2012 Porsche Panamera GTS

Exterior

Customers will easily distinguish the new Panamera GTS from the previous Turbo model thanks to its distinctive design features in the front-end, side, and rear areas as well as its black highlights. The Panamera has received a high-gloss black exterior package that comprises the side window trim, the decorative trim on the rear lid, the headlight washer unit cover, the rear diffuser ,and the side air outlet panels. Porsche is also offering black side skirts and matte black tailpipes.

The Porsche Panamera GTS will also get an adaptive four-way rear spoiler that, at speeds above 127 mph, will generate downforce on the rear axle, thereby ensuring stable driving safety at high speeds.

The GTS is built on a tuned chassis combined with an adaptive air suspension and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). Compared to any other Panamera in the line-up, the GTS sits 10 mm lower and will be offered with new 19" diameter Panamera Turbo wheels, 5 mm rear wheel spacers, and larger brake discs.

The Panamera GTS will be offered with an exclusive Carmine Red exterior color.

Interior

For the interior, the GTS adds an ambiance of leather and Alcantara with a choice of five interior colors, 18-way adjustable sports seats, a SportDesign steering wheel with PDK shift paddles, and embroidered "GTS" lettering on the headrests and seat belts. There is also decorative stitching on the foot mats, top of the dashboard, upper edge of the door, armrest, door trim, and center console. The door closing handle along with the seat stitching are executed in Carmine Red or GT Silver.

Engine

The 2012 Panamera GTS uses a modified 4.8-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine - the same one used in the Panamera 4S. The engine has received numerous modifications that have helped increased the total output by 30 HP and the peak torque by 14.75 lb.-ft, for a total of 430 hp and 383 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission that delivers sport performance combined with efficiency and comfort.

The GTS will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just under 4.5 seconds and will hit a top speed of of 179mph. Combined fuel consumption is 25.9mpg and CO2 emissions are 256g/km.

Prices

The new Panamera GTS will go on sale in February 2012 and US prices will be announced at a later date. In Europe, the GTS is priced from 116.716 € (about $157,000 at the current exchange rates).

Competition

The new Panamera GTS may not deliver the same performance as its Turbo 4S brother, but it can still do battle with the best of them, including the Jaguar XJ and the BMW 7-Series.