2019 Porsche Panamera Hybrid

Porsche adds its GTS moniker to just about every vehicle in its lineup these days, and the latest to get the treatment is the 2019 Porsche Panamera. As on the 911, Macan and others, the GTS version of the Panamera bundles a curated selection of existing performance parts with special exterior styling enhancements. Could this new trim level be the sweet spot of the Panamera lineup?

One big reason to get the GTS instead of a base Panamera is what's under the hood. Rather than using a powered-up version of the Panamera's base turbocharged V6, Porsche has given the GTS a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8. If you swear that Porsche already sells a turbo V8 in a Panamera, you'd be right. The engine in the GTS is nearly identical to the one in the Panamera Turbo — right down to the turbochargers. The GTS has different intake and exhaust manifolds, and that results in 453 horsepower instead of the Turbo's 550 hp.

Down the Front Straight

When you're just driving around town, you could be excused if you forget the Panamera GTS is V8-powered. With the drive mode selector in Normal, the engine note is very subdued. And what you do hear sounds quite similar to the piped-in engine note from the V6 in the standard Panamera. But that's due more to the V6's enhanced noises than anything to do with the V8.

Thankfully, it makes all the right noises when you wind it out. At Porsche's recent drive event for the GTS, we spent almost as much time sampling the car on the racetrack as we did on the street. Porsche is adamant the GTS can be tracked on the weekend after doing commuter duty during the week. Truth be told, the experience did let us explore the upgraded standard performance hardware as well as the outer reaches of the boosted V8's performance. Power delivery is linear and immediate, and winding the engine out to its 6,800-rpm redline happens rapidly.

Full throttle produces a wonderful, though slightly subdued, exhaust note in the cabin. It's definitely not in the same league as a shouty Mercedes-AMG V8, but it still conveys its power just fine. A side bonus is that neither you nor your passengers will ever get tired of hearing it. But, since we're now spoiled by the previous-generation Panamera GTS' lusty, non-turbocharged V8, we could do with a bit more snarl at full clip. Though official fuel economy numbers have yet to be released, don't expect it to return much better numbers than the Turbo's combined EPA rating of 21 mpg (18 city/25 highway).

Around a Corner

If any occasional track work is in your future, we'd suggest fitting your GTS with the optional rear-wheel steering and PDCC (Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control) Sport package. The rear-wheel steering does wonders around tight corners by making the big Panamera feel a good foot or two shorter. The PDCC Sport system links up the air suspension, the active stabilizer bars and electronically actuated limited-slip rear differential to create a full-size sedan that is playful and fun to drive, even when driving at the limit.

As odd as it seems, the Panamera GTS can get the job done at the track. And if you spring for the optional carbon-ceramic brake package, you could lap all day. Heck, take your family along, too!

On the Road

Not interested in tracking your Panamera? No problem. Go ahead and run some errands. Though the ride quality is appropriately firm because of the standard sport-tuned suspension and 20-inch wheels, this big Porsche can still soak up fairly major road imperfections with ease. Body control is also excellent, even in Normal mode.

In Sport mode, the throttle calibration and steering get a little more responsive, and the air suspension firms up. Yet the ride remains fairly supple, and big bumps are easily dispatched. Only when you put the car in the Sport+ mode does the Panamera's ride get a bit brittle. Overall, the GTS remains capable and comfortable, despite its enthusiastic tuning and performance-oriented hardware. It's an impressive sedan that provides luxury and sport in equal measure.

Paint It Black

The GTS looks slightly wider and lower than a base Panamera thanks to its lower ride height and standard Sport Design package. This package adds subtle styling tweaks and blacked-out exterior trim and headlights. Out back, the standard sport exhaust is also black, and the taillights are smoked. On colors such as Green Mamba and Sapphire Blue, it has quite a dramatic effect.

Inside, there's a lot of GTS-specific simulated-suede upholstery. Portions of the standard 18-way adjustable sport seats are covered in the grippy stuff, as is the entire heated steering wheel. There's also handsome black anodized aluminum trim along the dash. To help break it up a bit, you can order the GTS logos stitched into the seats in red or a light gray. Of course, Porsche will also let you order a plethora of other customization options. Want red seat belts and a red-face tachometer? No problem.

The GTS is also the first Panamera model to get Porsche's full-color head-up display. Using the Panamera's 12.3-inch touchscreen, the driver can use a drag-and-drop method to customize the layout and content of the head-up display.

Shut Up and Take My Money

To pretty much no one's surprise, the Panamera GTS looks to be the Panamera to get. It combines balanced performance and comfort with a huge dose of practicality — especially if you get the wagon-like Sport Turismo. And, again, to pretty much no one's surprise, the GTS doesn't come cheap. Prices start at $129,350 for the Panamera GTS and $135,550 for the Panamera GTS Sport Turismo, with handling charges included. If you order your 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS now, you can expect delivery in the second half of 2019.

Since its redesign in 2017, the GTS badge had been conspicuously absent from the current Panamera lineup. With the previous generation, the GTS was a favorite of ours thanks to its many standard performance features and Porsche's wonderful, snarling naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V8 engine. But with that engine now relegated to the history books, and rumors of an impending GTS model, we wondered how Porsche might differentiate this model from the already solid range of Panameras and Panamera Sport Turismos. The answer is with another V8, of course. But this one packs two turbos and a significant power bump over the old engine. And, as per the GTS formula, Porsche has stacked the standard equipment list with many performance options as well as introduced some new technology.

Eight + Two = 453

A twin-turbo V8 is now de rigueur for a German performance sedan and Porsche fits its offering into the Panamera. Displacing 4.0  liters and using the aforementioned twin turbochargers, this unit is good for a claimed 453 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque, which is available from a mere 1,800 rpm. Power is routed through all four wheels (all-wheel drive is standard on GTS models) via an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. To absolutely no one's surprise, estimated performance numbers are on the rapid side with both the Panamera and the Panamera Sport Turismo claiming 3.9 seconds to 60 mph and top speeds of 181 mph and 179 mph, respectively.

All the Stuff You'd Get Anyway

As is typical for GTS models across the Porsche lineup, standard equipment is largely made up of performance-oriented options such as larger brakes and specially calibrated air suspension and adaptive dampers that lower the ride by 0.4 inch from the standard car. The popular Sport Chrono package is also standard as is a sport exhaust system with black tailpipes, black exterior design elements and black 20-inch wheels. Inside, there's plenty of black faux suede, contrasting aluminum trim and Porsche's Advanced Cockpit digital instrumentation. A few interesting bits of technology are still optional, namely Porsche's semi-automated InnoDrive and rear axle steering, which we think are both worth the extra expense if you can swing it.

New to the Panamera range, and debuting in the GTS, is an optional full-color, head-up display. The display can be configured to display multiple combinations of information, such as speed and navigation directions. This display will become available across the Panamera range soon after the launch of the GTS.

Order Away

In every other Porsche, there's a strong argument for the GTS as the trim to get. We won't know if that's true of the Panamera until we can drive the Panamera, so stay tuned for our eventual and inevitable First Drive. But if the new Panamera GTS models tickle your fancy, Porsche dealers are currently accepting orders with deliveries expected in the second half of 2019. Pricing starts at $129,350 for the Panamera GTS and $135,550 for the Panamera GTS Sport Turismo, with handling charges included.