Quick, name as many sedans as you can capable of running sprints to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds while carrying four six-foot five-inch-tall occupants and their luggage. Small list. Throw all-wheel drive into the equation and you get a single astounding automobile, the 2012 Porsche Panamera GTS. Speed is only one side of the Panamera GTS personality, unlike some other high-end luxury performance sedans.
For 2012, the 4.8-liter V8 engine in the Panamera GTS is naturally aspirated and packs an extra 30 hp over its Panamera S and 4S siblings for a rating of 430 hp at 6,700 rpm. Engine redline was extended to 7,100 rpm thanks to new valve springs, which are part of the changes Porsche engineers gave the engine to achieve more horsepower. A new two-stage intake system allows more airflow with flaps that optimize output at low and high engine speeds, and higher lift camshafts take advantage of the increased breathing capacity. Torque is also up, from 369 lb/ft to 384 lb/ft, which is sent through a seven-speed PDK gearbox that shifts so quickly, the standard all-wheel drive system receives a seamless flow of power. Plant your foot and the powertrain team launches hard, thanks to AWD traction, reaching 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds with top speed at 178 mph.
Rather than develop a drag-racing one-trick pony, Porsche has given the 2012 Panamera GTS standard Adaptive Air Suspension, controlled by Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) to adjust the body height, spring rate and damping continually. The Panamera GTS rides 10mm lower than the Panamera 4S that it’s based on, and the dampers are re-tuned for a more agile, tauter ride quality that fits with the sportier personality of the Panamera GTS. The rear axle has a wider track, thanks to five-millimeter-thick wheel spacers between the hub and wheel, which also enhances handling performance.
A standard sport exhaust system uses larger diameter pipes that reduce backpressure for increased power and a more thrilling sound. Black exhaust tips finish the exhaust, and there are two tuning flaps hiding inside the sport exhaust system that can be controlled by a switch in the center console. The flaps cover additional openings that, when uncorked, let more of the 4.8-liter V8 engine’s burble out. The switch is also smart enough to remember the last mode it was set in, so you don’t have to press it every time you get into your Panamera GTS to set the car up the way you like it.
In the cabin, a lateral and longitudinal acceleration display in the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system’s instrumentation provides all the entertainment anyone might need while comfortably ensconced in the leather- and Alcantara-trimmed seats. Standard adaptive sport seats are 18-way adjustable in front, and two special interior packages are available if you want to further personalize your Panamera GTS. The packages start with a black interior and add decorative stitching in Carmine Red or GT Silver on the seats, floor mats, dashboard, door panels and armrest, and virtually anything you desire can be ordered through Porsche Exclusive.
Drivers will find a Sport Design steering wheel with shift paddles and a 12 o’clock marker as standard equipment in the Panamera GTS (MSRP $109,900), both nods to the long history of motorsports domination at Porsche. There’s plenty of passenger and luggage space in every Panamera, and the GTS is no different. Even your tallest friends will have room to spare. The Sound Symposer system cranks up the sound from the engine when the Sport button is pushed. When the button is pushed, engine intake sounds are channeled into the interior with a specially designed apparatus that transfers the vibrations between the throttle valve and air filter with a specially designed membrane.
The Sport Chrono Package is standard on Panamera GTS models and features three modes: “Normal,” “Sport” and “Sport Plus.” Enhanced responsiveness, more aggressive gearshift programming and Launch Control are some of the tricks you can call up with the touch of a button. Sport Plus mode also dials back the threshold for the Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system. The adaptive air suspension can lower the vehicle and stiffen the spring rate as well, making the Panamera GTS a multiple-personality vehicle, with all of them good. Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) is available as well, which works with Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) to counteract body roll with active stabilizers and direct torque between the rear wheels with an actively locking rear differential to enhance vehicle rotation when cornering.
You’ll be able to spot a 2012 Porsche Panamera GTS by the distinctive body features and black highlights. Panamera GTS models slice through the atmosphere with an alacrity on par with the Panamera Turbo. Large front air intakes and an adaptive four-way rear spoiler set off the Panamera GTS and keep the going stable, even at high speeds. The high-gloss Black Exterior Package – with side window trim, decorative rear lid trim, a rear diffuser and side air outlet panels – adds style and function. The Bi-Xenon headlamps have black inner bezels as well, and the overall effect is distinctive and striking.
Porsche has proven time and time again that it doesn’t do things like other automakers, and the results tend to speak for themselves. The Panamera GTS is another example of this successful strategy. Porsche could have made a more traditional sedan, but the Panamera is like nothing else on the road, not only in looks, but also in performance. The Panamera GTS, another stellar option at the Porsche buffet of automotive delights, one with a little extra high-performance, hard-charging spice mixed in. Contact us today to schedule a test drive.
