LA show – Porsche beefs up its Panamera four-door

Porsche has used the LA Show to unveil a more powerful GTS version of its Panamera four-door coupe.

The car’s V8 engine offers an extra 30bhp and 15lbft more torque than the stock Panamera, combined with chassis and body changes.

The 424bhp, 383lbft V8 is matched to a seven-speed sequential/manual transmission denoted by Porsche as PDK or Doppelkupplungsgetriebe… It drives through all four wheels, sending the GTS through 62mph from rest in 4.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 179mph.

The chassis boasts adaptive air suspension combined with Porsche’s electronic Active Suspension Management (PASM). This adjusts spring rates and the damping system, combined with self-levelling height adjustment.

At normal level the GTS sits 10mm lower than other Panameras. This is despite its 19-inch Panamera Turbo wheels, 5mm wheel spacers and larger Turbo-sourced brake discs with red calipers.

Styling upgrades include the front end of the Sport-Design options package fitted to the Panamera Turbo, with its wider air intakes. The Turbo’s four-way adaptable rear spoiler is also used, which adds downforce to the rear axle at speeds above 127mph.

Various black detailing touches also make the car stand out, along with daytime running lights again taken from the Turbo.

Most notable of the interior technology is the ‘Sound Symposer’, which directs intake noise into the interior at the push of a button so passengers can, according to Porsche, hear the engine ‘breathe’.

This is achieved by an acoustic channel that transmits the vibrations in the engine’s intake as an engine sound into the A-pillar.

The GTS goes on sale in February, at prices from £90,409.

Words by: Andrew Charman