There are loads of causes to love the Porsche Panamera. Fast, comfy, and — lastly — pleasing to the attention, Porsche’s four-door is an absolute delight. Whether you go for probably the most primary Panamera, the superfluously powered (and named) Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, or one thing in between, there is not a dud amongst ’em.Yet if I’m compelled to select a favourite, it would simply be the most recent member of the Panamera household. It’s known as the GTS, and like different Porsche fashions to put on this badge, it takes the most effective efficiency {hardware} from upper-crust Panameras and trickles them down right into a barely extra reasonably priced bundle. The GTS successfully splits the distinction between the Panamera 4S and the extra highly effective Turbo, however gives higher bang on your buck than each.

Under the hood, the GTS has the identical 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 because the Panamera Turbo, detuned to supply 453 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers do not symbolize vital features over the 440 hp and 405 lb-ft supplied by the two.9-liter twin-turbo V6 within the Panamera 4S, however the GTS is not about outright energy.That’s to not say it would not pack a punch, although. Off the road, the massive V8 gives large thrust, the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission firing off blink-of-an-eye shifts as you wind up via the gears. The GTS come comes customary with Porsche’s Sport Chrono bundle, which incorporates launch management, which means it’s going to do the 0-to-60-mph run in 3.9 seconds, placing it precisely between the Panamera 4S and Turbo by way of acceleration.

The GTS’ customary air suspension lowers the Panamera’s journey top by about 0.4 inches, and bigger, 15.3-inch metal entrance brakes provide improved stopping energy. You may match Porsche’s bigger, ceramic composite brakes for a not-insignificant $8,970, which provide sturdy, sure-footed stopping energy, however I think about the usual metal brakes will probably be simply high quality for the overwhelming majority of parents.

The GTS comes customary with 20-inch wheels, however the ceramic composite brakes are an almost $9,000 improve.
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The Panamera GTS is completely at residence on any paved floor. Around city, it is easy to maneuver and the air suspension soaks up small bumps and blemishes with aplomb. Get it out on a protracted stretch of freeway and you may admire the easy passing energy from the twin-turbo V8 and the hunkered-down poise as this large four-door devours lots of of miles at a time. Go blasting up a curvaceous canyon highway and the Panamera GTS handles with the form of keen athleticism you’d anticipate from a Porsche. From comfy cruiser to trace day bruiser, the GTS has unimaginable dynamic breadth.Of course, it helps that the Panamera is brilliantly tuned proper from the beginning, with responsive steering and a taut chassis. And just a few key choices assist the GTS attain its most efficiency potential. For starters, there’s the $5,000 Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport package, which incorporates enhanced torque-vectoring for the Panamera’s all-wheel-drive system. To that, add $1,620 for the rear-axle steering choice, which helps the massive Porsche reduce via corners with a bit extra urgency with out sacrificing grace. Really, these upgrades work to masks the sheer measurement of the Panamera. Don’t overlook, this automobile is as lengthy and extensive as a full-size luxurious sedan, with a 4,400-pound curb weight to match.Other GTS-specific upgrades embody 20-inch wheels (21s are non-obligatory) and a sport exhaust, the latter of which does an important job of amplifying the outward roar of that large V8 engine. The GTS wears distinctive entrance and rear fascias, although solely probably the most keen-eyed of Porschephiles will be capable of discover. Inside, the GTS solely provides Alcantara material to the seats, headliner and steering wheel. (Maybe I’m within the minority, however I hate the best way these things feels on a steering wheel. Blech.) Oh, and GTS badges. Gotta have badges.As far as inside consolation and ergonomics are involved, the GTS is in lockstep with each different Panamera. The entrance seats provide nice assist, each for protecting you in place throughout spirited drives, and for cradling your bottom on highway journeys. The two rear chairs are equally as good, with plenty of legroom however a slight scarcity of headroom (blame that sloping roofline). And whilst you can technically choice the Panamera with three-across seating in again — Porsche calls this “2+1” — I do not advocate it. With the full-length heart console butting as much as the again bench, middle-seat passengers will not have wherever to place their legs.GTS fashions get Alcantara material on the seats, headliner and steering wheel.
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A boon of the Panamera’s hatchback form is that it is truly fairly practical when pressed into grocery-getting duties. You’ll have 18.3 cubic ft of area with the rear seats folded, which is about the identical as a compact crossover. Fold the seatbacks flat and the cargo maintain swells to 49 cubic ft, which is barely barely lower than what you get in Porsche’s Macan SUV. Of course, in case you actually wish to haul extra than simply ass, keep in mind that Porsche gives the Panamera GTS in ooh-la-la-longroof Sport Turismo guise.The GTS’ tech recreation is tremendous sturdy, using the identical Porsche Communication Management infotainment system as different Panamera fashions, housed on a 12.3-inch touchscreen within the dashboard. The colourful, high-resolution show has a reconfigurable residence web page so you possibly can have all of your widgets in a single place, and it comes customary with a Wi-Fi hotspot and Apple CarPlay (however not Android Auto). Other Roadshow staffers have praised PCM for its easy-to-use interface and wealth of performance, and I’m not going to disagree with any of that. Combined with the backlit haptic-touch heart console, it makes the Panamera’s cabin seem like what we at all times anticipated from The Car Of The Future.

If there is a nit to select, it is with the Panamera’s superior driver-assistance programs (ADAS) — or fairly, the truth that almost all of them are non-obligatory extras. I merely can not imagine that on a $130,000 automobile, it’s a must to pay additional for — deep breath — parking help ($1,200), lane-keeping help ($1,220), adaptive cruise management ($2,890, or $3,910 if you need it bundled with Porsche’s InnoDrive tech), a head-up show ($1,720), lane-change help ($1,060) and extra. Hell, even one thing so simple as keyless entry is a $1,100 improve.In addition to the usual hatchback, Porsche sells the Panamera GTS in beautiful Sport Turismo wagon guise, too.
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Pricing for the 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS begins at $128,300 if you need the sedan seen right here, or $134,500 if you need the shapely Sport Turismo (you do). My Sapphire Blue tester has these few aforementioned efficiency choices, in addition to soft-close doorways ($780) and a premium bundle ($2,610) that features a Bose surround-sound system, consolation entry and lane-change help. Out the door, the automobile pictured right here prices $149,360, together with $1,250 for vacation spot, which slides it just below the $150,000 beginning worth of a Panamera Turbo.Yes, the Panamera Turbo gives much more energy — it is laborious to argue with 550 hp and 567 lb-ft of torque — nevertheless it would not come customary with any of the efficiency goodies I’ve talked about. And actually, the place within the United States moreover a closed race observe are you actually going to have the ability to exploit the Turbo’s energy any greater than the GTS’? I am unable to consider a single occasion when 453 hp might ever be described as “not enough.”Sharp and highly effective, luxurious and comfy; the GTS is unquestionably the candy spot of the Panamera vary. Make mine a Sport Turismo.

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