Since Porsche re-introduced the GTS nameplate, it has proven to be a successful formula, defining a car that is particularly rewarding to drive. This has been true of the 718 Boxster and Cayman GTS models, the 911 GTS and also the Macan and Cayenne SUVs wearing the badge. Now the 992-generation 911 gets the GTS treatment and, while there's a bewildering array of variants and options to pick through, at its core is an engaging sports car that is arguably the pick of the line-up.
In the metal
On the outside, you have to know your stuff to easily spot a 911 GTS, unless you're driving behind it and see the badge of course. The headlights have a darker tint, the GTS-specific Porsche Active Suspension Management sports chassis rides 10mm lower and the car has a number of black details, including the badging. The really eagle-eyed will spot that the rear number plate sits a fraction higher to allow for the new air outlets in the rear diffuser, too.
Inside, there are more black details, GTS embroidery in the seats and the option of Race-Tex material to cover various touch points including the steering wheel.
Aside from the GTS items, the rest is familiar 992 fare with everything from the latest LED daytime running lights to the new Porsche Communication Management infotainment system.
Driving it
We drove a number of derivatives of the 992 GTS at the launch, and they are all quite different. We started in the Targa 4 GTS with the no-cost option seven-speed manual gearbox. Dynamically it's not a match for the coupe, but that trick folding targa roof is quite cool and easy to use. Annoyingly the targa bar had an irritating squeak but we drowned that out by switching on the active exhaust with the roof down. A mixture of weather conditions put the all-wheel drive to the test, and we used all the modes, including the wet mode that the car tells you to engage as soon as it detects the conditions getting a bit nasty.
The automatic throttle blip on down-changes is fantastic fun and, if you happen to have a twisty mountain pass handy, then you'll enjoy every corner for the soundtrack alone. Then there's the way you can feel the mechanicals at work and really hear them too. Not only is the GTS communicative in the way it tells the driver what is going on with the road beneath it, but also in the sounds emanating from the drivetrain. It's a wonderfully intoxicating combination. Nonetheless, but the Targa GTS is not the pick of the GTS range, not by a long way.
From our perspective, it comes down to the rear-wheel-drive Carrera GTS or the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 GTS. We put both to the test on the track of the brand new €28 million Franciacorta Porsche Experience Centre in northern Italy.
Things didn't go well with the Carrera 4. The tyres were overinflated making it quite a handful on the track. That's a pity because on paper it's the pick of the bunch, capable of despatching the 0-100km/h dash in 3.3 seconds, a tenth quicker than the rear-wheel-drive version when both are equipped with the PDK dual-clutch transmission, although they both get there in 4.1 seconds with a manual gearbox. It should be grippier, able to flatter more drivers who can get more from the 480hp and 570Nm offered by the six-cylinder twin-turbo nestled in the rear.
What grabbed our attention the most though was the rear-wheel-drive Carrera GTS. Equipped with the Lightweight Package it had bucket seats, rear-wheel steering and weighed in at 25kg less than a regular GTS. Even without the weight reduction package it's 50kg lighter than the Carrera 4, 70kg lighter than the equivalent convertible and a whopping 140kg lighter than the Targa 4 GTS. It's more agile, more direct, more involved and frankly just more fun. On track it turned in perfectly with the usual level of fantastic communication through the precise steering. The slightest of slides is easy to control and there's barely a hint of wiggle under extreme braking.
What you get for your money
The range kicks off with the Carrera GTS at €198,296 rising through the models to the Carrera 4 GTS Convertible and Targa 4 GTS, priced at €230,022. There are plenty of options though, including the Lightweight Package, rear wheel steering, Race-Tex upholstery, a GTS interior and the list goes on. It's an expensive car by any measure.
Summary
Some might think that there are too many models and too many options for the 911 GTS now, but it's a great package that can deliver an involved, analogue drive that is becoming rare in a world where the driving experience is so often being diluted. Dial everything in correctly and it is incredibly rewarding and while we'd pick the 'base' Carrera GTS, it seems that there's now a 911 GTS to suit every taste.
