What is it?
The Porsche Panamera GTS, which augurs well, because we’re fast becoming accustomed to GTS variants being (GT3 aside, perhaps) the most desirable variant in each of Porsche’s model line-ups. For serious drivers, anyway.
And in the Panamera, those letters GTS are particularly notable. Because while the meat of the Panamera range went turbocharged and downsized last year, this version retains a normally aspirated V8 of 4.8-litres. Marvellous.
It sends its power via the obligatory seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox, with drive going to all four wheels, The suspension, though 10mm lowered, features, as standard, air springs.
A couple of those points raise an eyebrow. On the original Panamera launch, Porsche execs told me their favourite version was the naturally aspirated ‘S’ model with rear-wheel drive and steel springs. You’re now unable to get such a Panamera. Seems a shame.
Still, Porsche knows more about this sort of thing than I do. Presumably nobody would buy one. So the Panamera GTS stays air sprung and with four driven wheels.
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egonolzen
Have to hand it to the Germans
catnip
Still a shame that any
abkq
catnip wrote:Still a shame
This car looks very wide because there is a lot of metal between the headlamps due to the lack of a grille and low bonnet. Does a 4- (rather than 5-) seater need to be this wide?
Also the rapidly rising windowline above the rear door makes that area look very bulky. BMW has the Hofmeister kink which shapes the window above the rear door, Mercedes are traditionally triangular, Audi has always been a 6-light arrangement with the little window placed behind the rear door. But Porsche has no such design tradition to fall back on. Let's hope the next generation manages to resolve these styling problems.
Rhys
There are now 9 models in the
eseaton
Turkeys shouldn't wish for Christmas
Cobnapint
Button it.
Do you really want to be trying to scroll through a technology-for-the-sake-of-it menu or touchscreen (like in the RRS) just to get a warm arse on a frosty morning?
Andrew 61
I think the weight kills it?
JOHN T SHEA
3 PANAMERA MODELS STILL HAVE RWD AND COILS.
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