Along the highway that leads from Fiumicino to the capital, the Porsche Panamera GTS, even in red, does not attract much attention. Whoever drives it has good visibility to the front (less to the rear) and feels like in a well furnished and very comfortable living room thanks to the three-chamber air suspension. If he then decides to push the accelerator, he feels almost like a pilot: the roar of the supercharged engine sounds like that of a naturally aspirated one. But when the same model travels towards Lake Bracciano, which it then skirts to the enchanting Anguillara Sabazia, where a light haze gives the emotions of an impressionist painting, it goes a little less unnoticed.
Those who drive it can trace the curves on the little-trafficked country roads with inevitably imperfect asphalt and can check the reliability of both the braking system (high) with 390 and 360 mm red calipers and the composure of the set-up. There are sections where the Porsche Panamera GTS does not even seem to touch the ground with the tires: it seems to move on the tracks. The weight, at least two tons, is important and if on the one hand it helps to keep it glued to the road, which thanks to the lowered frame of 10 millimeters is even closer, on the other it affects the response. And yet even on the exits of corners the sedan (the proven bodywork) demonstrates extraordinary agility.
The four-thousand V8 gasoline dual-turbocharged has a delivery that satisfies even the highest revs. After 75 minutes and 72 kilometers behind the wheel traveled at an average pace of 59 per hour, the on-board computer indicates an average consumption close to 18 liters per 100 kilometers which differs from the maximum declared (13.3 l / 100 km) even as a result of a guide that differs from the normal one. Virtually inevitable.
Those who buy a Porsche hardly have mileage as a benchmark. Whoever buys a Panamera GTS probably imagines using it for long journeys taking advantage of its comforts, including the trunk, whose capacity varies between 495 and 1,334 liters (515 / 1,384 on the Sport Turismo) depending on the configuration of the seats, which are standard 2 +1 (40:20:40). It means that whoever sits centrally on the rear seat is always seated in a Porsche, but not comfortable enough to want one. On request it is possible to have two single armchairs also behind.
The laps in Vallelunga confirm that the Panamera GTS is also fun on the track, where the manufacturer tests the entire Gran Turismo Sport range with the reporter called to follow the instructor, but of course it is not his “natural” environment. The delightful transmission is naturally dual-clutch, PDK combined with Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive: changes are instantaneous. The Panamera is the only GTS to be fitted as standard with a roof spoiler, which in the “worst” Sport and Sport Plus driving modes is activated after 90 hours. The angle of attack can be adjusted to three levels according to the pace and driving mode selected and generates an additional thrust on the rear axle of up to 50 kg.
The sportiness of the GTS is also in the rumble, which is different and which naturally changes not only according to the aggressiveness of those behind the wheel, but also to the chosen driving setting. Aesthetically, the variant stands out for the Sport Design package, characterized by a specific bumper, black elements, including side skirts, and dedicated 20-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the Panamera GTS has 18-position adaptive sports seats in Alcantara Race Tex (a material also used for the upholstery of the heated multifunction sports steering wheel) and, among other things, the Gran Turismo Sport logo embroidery on the headrests and large surfaces. in Alcantara.
PORSCHE PANAMERA GTS, the card
What is that: with the initials GTS, Porsche identifies its sportiest variations, at least in terms of aesthetics. Because on the performance front, the most important variants remain the Turbo S, including hybrids: the top of the range is the 700 hp plug-in Turbo S E-hybrid. The GTS is also offered as both a sedan and a Sport Turismo
Dimensions: length 5.05 meters, width 1.94, height 1.42, pitch 2.95
Rivals: Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes Amg GT, Bmw 8 Series Gran Coupé
Engines: The GTS declination of the Porsche Panamera and its Sport Turismo variant are fitted with the 4.0-liter V8 with 480 hp and 620 Nm of maximum torque already available from 1,800 rpm. Declared fuel consumption starts at 12.1 l / 100 km (10.6)
Acceleration: With the Sport Chrono package, which is standard, the acceleration from 0 to 100 takes place in 4.1 seconds
Speed: the sedan reaches 300 km / h (292 for the Sport Turismo)
Advantages: driving dynamics, transmission, comfort
Defects: weight, price
Production: Leipzig (Germany)
Prices: the price list starts at 147,175 euros for the sedan and goes up to 150,103 for the Sport Turismo. But those who can spend more have no problem finding accessories to raise the price, starting with the head-up display or the panoramic roof.
