Porsche 911 GTS 2010 review

A blue-light special of a very different kind will dominate Porsche sales in Australia in 2011. The new item in aisle 911 is a tweaked and tizzied Carrera GTS model that does two jobs, firstly farewelling the current-generation 997- series 911 and then also pointing the sort of value and standard equipment that will come in the next all-new 911 in 2012.

The newcomer is priced from $270,100, a lot of money for most new-car buyers in Australia but a relative bargain for Porsche and against its rivals.

The upgrade pack for the GTS starts with more power and bigger wheels, runs to the wider body from the Carrera 4, and includes a classy alcantara leather interior. European cars lose the back seats to save weight, and can be ordered with an optional 90-litre tank, but Australian buyers are expected to specify four spots in the cabin and the tank does not fit for right-hand drive.

"The GTS is a stand-alone model. It fills the gap between the Carrera S and GT3 and is for people who like the standard comfort features but crave GT3 performance. So it's a step up from the S," says Michael Winkler, managing director of Porsche Cars Australia.

"There is nothing cynical about it. It's stuff we've wanted to do for a while. The minute you launch one car the engineers are a fair way down the path on the successor."

VALUE

The GTS starts from $270,100 as a coupe and $288,700 as a cabriolet and will land in January. There is obvious mechanical stuff to justify the hike over a regular Carrera S, and some minor cosmetic tweaking including badges and trimming, but Porsche says the price increase is far less than it would cost to upgrade an S.

"If you took a normal S and added all the features you'd end up at a price that's slightly higher than the cost of the equipment. But you're not just getting that, you're also getting all the improvements to the body and engine," says Winkler.

"The standard S costs about $245,000, so the GTS is about $25,000 extra. But it's between $35,000 and $40,000 better value. The importance of the 911 is obvious. It will fundamentally consolidate the performance of the 911 segment. We've basically managed to come out of the global financial crisis unscathed. We're now in a lifecyle situation where the 911 is close to the end, and this model will keep it fresh," says Winkler.

TECHNOLOGY

The obvious change to the GTS is the tweaking of its 3.8-litre flat six to take power to 300kW. It's done with a new variable intake system using that moves the peak from 6500 in the S to 7300 revs, as well as boosting torque by six per cent in a fatter spread from just over 1500 revs.

Porsche says the benefits of the engine work mean more power in the medium speed ranges and less gearchanges.

The 0-100km/h time is trimmed slightly to 4.6 seconds - or 4.2 with PDK and Sport Chrono package - and fuel economy is not affected. The suspension picks up wider front and rear tracks with the Carrera 4 body and the tyre package is upgraded to 235x35 at the front and 305x30 at the rear, running on unique 19-inch alloy wheels. And there is a switchable sports exhaust.

DESIGN

The look of the GTS is very much Carrera 4, thanks to the wider guards. The black-laquer alloys also give it a bit more impact in traffic. The nose is a little more striking with big air intakes and a black- painted spoiler.

Inside, the Alcantara gives a slightly more upmarket look and feel, but it's not a giant change.

The badges - the GTS has only been used in the past for a sixties racer, a 928 and a Cayenne - help it stand out just a little, but mostly only to other 911 buyers.

"I think the the GTS name goes back as the 904 in the sixties. GTS is reserved for the high-end naturally aspirated performance version of any range, save for the track-oriented cars like the GT3," says Winkler.

SAFETY

There is nothing to report, although the wider wheels and grippier tyres probably improve braking performance slightly.

DRIVING

The GTS is a 911 with a little more. There are worthwhile improvements and it feels a bit chunkier and more responsive at the wheel. I arrived late at the world preview of the GTS and missed the really good driving roads in the hills around Palm Springs, but still had time for a thrash and a dip into the car's improvements.

It definitely looks more aggressive than a Carrera 2 but the best look will be reserved for the showroom sticker. The steering feels a touch sharper with the wider track and upgraded wheel-tyre package, and the bi-modal sports exhaust - which you can switch to loud any time - is a fun tweak that also makes the car sound just that bit more special.

The cabin, too, is a step up from the 2 without costing a fortune for the normal Porsche options.

So the GTS is better, and worthwhile, but not a giant leap forward. We'll have to wait until much later in 2011 to see what Porsche is doing on the all-new 911, and until 2012 before it hits the road in Australia.

VERDICT

A big value boost will win 911 buyers.