First introduced for the 2010 model year, the Porsche Panamera is now well-established as Stuttgart’s go-to four-door ‘Bahn burner. Following the introduction of a second generation in 2016, Porsche is now broadening the range with a fresh new mid-grade model, bridging the gap between the Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo. As before, the latest Panamera GTS looks to combine a sporty attitude with the luxury and utility of a four-door body style, offering both weekend thrills and daily-driving comfort. As such, the 2019 model year brings with it a more powerful turbocharged engine, fresh interior tech, and new standard features.

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2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo Exterior Styling

However, this latest model differentiates itself from the standard Panamera GTS thanks to a wagon-esque body style, as compared to the “sedan” body style of the non-Sport Turismo Panamera GTS. Essentially, that means the Sport Turismo receives a large rear hatch section for easier loading and unloading, which makes it a somewhat better choice if you’re looking to actually use all that space in the rear.

That said, the GTS Sport Turismo does look quite similar in several respects compared to the standard Panamera GTS. Up front, we find the traditional Porsche-styled nose, with a broad, flat-brimmed fascia that stretches wide between the wheel arches and neatly hugs the pavement. The intake grille is finished in a flat-black frame, with side-mounted fog lights and horizontal daytime running lights. The headlights are teardrop-shaped units that stretch back into the car’s flanks, offering up forward illumination with a quartet of lighting elements. Sinewy muscle lines are added along the hood line, enhancing the car’s powerful look and leading the eye rearwards.

Character creases can be found at the shoulder line and along the lower side sills, rising towards the rear fender arches and adding a visual rake to the car’s stance. Faux vents are placed behind the front wheels, and additional black cladding is added along the lower edges of the vehicle, from front to back. The window surrounds are black as well, while the side view mirrors utilize extra turn signal lighting towards their outer edges. The GTS Sport Turismo also comes with 20-inch Panamera Design rollers as standard, finished in black and filling the wheel wells with a dash of sporty aggression.

Viewed from the rear, the Panamera GTS Sport Turismo’s rounded shape is on full display. The car’s natural width is visually enhanced by the 911-esque taillights, which stretch from fender to fender in a thin, dark grey housing. The roofline terminates in a black spoiler element added just above the hatch glass, while the lower bumper is finished in flat black, giving it a diffuser-like appearance. A Sport Exhaust System is added as standard, and comes with a quartet of black tailpipe finishers.

It’s also worth noting that the entirety of the Sport Design package is standard, tossing in a slew of black exterior trim elements throughout.

2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo exterior dimensions

2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo Interior Design

As such, it follows in a similar tradition as other GT cars from Porsche’s past, such as the 904 Carrera GTS and 924 GTS.

That said, this more modern vehicle offers quite a bit more luxury and practicality than those previous GTS models. For example, inside you’ll find spots for up to five passengers, with a 4+1 seating configuration and cabin layout. The Panamera GTS Sport Turismo also offers more rear cargo room compared to the standard Panamera GTS.

On the luxury front, you’ll find black Alcantara upholstery to match the black trim bits outside, plus a dash of anodized aluminum trim as well. A heated multifunction sport steering wheel keeps the driver’s hands comfortable, and like the seat upholstery, comes covered in Alcantara. Carbon trim adds an extra splash of fiber-flavored tastiness throughout.

As for infotainment goodies, the Panamera GTS Sport Turismo comes with something dubbed the Connect Plus module, which offers a “wide range of digital services,” and comes as standard equipment. There’s also an optional heads-up display (HUD) on offer, which gets a variety of display modes to suit your needs. This HUD is a first for the Panamera model line, and will project pertinent information onto the windscreen, just underneath the driver’s direct line of sight, reducing eye fatigue and providing a quick reference while on the move. Information is projected in a full color display, as well.

What’s more, the latest GTS model includes all the same stuff as the second-generation Panamera, which was released in 2016 for the 2017 model year. As such, it gets the Porsche Advanced Cockpit system, which is basically a digital gauge cluster setup, as well as the option for driver assist systems like Porsche InnoDrive with adaptive cruise control.

Finally, the GTS Interior package is optional, tossing in extras like contrast stitching, additional GTS logos, and a new tachometer face finished in either Chalk or Carmine Red.

2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo Drivetrain And Performance

To that end, Porsche decided to stuff the newest GTS with a 4.0-liter V-8, which gets force fed by a pair of turbochargers to produce upwards of 453 horsepower between 6,000 rpm and 6,500 rpm, as well as 457 pound-feet of torque between 1,800 and 4,500 rpm.

That’s not too shabby for a model that weighs around 4,000 pounds (give or take), and compared to the naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V-8 we saw in the previous Panamera GTS model, the new GTS Sport Turismo makes a whole lot more output - 13 horsepower and a whopping 73 pound-feet of torque more, to be exact.

All that muscle is routed through an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission and performance-oriented AWD system with Porsche Traction Management (PTM).

“As is typical with any Porsche ‘GTS’ model, the standard equipment list and chassis setup are oriented with enthusiastic driving in mind,” Porsche claims in the attached press release.

Indeed, to truly fulfill its role as a sporty wagon, this Panamera requires the appropriate handling upgrades to match all that V-8 muscle under the hood.

Kicking it off is a set of Porsche Adaptive Suspension Management (PASM) dampers and a standard Air Suspension system, both of which were retuned to fit the sporting demeanor of the Panamera GTS Sport Turismo. The ride height was also dropped by 10 mm (0.39 inches), and Porsche is offering the option for a rear axle steering system to make the long wagon more responsive on turn-in.

That includes 390 mm (15.6-inch) front discs and 365 mm (14.4-inch) rear discs.

Finally, the Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo comes standard with the Sport Chrono Package, which adds a single push-button system that tightens the suspension, firms up the chassis, quickens the steering, sharpens the throttle, reduces shift times, and enables launch mode - exactly what you want from a model like this.

2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo Specifications

2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo Prices

The 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo is available for order now. Pricing starts at $134,500.

2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo Competition

Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Wagon

Offered as both a wagon and a sedan, this monster from AMG is a stout competitor for the Stuttgart four-door. The party piece under the hood doles out as much as 603 horsepower thanks to four liters of displacement and a double dose of turbocharging, all of which hits the pavement via an AMG Performance 4Matic+ AWD system and AMG Speedshift nine-speed automatic transmission. The run to 60 mph takes 3.4 seconds. Air suspension keeps it cornering, while AMG’s DTM-inspired exterior bits keeps it turning heads on the street. Inside, the cabin is decked out in sumptuous luxury, including heated and ventilated front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and multi-color LED ambient lighting, all of which is offered as standard equipment. Pricing is relatively competitive too, starting at $106,950.

Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Wagon.

Audi RS 7 Sportback

While not exactly a full-fledged wagon, the RS 7 Sportback is a solid alternative to the Panamera GTS Sport Turismo, offering high-speed performance and a luxurious, roomy interior space. Much like the Porsche, the Audi RS 7 gets its motivation from a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8, although this time around, output is rated at a hearty 605 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque in the RS 7 Performance model, which, routed through the standard quattro AWD system and eight-speed Titronic automatic transmission, translate into a run to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 190 mph. Adaptive air suspension keeps it planted, while Valcona leather upholstery, MMI navigation, and aluminum trim keep it comfy inside the cabin. Pricing starts at $113,900 for the standard RS 7 trim level.

Read our full review on the 2015 - 2016 Audi RS7.

Final Thoughts

Not only does it improve on the original Panamera formula with its long-roof exterior design, but the engine package is a whopper as well. Adding turbos to the equation has a profound effect on the way this thing gets on, and with a 0-to-60 mph time under the four-second mark, you can expect to haul ass, even while hauling cargo in the rear.

The options are all solid as well, from the infotainment tech (who doesn’t love a heads-up display?) to the performance oriented rear-axle steering.

Of course, we have to question whether or not it’s the best choice. At around $135,000, the Porsche is significantly more expensive than several of its chief rivals, which begs the question - what do you get for the money?

It’s certainly not power, as both the Merc and the Audi best the Porsche in their respective top trims.

However, what the Porsche does have going for it is pedigree. We have yet to actually drive the new Panamera GTS Sport Turismo, but if we were to wager, it’s most likely a far more capable track weapon than either of the competitors listed above.

As well it should be.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo.

Read our full review on the 2018 Porsche Panamera.

Read our full review on the 2012 Porsche Panamera GTS.