Porsche’s popular 911 GTS returns

PORSCHE will slot its new-generation 911 Carrera GTS into its Australian range next February, again bridging the gap between the Carrera S and race-bred Carrera GT3.

Offering 316kW of power from its 3.8-litre flat-six engine, the second-generation GTS has 19kW more power than the Carrera S, slicing the 0-100km/h sprint time by 0.2 seconds to 4.0-seconds and hitting a top speed of 306km/h.

It is also 16kW more powerful than the original GTS launched in 2011, making it a substantial 0.6 seconds swifter to 100km/h thanks in part to a more efficient drivetrain.

While the previous GTS was introduced late in the life of the previous 997-generation 911, it was so successful – accounting for about 20 per cent of 911 sales in Australia – that Porsche has locked in the new version comparatively early this time around, ahead of the mid-life facelift due in a year or so.

The GTS appears to hit the sweet spot on performance and design, offering a little more performance and technology along with the wide-body stance sought by many Porsche customers.

It is not only the most powerful normally aspirated 911 available with a manual gearbox – the GT3 is PDK auto only – but claimed to be as fuel-efficient as the Carrera S, slurping as little as 8.7 litres per 100km on the combined test cycle.

Due to make its public debut at the Los Angeles motor show next month, the new model will be available in both coupe and cabriolet forms, as well as rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive with a choice of seven-speed manual gearbox or dual-clutch PDK automatic transmission.

GTS prices start at $268,700, plus on-road costs for the rear-drive manual coupe – about $1400 cheaper than the equivalent previous-generation GTS – and top out at $312,690 for the PDK-equipped Carrera 4 Cabriolet GTS.

The prices represent a premium of about $23,500 over the current Carrera S model. Compared with the auto-only GT3, the Carrera 2 PDK GTS is $17,510 more affordable.

GTS variants get Porsche’s high-performance Sport Chrono system that sharpens performance of the engine mapping, suspension and transmission. As well, it gets active-damper suspension that lowers ride height by 10mm.

Even the rear-wheel-drive GTS variants get the sought-after 911 Carrera 4 body with its wide-flared rear wheel arches and wider track as part of the GTS body kit that also includes 20-inch wheels with matte black centre wheel locks, smoked bi-Xenon headlight covers, black trim and black-chrome-plated exhaust tailpipes.

Standard fare includes bi-Xenon headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), sports exhaust and suede-like Alcantara inserts in the leather-trimmed sports seats.

Porsche dealers are taking orders now, with first deliveries arriving February.

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS pricing*

Carrera 2 GTS coupe	$268,700
Carrera 2 GTS coupe (a)	$276,090
Carrera 2 GTS cabriolet	$289,700
Carrera 2 GTS cabriolet (a)	$297,090
Carrera 4 GTS coupe	$284,100
Carrera 4 GTS coupe (a)	$291,490
Carrera 4 GTS cabriolet	$305,300
Carrera 4 GTS cabriolet (a)	$312,690

*Excludes on-road costs.