Bit early isn't it?
With the exception of the hard-core GT3, arguably the 997's finest hour came late in its lifecycle badged as the GTS. Porsche's 991 series was due to be launched, so the GTS was basically a run-out special with wider bodywork a touch more power and other detail revisions to still make it a good bit more desirable today. The new 991 GTS, revealed here for the first time, follows that formula, though it has arrived just a few years after the standard car's introduction. Porsche is using its GTS badge more liberally these days, with the Cayman and Boxster line-ups also featuring 'Gran Turismo Sport' variants.
Just another 911 then?
If it's like the Cayman and Boxster GTS - and the 997 GTS that preceded it - then it's a resounding no. Porsche doesn't do big changes, and its incremental approach to improvements is no better demonstrated than when it pops a special badge on something new. And the GTS badge is special; it brings with it a wider Carrera 4 body (whether you opt for rear- or four-wheel drive and a 30hp hike in power to a deliver a maximum of 430hp. That revised engine sits on active engine mounts too, which come as part of the standard Sport Chrono package. That pack also brings PASM suspension, dropping the ride by 10mm, while centre lock wheels borrowed from the Turbo and GT3 models are 20 inches in diameter - and there's a sports exhaust as standard.
Anything else?
Aside from the lower ride height, those matt black wheels, Carrera 4 body and wider track, there are a number of other GTS signifiers. Black chromed exhaust tips, GTS badging inside and out, Alcantara and leather sports seats, black tinted bi-Xenon headlights, Porsche Active Vectoring with a limited-slip differential, Porsche Communication Management and whole lot more. It's basically a 911 as you'd love to spec it, with the bonus of some more power and sharper looks.
So, come on, what'll it do?
Two mph short of 200mph in Carrera 2 guise with the standard manual transmission - which is probably how we'd spec it. That's 10mph more than the standard car, the improvement in performance certain to be obvious throughout the engine's entire range. With the PDK twin-clutch auto it'll reach 62mph in 4.0 seconds, which is a 0.3-second improvement over the standard Carrera, the Cabriolets suffering slightly in acceleration due to their greater weight.
So, when can I get one?
It's available to order today, with the standard C2 GTS starting at £91,098 and prices rising to £104,385 or the C4 GTS Cabriolet. The only option you might want is PDK, which will add around £2,400 to the price. Start looking at the configurator and the GTS looks pretty good value, too, and gives 911 drivers a more focused car without going quite as far as the sensational - if slightly compromised - GT3.
Kyle Fortune - 7 Oct 2014
