Porsche Panamera GTS

Porsche has ramped up an even hotter version of its Panamera ugly duckling at the 2011 Los Angeles auto show.

The new 2011 Panamera GTS made its world debut at LA, and will arrive at UK dealerships in February 2012 costing a stout £90,409.

What makes the Panamera a GTS?

That'll be a 30 horsepower upgrade to the 4.8-litre naturally aspirated V8, making a total of 424bhp and 384lb ft.

So the new Panamera GTS is blindingly fast for a big luxury saloon: 0-62mph is over in 4.5sec and top whack is 179mph.

Mind you, the GTS weighs in at a very chunky 1920kg. Which explains the 25.9mpg combined fuel economy and 256g/km of CO2 spewed out.

What else is new on the 2012 Panamera GTS?

There's a rather extraordinary sounding new 'Sound Symposer' system, which diverts intake noise into the cabin at a push of a button. The Sport button controls a microphone detecting vibrations near the throttle valve and air filter - broadcasting them on demand through a speaker at the A-pillar.

Those extra ponies come from new freer flowing exhaust, among other noodling changes to the V8.

Handling is also improved, says Porsche. The GTS sits 10mm lower, 19in Turbo wheels are fitted and the blown Panamera also contributes its bigger brake discs and red callipers.

Fitted with Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, the Panamera GTS has an electronic rear diff to apportion torque to either driven rear wheel and sports active anti-roll bars on both axles.

Maserati Ghibli vs BMW 6 Series : Which Will You Buy?

When considering vehicles like Maserati Ghibli and the BWM 6 Series Gran Coupe, both reflect an effort toward blending dignified luxury with exhilarating performance. Though beholding vehicles of this caliber is always an exercise most fruitfully left to the natural eye, the image above serves as a simple example of each sedan’s inherent dignity. In lieu of experiencing each vehicle’s performance profile from behind the wheel, the table provided similarly works to demonstrate what both Ghibli and BMW’s 6 series have been engineered to accomplish. Comparing the Maserati Ghibli vs. BMW 6 Series in this regard yields a number of important emphases. Local clients will notice that both vehicles develop their identity around six-cylinder engines with a pair of strategic turbochargers. Yet regardless of identical displacement and analogous induction technology, Maserati serves its Ghibli clients with significantly greater quantities of horsepower and torque. In addition to t...

McLaren 650S Sprint

McLaren’s new 650S model now comes in three flavors, the standard road going 650S, the competition-spec 650S GT3 for serious racers, and now there’s the 650S Sprint which is aimed at track enthusiasts who still want a little bit of comfort. The 650S Sprint also replaces the MP4-12C-based 12C Sprint as McLaren’s track toy for the super-rich. Compared to the road model, the 650S Sprint features increased downforce and better cooling airflow to the 3.8 litre twin-turbocharged V8. It also features a competition-spec fuel tank and quick-fill cap, a larger radiator borrowed from the GT3 car, a new hood with additional cooling ducts for the radiator, front wing louvres for improved airflow, reduced ride height and recalibrated damping and spring rates, 19-inch center-locking race wheels with either Pirelli slicks or wet tires, onboard air jack system, and an upgraded braking system. On the inside the McLaren 650S Sprint features a stripped-out design with a FIA-approved rol...

Mercedes-Benz SL550

Of all the Mercedes-Benz models that could be accused of being born with a silver spoon in its mouth, the SL arguably tops the list. Unlike many grand-touring cars, the Mercedes SL has never been forced to compromise its blue-blood personal-luxury/sport ideals with feigned attempts at practicality to please executives or attract buyers. It has, more or less, remained an unapologetic take-it-or-leave-it proposition since it debuted nearly six decades ago, and the 2013 SL550 does nothing to alter its course. Cool, Quiet Confidence Every move the 2013 SL550 makes is steeped in a competent, laid-back confidence; pin the throttle, and the car takes a moment to gather itself, as if saying to the driver, “Okay, dude, you ready? This is gonna be pretty awesome.” And with that, the seven-speed automatic downshifts, the twin turbos gorge themselves on air, and the whole shebang takes off, pulling hard to an observed 159-mph top speed (Mercedes claims an electronically limited 155). Life in th...

Road Strikers

Search This Blog