If you’re a Porsche enthusiast, your heart should skip a beat when you hear these three magical letters: GTS. It stands for Gran Turismo Sport, which is a motorsport homologation title. This designation was given to the first Porsche in 1963, the 904 Carrera. Porsche pulled the plug for a few years until Zuffenhausen revived the GTS name once again with the 924 Carrera GTS in 1981.

More recently, the GTS came back to the 911 (991 generation) in 2011. Fast forward to today and Porsche is currently narrowing the gap between the Carrera S and the Turbo in Porsche's 911 (992 generation) with the new GTS. Let's take a closer look at what many are calling the most usable hardcore 911 for the road.

2022 Porsche 911 GTS Performance and Capability

GTS Available Body Styles

- 911 Carrera GTS / 911 Carrere 4 GTS

- 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet / 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet

- 911 Targa 4 GTS

The Porsche 911 range can be confusing to navigate as there are several body styles and drivetrains to choose from, 22 of them to be exact - I counted. However, sticking to the GTS narrows down that choice to just five. The 2022 Porsche 911 GTS is available in coupe, cabriolet, or Targa body styles. You can have it with either rear or all-wheel drive with the Targa 4 GTS available exclusively with AWD.

Coming to the oily bits, all 911 GTS' feature the same 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged boxer-six engine that produces 473 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, which is about 30 horsepower and 30 pound-feet more than what's offered by the Standard Carrera. According to Porsche, these numbers come courtesy of a 14.5 percent increase in turbo boost pressure.

The increased torque figures are the direct result of the inclusion of a new strengthened dual-mass flywheel. All variants come with either an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (PDK) that employs an electronic locking diff with Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus or a seven-speed manual (no-cost option) that works with a mechanical locking differential. 60 mph comes up in 3.1 seconds for the PDK or 3.8 seconds for the manual.

Available Driving Modes

- Normal

- Sport

- Sport Plus

- Individual

On the dynamics front, the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) from the larger Turbo, lowers the body by 10mm or 0.4-inch. In all driving circumstances, additional helper springs (not available on Targa 4 GTS) on the rear axle, guarantee that the main springs remain under tension at all times. This helps to preserve suspension travel, which is important to ensuring ride comfort.

Brakes are another derivative of the Turbo and six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes with the calipers painted in a sporty red come as standard. Carbon-ceramic brakes ($8,970) are available as an optional extra. Other performance upgrades include active rear-axle steering ($2,090) and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control ($3,170) with active roll stabilization. The GPS-enabled lift function for the front axle can raise the nose by up to 1.57-inches.

Performance

Exterior Design

Now telling the various trims of the 911s apart can be a challenge. Well, thankfully, GTS has a number of stylistic changes that reflect the preferences of its potential customers. All GTS’ comes with the Sport Design package with Satin Black highlights. They work well on the sportier and more aggressive front and rear bumpers compared to Carrera.

This package is also available for the regular Carrera, but now, the GTS also incorporates specific elements like the side window trim, the rear lid grille, the side skirts, the base of the mirror caps, and the tail-pipe tips all finished in black. In keeping with the dark theme, you get tinted front and rear lights.

In fact, if you opt for the Targa version, the roll hoop can be had in black to distinguish it from other lesser-Targas out there. You've also got enough GTS logos and the Porsche logo finished in satin black to leave no one in doubt about what kind of Porsche they're looking at.

20/20-inch 911 Turbo S wheels finished in Satin Black and wrapped in performance summer tires are part of standard equipment. They come with racy center-lock wheels, but Porsche will switch them back to regular lug-nuts at no extra cost.

Exterior Colors

Exterior Dimensions

Interior Quality and Technology

When compared to standard Carrera models, there are certain sporty interior alterations done to the GTS’ cabin. The cabin has ornate stitching either crimson or chalk, lending a bit of a classy appeal. The interior trim pieces come in black brushed aluminum. The Sport Chrono package ($1,120) is optional while the Sports seats Plus with Race-Tex fabric come standard. They offer motorized four-way adjustment and heating gives better lateral support, which comes in handy on those twisty country roads.

If Race-Tex is not your thing, you can get the optional Exclusive Manufaktur Leather Interior ($17,110). Also, Porsche says that the soundproofing has been drastically lowered, and the sound in the cockpit also sounds more race-like with the standard active exhaust system.

As for tech, PCM, the Porsche Communication Management system, comes with larger menu touch interfaces. It features version 6 (PCM 6.0) and allows for rev-matching in any of the drive modes. Keeping with Porsche tradition, you get a central tachometer with two 7-inch TFT screens on either side.

The 10.9-inch infotainment system is the same unit found on other 911 models. Wireless smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, inbuilt Nav with real-time traffic, and an 8-speaker sound system with a 150-watt amplifier are standard across the range. The optional Premium Package With Remote Park Assist ($5,370) adds a Bose Surround Sound System, Ambient Lighting, power filing mirrors, and park assist with 3D Surround View.

Also, for the first time, a GTS Lightweight Package ($8,690) is available, and it shaves off up to 55 pounds, thanks to stuff like full carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) bucket seats, lightweight glass on the front door and rear windows, and a lithium-ion lightweight battery. It goes further with measures like the omission of floor mats and rear seat delete. A Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur carbon roof ($3,890) is available.

2022 Porsche 911 GTS Pricing and Availability

The GTS range kicks off at $136,700 for the base two-wheel-drive coupe and tops out at $156,800 for the Targa 4 GTS with AWD (excluding options). Head to the Porsche Configurator to come up with your very own 911 GTS. You can access Porsche's exhaustive list of optional packages to truly make it your own.

2022 Porsche GTS Pricing

Main Competition

As for rivals, you have plenty of choices at the $150,000 price point. You've got Porsche's very own 718 Cayman GT4 RS. the Audi R8 V-10 the Nissan GT-R T-Spec and you can add the upcoming BMW M4 CSL into this mix as well.

Pricing-wise, the GTS range sits right in the middle of the Porsche hierarchy as it borrows some top-drawer hardware bits from the Turbo, all available at a much lower price point. Compared to the Carrera models, the GTS offers more power and sharper handling, and it sheds off that luxury touring tag that model lower down in the 911 line-up are carrying these days. Available in a range of body styles, the GTS is perhaps the most usable 911 for the Porsche enthusiast (period).