Porsche bolsters Panamera range with GTS
BY ROBBIE WALLIS | 16th Oct 2018
PORSCHE Cars Australia has announced it is expanding its Panamera sedan and wagon range to include the mid-spec GTS variant, which will arrive in the first quarter of 2019 priced from $364,100 plus on-road costs for the four door.
Opting for the GTS wagon – or Sport Turismo in Porsche parlance – increases the asking price by $7300 to $371,400, while both are powered by the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 in the Turbo grade.
The GTS adds a sizeable $54,000 premium over the twin-turbo V6 4S variant, while sitting $20,000 underneath the Turbo for the sedan ($18,900 for the Sport Turismo).
Power has been dialled back to a still-formidable 338kW/620Nm, marking a 15kW/100Nm improvement over the previous-gen version.
Equipped with the Sport Chrono package as standard, the Panamera GTS can sprint from standstill to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds, on to a top speed of 298km/h (wagon) and 292km/h (sedan).
The twin-turbo V8 is mated to an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission that feeds power to the road through the Porsche Traction Management all-wheel-drive set-up.
Fuel economy for the sedan and wagon is 10.2 and 10.6 litres per 100km respectively, while CO2 emissions stand at 235 and 242 grams per kilometre.
GTS models gain three-chamber adaptive air suspension as standard, as well as a sportier chassis that has been lowered by 10mm over cheaper versions.
The Porsche Active Suspension Management system results in a stiffened suspension calibration for better lateral dynamics compared to models without it, while stopping power comes from 390mm front and 365mm rear brakes.
Adding visual flair is the Sport Design package fitted as standard, which adds black highlights to the front and rear apron, and a number of other darker elements and highlights throughout the vehicle.
20-inch alloy wheels are also standard fare.
Inside, the GTS comes with Alcantara trim on the seat centres, door panel armrest, centre console and heated steering wheel, while anodised aluminium is also used throughout.
Like other Panameras, the GTS gains the 12.3-inch touchscreen display with Porsche Communication Management, Connect Plus and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
Customers can also personalise the cabin with the optional Interior GTS package that colours the rev counter, designer seams and GTS logos in either Carmine Red or Crayon shades.
Other standard kit includes the Porsche Advanced Cockpit, surround-view monitor, and safety systems such as adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking, while the GTS also becomes the first variant in the range to score a head-up display that, along with rear-axle steering, is available as an option.
Through the first three quarters of 2018, Porsche has sold 96 examples of the Panamera, up 5.5 per cent on the 91 it sold over the same period.
It sits third in the luxury upper-large sedan segment behind the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (220) and BMW 7 Series (104), and ahead of the BMW 6 Series GT (79), Lexus LS (67) and Maserati Quattroporte (34).
2018 Porsche Panamera pricing*
| Sedan | |
| Panamera (a) | $214,400 |
| Panamera 4 (a) | $224,800 |
| Panamera 4 E-Hybrid (a) | $248,500 |
| Panamera 4S (a) | $310,100 |
| Panamera GTS (a) | $364,100 |
| Panamera Turbo (a) | $384,100 |
| Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid (a) | $460,100 |
| Sport Turismo | |
| Panamera 4 (a) | $232,100 |
| Panamera 4 E-Hybrid (a) | $255,800 |
| Panamera 4S (a) | $317,400 |
| Panamera GTS (a) | $371,400 |
| Panamera Turbo (a) | $390,300 |
| Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid (a) | $466,400 |
*Excludes on-road costs