+1 Porsches New Panamera GTS unveiled

Porsche has unveiled the Panamera GTS, the “purest expression” of a four-door sports car in the Porsche family, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Based on the Panam

Porsche has unveiled the Panamera GTS, the “purest expression” of a four-door sports car in the Porsche family, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Based on the Panamera 4S, the GTS adds more power.

The Porsche Panamera GTS also gets lowered air suspension, larger brakes and Panamera Turbo styling tweaks. In addition, a switchable Sound Symposer sound generator (which can feed engine noise into the cabin) makes its debut on the Panamera GTS. The model goes on sale in the UK next February, priced from £90,409.

Distinctive design features include bi-xenon headlights with black inner bezels, high-gloss black window trim, black side skirts, black lower rear fascia and matte black tailpipes.

Wolfgang Hatz, head of Porsche research and development, called Panamera GTS, “An uncompromising sports car for four in the shape of a limousine.”

The model uses a modified 4.8-litre V8 engine, delivering 430 horsepower, an increase of 30 horsepower over the Panamera S and 4S, along with 384 lb-ft of torque, up from 369 lb-ft. The standard sport exhaust system features two tuning flaps that expose additional exhaust openings at the push of a button on the console for an even more powerful sound.

Using the launch control feature of the standard Sport Chrono package, the GTS sprints to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and has a top track speed of 288 km/h.

The 2013 Panamera GTS will go on sale in the spring of 2012 starting at $125,400.

Despite standard-issue all-wheel drive and a kerb weight of 1920kg, the new engine can propel the car from rest to 62mph in just 4.5sec and on to a top speed of 179mph. Combined fuel consumption is 25.9mpg and CO2 emissions are 256g/km. A seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission is standard equipment.

The GTS is also fitted with Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (active anti- roll bars), an electronically controlled diff lock and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, which varies torque distribution across the rear wheels through the limited-slip differential.

The Sport Chrono Plus package is standard, offering Normal, Sport and Sport Plus modes. In Sport Plus, the air suspension drops to its lowest setting and switches to a harder spring rate.

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