New Porsche 911 GTS could be the sports car sweet-spot
The latest Porsche 911 GTS range has been revealed, with prices for what many enthusiasts now consider the sweet-spot of the range starting from £108,920.
Sitting between the 911 Carrera S and more extreme 911 GT3, the latest GTS boasts a 30hp power boost to 480hp from its 3.0-litre flat-six turbocharged engine.
Available in Carrera 2 GTS and all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 GTS guises, the latest ‘992’ 911 is also offered with a seven-speed manual gearbox alongside the more commonplace eight-speed PDK auto.
Zero to 62mph takes as little as 3.3 seconds in the Carrera 4 with PDK. Manual versions are officially a touch slower – but, with a ‘particularly short lever throw’, arguably more rewarding.
The GTS name was first used in the 1960s on the 904 GTS race car. Porsche revived it 12 years ago and, since then, it has become a popular edition in the contemporary line-up.
The latest cars are marked out from regular 911 Carrera models by a ‘SportDesign’ front apron and satin black spoiler lip. The headlights are tinted, while the rear lights are unique GTS lamps.
Satin black wheels are 20 inches at the front and 21 inches at the rear. They have centre-lock nuts and hide 408mm brakes taken from the Porsche 911 Turbo.
There’s also a satin black finish for the model lettering, the rear engine lid grille, GTS script on the doors and, on the Targa 4 GTS, roof bar and Targa badge.
A standard GTS-specific sports exhaust has dual tailpipes in black – and Porsche promises it sounds even better inside thanks to the removal of some interior sound insulation.
The moody, sporty theme continues inside. GTS-specific Race-Tex microfibre upholstery features on the central seat section of the standard ‘Sports Seats Plus’, steering wheel, door handles, armrests, storage box and gearlever. Porsche says the shift is 10mm shorter than a standard manual 911.
Also standard is a GT Sport steering wheel, Sport Chrono package, Porsche Track Precision app and, for data geeks, a tyre temperature display.
An optional GTS interior package adds either Carmine Red or Crayon contrast stitching for the seats, GTS lettering on the headrests, plus colour for the seatbelts, rev counter and Sport Chrono clock. Matt carbon inserts on the dashboard and door trims are included, too.
Later in 2021, an optional Lightweight Design Package arrives, promising to save up to 25kg. This fits carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) bucket seats, lightweight glass and a special lightweight battery. Notably, the rear seats are removed.
Other extras featured in the Lightweight Design package include rear-wheel steering and ‘additional aerodynamic details’.
The new 911 GTS has bespoke suspension derived from the 911 Turbo. This includes Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and a 10mm lower Sport chassis. The Sport setup has stiffer springs, revised dampers and a recalibrated anti-roll bar, plus a different PASM control logic and tuned Porsche Stability Management.
There are also rear-axle helper springs, shared with the 911 Turbo, which ‘keep the main springs under tension… with rebound remaining the same’. We’ll discover what the dynamic benefits are soon…
Richard Aucock writes for Motoring Research
2021 Porsche 911 GTS prices
- 911 Carrera GTS: £108,920
- 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet: £118,720
- 911 Carrera 4 GTS: £114,500
- 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet: £124,300
- 911 Targa 4 GTS: £124,300