This blog was started by my wife, inspired by the arrival of our 970 Panamera Edition (base model).

She was deeply impressed by its driving, and almost every day she would tell me about the Panamera’s charms. Naturally, I also really liked the 970 Panamera, and especially the Edition was a wonderfully balanced car that made driving truly enjoyable.

This time, I had the opportunity to test drive the GTS, so I’d like to share my impressions.

Panamera GTS (Late 970)

Feeling

The Panamera dressed in Agate Grey has a very calm and cool presence. Inside, the red interior adds a luxurious feel and matches the exterior color beautifully.

First, when you start the engine, the tachometer needle jumps up energetically, and the car lets out a roar—this feels like a Porsche ritual. The naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V8 engine produces 440 ps.

Putting it into D and starting off, the ride feels surprisingly solid. Compared to the 970 Panamera Edition we had before, the ride quality is quite different. The Edition is smoother, but this one feels like it’s gripping the road firmly, more reminiscent of a 911 Carrera 4 GTS than a Panamera.

This solid feeling is something you don’t often experience in the 971. The 971 has a lighter touch but still delivers strong road contact; the 970 generation is characterized by a sense of weightiness combined with that grip. Among them, the GTS feels particularly substantial.

Engine Sound

In normal mode, it’s surprisingly quiet, and the 971 Panamera GTS actually sounds louder. But switch to Sport or Sport Plus, and the burbling becomes much more pronounced.

Inside the cabin, you don’t hear it as much, but outside, the sound is likely quite impressive.

By the way, comparing the sound to the 971 GTS, the 971 feels more theatrical. It tries to impress the driver even at low speeds, whereas the 970 is more subtle and natural in its sound delivery. This difference largely comes down to the engine types: turbocharged vs. naturally aspirated.

Handling

Handling is, of course, sharp—especially in Sport and Sport Plus modes, it turns eagerly. Winding roads are a joy.

Compared to the lighter, more agile handling of the 971 GTS, the 970 feels weightier. It has a pleasantly substantial feel that inspires confidence. I think the 970 also delivers more steering feedback. In that sense, it feels more connected to the driver, making it easier to grasp the car’s behavior.

This is true for many cars: newer models tend to be higher performing but offer less driver involvement and feedback. The 970, by contrast, retains a relatively analog feel, leaving more room for driver engagement than the 971.

Being naturally aspirated, the engine’s revving feel is very satisfying. Torque rises in proportion to the revs and sound, which feels great. Even without pushing it hard, just that sensation alone makes driving enjoyable—one of the best things about an NA engine.

Points of Concern

However, with a 4.8-liter V8 up front, you do feel some front-end weight. There’s a slight heaviness when entering corners. The V6 970 didn’t have this feeling, so it’s likely due to the engine’s weight.

Also, while the 971 Panamera GTS and Turbo also have V8s, they manage to better counterbalance the front weight. In that regard, the 970’s V8 feels a bit front-heavy. Because of this, even when pushing hard on winding roads, the car doesn’t feel as compact as the 971.

Another point, which the owner also mentioned, is that the gap between 2nd and 3rd gear is too wide. When driving in 3rd and downshifting to 2nd, the revs jump unexpectedly high, which can be startling. This is probably because the car is programmed to start in 2nd gear by default, so 2nd gear has a relatively low ratio.

About the Panamera GTS Model

Riding this car reminded me once again that the difference between grades in both the 970 and 971 Panamera is significant.

The GTS has its own unique presence and suspension setup. This is very different from the base Panamera (Edition) we had. If you like a strong road grip and a bold engine sound, the GTS grade will be very satisfying.

After driving both the 970 and 971 GTS, I think the best way to describe the Panamera GTS is as a more luxurious Porsche version of the Carrera 4 GTS from each era.

That wraps up my final article of the year with this test drive report of the 970 Panamera GTS. Thank you all for a wonderful year.