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What began almost 60 years ago with the 904 Carrera GTS has developed into a large family at Porsche. 14 models from six series now bear the legendary abbreviation for Grand Turismo Sport. And the end has not yet been reached for the Porsche GTS.
One thing you have to tell the marketing strategists of Porsche yes, they are world champions in inventing derivatives. And best of all, customers are enthusiastic about the game. Whether it's at the Series 911 now 4, S, 4S, Turbo, GT3 with and without RS or Targa means that each variant has its special characteristics in terms of appearance, tuning, performance and equipment and is aimed at the specific wishes of the customer.
Many models available as GTS
One of the most coveted abbreviations at Porsche is the combination of letters GTS, spelled out as Grand Turismo Sport. GTS not only sticks to the rear of the iconic Carrera, but now also to five other – and thus to all – model series from Porsche. The 718, 911, Panamera, Macan, Cayenne are listed, and for a few months now buyers have also been able to put their GTS tick on the Taycan. If you add everything up, you get 14 models.
The abbreviation GTS looks back on a long history at Porsche. Almost 60 years ago, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, known as "Butzi", designed a mid-engine coupé primarily intended for use in motorsport: the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS. The 180 hp two-seater – incidentally the first Porsche with a plastic body – quickly became a successful racing car. A small series of the GTS also found its way onto the road. Today they are outrageously expensive collector's items, if there is even a copy for sale.
Since when there is GTS
The 924 Carrera GTS from 1981, which was already the most expensive production Porsche to date, should also break the usual price range. The edition was limited to just 50 units. Eleven years later, the GTS letters also adorned the brand's flagship, the 928. In the new millennium, Porsche then began to transfer the GTS philosophy to the Cayenne, the 911, the Panamera, the 718 and finally, in 2015, to the Macan. But that's not all. The leap into electromobility does not rule out a GTS derivative either. The Taycan has also had the model designation since last November.
All GTS models have in common the approach "Sportier expression yes, less suitability for everyday use no". "They represent the golden mean within each series and are positioned as sporty derivatives between the S, 4S and the GT or Turbo models of the respective product series," says Dr. Stefan Utsch, Director Sales and Marketing Panamera series.
You can't just see it from the outside
Of course, connoisseurs of the scene unmask every GTS as they drive past. There are typical GTS elements such as black design parts in matt, satin or high gloss, larger wheels (also in black), a more distinctively styled front apron, darkened headlights and taillights and red-painted brake calipers. Inside, too, GTS lettering is emblazoned here and there, and contrasting seams and red straps catch the eye. Seat surfaces and steering wheel are covered with Alcantara.
It goes without saying that Porsche also specifically goes under the sheet metal for the GTS models. The engines get more power and torque in relation to S/4S, drive and accelerate faster. The body is lower, the PASM sports suspension (Porsche Active Suspension Management) is installed as standard and finally a GTS has to sound different than its “normal” brothers. A special tuning of the exhaust system should conjure up a bit of goosebumps on the forearms and make the heart of the customer beat faster. Because the chassis tuning and engine performance alone will probably not make you realize that you are driving a GTS derivative, once you think away all the visual changes. Because the power densities of similar variants are too close together for that. And all Porsche models drive too well for that.
Expensive letters
So the subjective feeling and the supposedly stronger emotions associated with the abbreviation GTS remain the more decisive purchase criterion. For the cheapest GTS model, the 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, Porsche calls at least 85.051 euros. Almost twice the amount (166.209 euros) has to be paid if you want the GTS logo on the rear of your 911 Targa 4.
The end of the road has not yet been reached. From a marketing point of view, there is nothing wrong with sticking the oldest abbreviation of the Stuttgart sports car brand on the sheet metal of the future 718 models – Boxster and Cayman will be fully electric – as well as the next battery-electric Macan (debut 2023).