Bahrain: When a luxury car is also a supercar
Gulf Insider experiences the Porsche Panamera GTS.
By Charlie Cooksey
Some people want to own a Porsche, but for whatever reasons may feel the brand’s 911 and 718 two-doors aren’t the most practical forms of transportation for them. Enter the Panamera, a Porsche supercar with a four-door body and an upmarket interior.
You sit low in the Panamera, which gives a sports-car feel. The handling is great, just like you’d expect a Porsche to be, while it provides much additional space and comfort for even the tallest drivers and passengers.
The Panamera GTS has a 473-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8. “Normal” mode is best for comfortable high-speed cruising, while “Sport” makes everything firmer and favors more sporty driving. Despite its weight, the GTS can get you from zero to 100 kph in just 3.9 seconds, with a 300 kmh top speed.
The interior of the GTS models come fitted with black leather and Alcantara adaptive Sports seats. There are ‘GTS’ logos on the headrests, as well as decorative trim and door sill guards made of brushed aluminium. The GT sports steering wheel and roof lining are also finished in Alcantara. The centre console is littered with touch-sensitive controls, and there’s a big 12.3-inch touchscreen.
Porsches have a very good reputation for safety and crash performance, and the Panamera is available with numerous driver-assistance features.
GTS models are recognisable by their use of contrasting black elements, such as the side window trims, side air outlets, GTS logos, and tailpipes of the sports exhaust system. Also, the lower section of the Sport Design front and rear aprons and the 20-inch wheels are finished in satin black. The taillights and light strip are also tinted.
It has a fastback roofline which gives it a sporty look, and there’s plenty of storage room and boot space. On the Panamera GTS and Turbo S, the adaptive rear spoiler splits in two after extending and becomes wider – ensuring an efficient reduction in lift.
Personally, Porsche’s Panamera was the Porsche that didn’t make sense to me and when it first launched in 2010, it never really got me excited. Since then I have grown an admiration and appreciation as the Panamera has come a long way with much improved sleeker exterior (and interior) design, performance and driving experience. The Panamera is not just a luxury sedan, it is a luxuriously thrilling crossover with supercar powers that must be taken seriously.
Starting prices:
Porsche Panamera – from BD 40,440 including VAT
Porsche Panamera GTS – from BD 59,203 including VAT
To arrange your own test drive in Bahrain, visit the Porsche website or call 1745 9911.
