AH YES, THE Porsche Panamera – everything a Porsche shouldn’t be, right? It’s hefty (two tonnes) and too long (roughly five metres), yet there is still an increasing number of customers –abroad and in South Africa – who find it particularly arresting. A brief analysis of local new car sales data over the last few months reveals that the Panamera is the second most popular Porsche model (behind the Cayenne). On a global scale, the Panamera has been a phenomenal success for the brand, subsequently forcing the manufacturer to steadily grow the model line-up to what is now nine variants – the newest of which being the Gran Turismo Sport. The GTS spearheads the naturally-aspirated line-up and bridges the gap between the 4S and Turbo models. However, is this just another Panamera with new paint and stickers, or is there an entirely new experience lurking under that bulbous sheet metal?

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Exterior

Carmine Red. That’s the name of the new exclusive colour available for the GTS – but it’s a R60970 option! Yikes… At first glance the GTS looks like any other Panamera but some scrutiny will show up several aesthetic cues that differentiate it from other models. The GTS benefits from an aerodynamic package that comprises large air scoops in the front bumper and a four-way rear spoiler that activates once the car has reached 100kph. Other than the body kit, innumerable black accents such as the window surrounds, rear boot lid trim, headlamp washers, rear diffuser, extractor vents and matte-black tail pipes provide a stunning contrast to the red paint. Oh, and let’s not forget the vinyl GTS stickers, three letters reserved only for models that best encompass the performance-derived doctrine of the Porsche brand. On the Panamera, they’re subliminally positioned on the lower front door section. And then there’s thesculpted 15-spoke 20-inch wheels fitted all-round, which differ only by means of tyre size.

Interior

Inside, a barrage of buttons and imposing switchgear stream down the centre stack like the cockpit of a fighter jet, but it’s the cluster of buttons baring the sport plus, sports exhaust and damper control insignia that are of most significance. Fillets of gloss-black trim make up the facia infrastructure, while contrasting red stitching runs through the leather-clad GTS-embroidered seats and upper facia hood. It doesn’t stop there – Alcantara swathes both the seat inserts and roof lining. Another nice touch is the red seatbelts that match the exterior paint. Being a proper four seater, the rear occupants of a Panamera share a commodious and opulent driving experience.

Performance

Firing up a naturally-aspirated V8 is always something special. The GTS is more vocal than its forced-induction siblings, but then again it does boast a sports exhaust system for enhanced articulation and urgency. Turn the Panamera-shaped key fob and the GTS roars into life with a slightly off-beat, hoarse voice. The GTS carries a 4.8-litre V8 mill uprated to make it both more efficient and powerful than the unit employed by Panamera S/4S – the new peaks are 316kW and 520Nm of torque. These improvements come courtesy of a revised engine management system, improved valve gear, wider air intakes and re-profiled cams. Porsche’s revered Sport Chrono Plus Package is standard fare and works together with the seven-speed PDK transmission to deliver back-breaking shift response. The package also improves throttle sensitivity, and if automatic mode is selected the revs are held for longer. Down-shifts are more regular, too.

Noise is very much a large focus of the GTS so, naturally, the V8 waxes lyrical about what it’s doing under the hood whenever it gets a chance. Press the sports exhaust button and the decibels go up a notch thanks to a larger diameter pipe and two tuning flaps. Stamp on the throttle and the resounding noise is reminiscent of a runaway chain-saw grating across metal palisade fencing. Come off the pedal and the aural anarchy continues, punctuating the overrun to a sound resembling metallic golf balls bouncing and rolling around in a Victorian bathtub.

The GTS does a good job of masking its near-2000kg kerb weight – it feels a lot lighter and agile than some of its siblings. The test results confirm my sentiments. The test car was bang on the claimed performance figure with a 0-100kph sprint time of 4.57 seconds – that’s a shade quicker than the more powerful and force-fed Jaguar XKR-S we tested in April. Stopping power is just as resilient as the acceleration, our GTS making use of the optional Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake system, distinguishable by the yellow calipers. It’s light on the sauce, too, consuming a commendable 11.4ℓ/100km over our economy test route.

Handling

If the Panamera GTS does have a flaw, then it’s the steering. Like other Panameras we’ve tested, the GTS’ wheel is bereft of any genuine feedback but it’s still direct enough to precisely scythe through a slalom of tightly-transitioned corners. After all, there’s enough communication from the chassis to let you know what exactly is happening under foot. Much of the car’s prowess is a result of the adaptive air suspension and Porsche Active Management System (PASM), which has three suspension settings that can be ramped up on-the-fly – Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. Traction is excellent and the all-wheel drive system never surrenders grip no matter how fast you barrel into a corner. The well-balanced chassis is further aided by the optional Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC), which operates in tandem with a rear axle differential lock and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) to quash body roll and sharpen steering. In short, the GTS handles better than any Panamera we’ve previously tested.

Verdict

The Porsche Panamera GTS is a proper piece of kit. Having driven several of its siblings, I’ve never been overly impressed by the package. The Turbo models are too quiet (if fitted without a sports exhaust system), the V6 variant is a tad under-powered and the S and 4S – well, they aren’t as hard-edged. The GTS got me wondering why Porsche didn’t make this Panamera to begin with? Yes, it’s raw but it’s exquisitely pieced together, exuding the same level of unfiltered purity and telepathy you get from driving a Cayman or 911 (997). But that’s not all – the drive is a sensory and intuitive process highlighted by the vociferous engine sound track, the impeccable chassis etiquette and direct steering. If you ever had any doubts about whether the Panamera is a veritable Porsche, the GTS will put your mind at ease – it’s phenomenal.