C6 Friday, May 29, 2015 SPECIAL REPORT: MOTORING GTS lives up to top billing

Cayenne is game changer for purists and Panamera is on track, writes Carl S. Cunanan The Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet approaches the historic town of Ronda on a run which tested engine delivery on the way up and braking ability on the way down.

here is an argument including the first-ever drive of use to work every day. Most contributed to the high levels of consistently push the car to the Targa Florio in Sicily, and and also allows for more rubber going around the the Targa GTS, up to the people will be quicker in the testing achieved. Sheep, dogs limits without worrying about Porsche says that what it learned to grip the road. Porsche community Panamera and Cayenne. GTSs than they will be in the and shepherds were fine, drivers sheep, you get a real feel for was that long races don’t always The grip is important that the GTS models are The drive was to include city, “faster” cars because most were first taken aback and then handling and performance, how require the utmost abilities of because on the performance the best cars ever made highway and twisty mountain people won’t be able to use the became amused at the photo the car can continuously and speed if they compromise the side the GTSs are better than T– that they are the most flexible roads to and from the wonderful Turbos or GT3s fully in anything opportunities presented. confidently act and react driver. It learned to engineer in they have ever been. The of all Porsche vehicles, able Ascari Circuit in Malaga, Spain. other than a straight line. The 911GTS is more without feeling the tiredness you comfort, easiness to drive and engines deliver more power to be used daily but also run The exact same cars, basically And so, I landed in the powerful, purposeful and playful would in other cars. ergonomic efficiency because it than the S, even the previous hard on mountain roads taking the beating of a sprint Spanish sun to test the entire than the S model below it, but is It reminds you that Porsche found that the result was the GTS of similar model, and or fast on racetrack curves race and a two-way commute all line of Porsche GTS vehicles. The not the one-minded track produces more racing cars than ability to drive faster for power is delivered more with equal expertise and with in one day and all without a first drive using a red drop-top machine that the 911GT3 is. It any other marque. The cars that longer periods. spontaneously. Using the Sport equal pleasure. mechanic. For the flagship 911s, Porsche 911Carrera GTS accelerates quickly and were driven to the track were the Since its cars already had or Sport Plus button allows you Porsches are extremely the Turbos may be faster and the Cabriolet would begin just off smoothly, in a more linear same ones run hard on the track, superior reputations for to dial in as much power as you competent handling machines GT3s may be more racetrack- the beaches and bring us fashion than the turbocharged and the same ones we ran back reliability, this made for a vehicle want, along with appropriate at their most basic. Perhaps the centric – but still street legal through high-speed highways models and with what many say to the beach. that could win the right races stiffness and sound. Porsche German marque wanted to most places – but the GTSs give and high-speed tight mountain is a far nicer sound. It handles The GTS models, from the and still allow more consumers wanted to build the most agile weigh in on this discussion, the most emotional roads that would test engine whatever curves you throw at it tall Cayennes to the four-door to actually drive it. The modern vehicle, and the new GTSs are far because it asked me to head to engagement, the most purely delivery on the way up and with ease thanks to improved Panameras to the various 911s to GTS is the latest iteration of all easier to throw around than ever Spain to do nothing but drive connected performance, the braking ability on the way down. suspension dynamics and the mid-engined Boxsters and that knowledge and ability. while still keeping control. GTS models from Boxster and most awesome sound in a Herds of sheep crossing the tuning. The brakes are Caymans, all bring in joy and The package of today Extensive chassis Cayman through every 911, package you can still realistically road on a blind curve also upgraded, which came in engagement at higher levels comprises key components that modifications allow increased handy when we encountered than the other “regular” include design, performance longitudinal dynamics and the sheep. Porsches – but not requiring the and emotion as supported or better transverse dynamics The road runs brought us to technically-demanding skills engineered. On the design side, which means less body and the Ascari Race Resort, a high- and sacrifices of the Turbos the cars, including the SUVs, weight shift as you run through end destination, club and which are fast and comfortable, look more aggressive. Black trim the twisties or settle into wide Limited-edition Lamborghini racetrack for those who think and GT3 and GT4 road/race is present in subtle touches, with curves. All this handling is best relaxation is more than just the cars which are fast and not pieces such as wheels, headlight enjoyed in the sports cars, with nearby beaches or historic very comfortable. trim and badges, and smoked the mid-engine Boxster GTS and Ronda with the oldest An S letter after a car name tail lights. Cayman GTS being the true bullfighting ring in Spain. stands for sport, and GT stands On the inside grippy scalpels, the 911GTS variants The Ascari track has the for Gran Turismo or Grand alcantara and contrasting (coupe, cabriolet, targa and longest straight in the country, a Touring, which usually means a stitching work with anodised 2WD or 4) being more classic- stable of different high- car suited more for long fast aluminium or optional carbon- Porsche tail-happy but not performance vehicles and drives than tight racetrack fibre trim propel the racing car’s overly or unsafely so at all. The instructors and excellent corners. Porsche’s GTS stands look and feel. The wide body bigger Panamera GTS sedan and facilities for hospitality, for Gran Turismo Sports and configuration of the rear-wheel the Cayenne GTS SUV have restaurants and downtime in signifies purebred sports cars. drive cars is now in use on all more height and weight, so you between on-track sessions. We The original 904 was run on GTS models, which makes cannot expect miracles, but they traded the rear-wheel drive GTS public road races such as the everything look more aggressive are surprisingly quick and stable. Cabriolet for the new half-open top, the just-launched 911Targa 4 GTS (4 meaning all wheels are driven). While the Cabriolet is a full convertible, the Targa is the latest take on a classic Porsche 911model that had the roof open above the driver and passenger but a full cabin elsewhere. This present Targa is arguably the most beautiful the company has ever made, and uses a mechanical system to open up Lamborghini has launched the Aventador Superveloce LP750-4 in Hong Kong, less than two the sky as opposed to the ones months after its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Andrea Baldi, general manager of Automobili where you had to manhandle Lamborghini Asia-Pacific, described the car as “the most exclusive, purest and emotional the half-roof off yourself and production model in the history of Lamborghini”. With acceleration to 100km/h in 2.8 seconds stow it behind the seats. and a top speed of over 350km/h, the new model costs HK$7.8 million and is being produced in a It is gorgeous enough to pull worldwide limited edition of 600. you away from the 911on aesthetics alone. On the racetrack where you can The Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS is the latest take on a classic 911. Shanghai Auto Show is big in scale and continues to grow ...... luxury SUVs in China, Then there were some new BMW unveiled a new plug-in the most exciting wasn’t even a concept featured a futuristic Santana, an estate version of the Mark Andrews Mercedes-Benz chose Shanghai versions of luxury SUVs. Volvo hybrid version of the X5, while car. MINI’s Augmented Vision digital interior, it rides on a real China-only Santana saloon. to unveil its new GLC coupe chose to show off its XC90 Audi showed off the Prologue concept shows what is already platform, and its looks are likely And the Lannia is the first Thanks to a change of venue, concept. Essentially a Excellence. Proclaimed as the Allroad. The third concept in the possible with existing to find their way into a new Nissan-branded car to be this year’s Shanghai Auto Show competitor to BMW’s X4, it is most luxurious Volvo ever, it brand’s Prologue series is a technology and combines the family of crossover vehicles. It designed specially for China. has become the biggest in the more coherent in styling and is demonstrates the brand’s intent jacked-up version of the Avant features of a head-up display was a similar story with Honda’s With its sharp looks and world. The new National also a little bigger. The to move more upmarket under shown at Geneva in March, with with a Google Glass-type device. Concept D, which is intended to integrated infotainment Exhibition and Convention production version should be the stewardship of new owners some more rugged detailing. Augmented reality allows the preview a China-only crossover. technology, this model could Centre is the largest exhibition launched towards the end of Geely. This version has clearly It was left to Chevrolet to user to see through a car’s blind Underlining the importance prove popular. space in the world, comprising the year. been designed with the Chinese bring the weird and wonderful spots and body, which means of the mainland market to The Shanghai show may be 16 giant halls. The only other notable market in mind. The normal with the Batmobile-like FNR. there’s no more hitting the curb Volkswagen, its C Coupe GTE victim of timing. Following soon Now in its 16th year, the launch was the McLaren 540C, seven-seat configuration is Designed in Shanghai, it while parking. The glasses can concept previews the company’s after the shows in Geneva and biennial Shanghai show but in reality it is nearly identical eschewed for two rear captain noticeably lacked any controls – guide the wearer on foot from future design direction with a car New York, most manufacturers alternates years with one in to the 570S that was unveiled a seats with increased leg room, a sensors and roof-mounted radar the car to their final destination that fits between the Passat and had already unveiled their new Beijing. With the mainland fortnight earlier at the New York fridge, handmade crystal classes provide driverless operation. and back, and when driving Phaeton as a China-only model. models. A switch to October or having become the world’s show, albeit cheaper and with and a cabin that has been Other concepts proved to be provides navigation cues. Sharing the stand at the auto November might allow largest car market, the show has less power. optimised for comfort. far closer to reality, and one of While Citroën’s Aircross show was the new Gran Shanghai to regain its clout. grown to eclipse regional rivals such as the Tokyo Motor Show and is now considered of equal importance to the likes of events Mainland carmakers out in force in Geneva, New York and Frankfurt. In the course of the As can be expected, mainland seater H7L version. All displayed very similar to the Mercedes-Benz weeklong event, the 350,000 producers were out in force at the impressive interior materials and G-wagen. Zotye also attracted square metres of exhibition Shanghai Auto Show. Haval was a good finish. attention due to the Z700’s space welcomed more than the real star with a string of new Geely’s stand was indicative of similarity to the Audi A6, and 900,000 visitors – many of whom launches and concepts. It was the transformation it’s the E30 for influences from Smart were eagerly sizing up cars interesting to see the lack of Great undergoing. There was the official and Tesla. to buy. Wall branding and an absence of launch of the new GC9, which Meanwhile, there seemed to But while Shanghai now its small cars from the stand. included the ceremonial handing be a trend of manufacturers dwarfs other auto shows, this It launched the H6 Coupe, over of the keys to the first six producing much larger, more year proved it doesn’t quite have which is Haval’s answer to the customers. There was also the luxurious cars as evidenced by the substance to match its size. Evoque, available in front-wheel Emgrand Concept, which previews BAIC’s Senova D80, GAC’s During the last show in 2013, drive and 4WD models with a a similarly bold design for the Trumpchi GA8 and the Dongfeng there was a string of launches choice of petrol or diesel 2.0T replacement of the popular EC7, Number 1. from luxury manufacturers. This engines. Then there was the created by a team led by ex-Volvo The real monster, though, was year, there was only one concept relaunch of the troubled H8, which designer Peter Horbury. the Hongqi LS5. Riding on the that was close to being ready for now has the gearbox issues sorted While a lot of the cars showed same platform as the L5 production. Instead, a few new out by sourcing rear main strong influences, the only real limousine, this massive SUV is versions of existing models were retarders from ZF. Finally, there new copy to surface was the 5.2 metres long and rides on a rolled out, plus some concepts. was the soft-roader H7 and seven- Beijing Jeep BJ80C, which looks wheelbase of 3,060mm. With an eager market for Mainland carmaker Haval had a prominent display at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show.