Porsche’s New Models: First Drives

Here’s a look back at the special edition of the Porsche Track Experience (PTE) I attended in Shirahama. We had the chance to take Porsche’s latest models for a drive. The five cars I got to try were:

・New 911 S
・New 911 4S
・Cayenne S
・Panamera GTS
・Panamera GTS Sport Turismo

I thought we’d each get to drive just one car, but as it turned out, everyone could take turns driving all five. What a lucky break! (Our group was small.)

The test course was a short loop combining straights and corners, taking around 20 to 30 seconds per lap. We were told to complete two laps. Before we set off, the instructor explained:

Try Normal mode for the first lap, then Sport or Sport Plus for the second so you can feel the difference. On the straight, give it a good push and accelerate to 100 km/h. You can’t do this on a regular dealership test drive, so make the most of the opportunity!

Wow—my heart was already racing with excitement.

I was starting with the Panamera GTS Sport Turismo. Thinking about it, this was actually my first time driving a Panamera GTS. When I started this blog, one of my goals was to buy a Panamera GTS someday. So getting behind the wheel of a car I’d admired for years had me feeling pretty nervous.

The Panamera GTS is powered by the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 as the Panamera Turbo, but its output is limited to 460 PS (the Panamera Turbo produces 550 PS).

I wondered how it would feel compared with the Panamera Turbo, then started the GTS. The engine sounded lighter and more restrained than I’d expected. It was nothing like the Turbo’s “Vroooom!”—the sound of a beast waking up.

Once underway, the car felt remarkably agile. The Panamera Turbo feels substantial, with its powerful engine hauling a heavy body; the GTS, by contrast, feels like a leaner, more muscular machine.

The steering was also wonderfully responsive. The Turbo is certainly nimble, too, but the GTS felt even more precise, turning smoothly and effortlessly. It was a pleasure to drive.

And, of course, the Panamera GTS accelerates impressively. It reached 100 km/h in no time on the straight, so I didn’t get much chance to keep my foot to the floor. Even so, the acceleration felt smooth, eager, and exhilarating.

The Panamera Turbo, on the other hand, squats down toward the road when you get on the throttle, then surges forward with a ground-hugging force. Its deep turbocharged growl adds to the drama, while the GTS feels lighter on its feet.

Even though both Panameras share an engine, I could tell that the GTS and Turbo have very different characters—and very different appeal.

After that, I got to drive the Cayenne S and another Panamera GTS. But with just two laps of a 20- to 30-second course, the experience was over in a flash. I finished wishing I could have done at least five laps and had more time to explore each car.

Still, I imagine my husband could have picked up all kinds of details in that brief drive. I couldn’t help thinking, “If we’d left the kids with their grandparents and come together, he could have ridden along too. What a missed opportunity!”