, the GTS is set apart from its other siblings with high-gloss black exterior package which comprised of side window trim, decorative trim on the rear hatch, the headlight washer unit cover, the rear diffuser and the side air outlet panels.

The black theme continues on the front grilles, side skirts and a sport exhaust system with matte black tail pipes.

The interior of the GTS has also been upgraded with leather and Alcantara trimmed sports seats in a choice of five colours. The light weight Alcantara can also be found on the door panels, console armrest, as well as the roof liner and steering wheel.

Porsche is also offering two bespoke optional interior packages for the Panamera GTS that combine a black interior with decorative stitching on the seats, floor mats, dashboard, door panels, centre console armrest and doors, in GT Silver or Carmine Red.

Another novel feature is the Porsche Sound Symposer, which according to the company, “picks up the intake vibrations between the throttle valve and the air filter, and transmitting them as engine sound via a membrane into the A-pillar”.

The Porsche Panamera GTS will be launched in February 2012.