Placing the words “Porsche” and “bargain” in the same sentence could put me in danger of violating the basic tenets of auto journalism. And much ridicule. Ah, but interject the three letter GTS and I’m off the hook. Barely.
Held in a firm embrace by its Alcantara-trimmed carbon buckets, I’m unraveling a mirror-smooth road in mountainous rural Georgia, apparently tailor-made for this 2022 Porsche 911 GTS Coupe. It’s red, rear-wheel drive, sports a seven-speed manual transmission, and is optioned with a selection of goodies making this most “sporting” of 911s even more sporty — carbon ceramic brakes, rear-axle steering, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (active stabilizer bars), full bucket seats, Lightweight Design Package (rear seat delete, carbon buckets, lightweight rear, and side glass, lightweight battery}, and Power Steering Plus.
Aren’t Porsches by definition already sporty? True, but the 911 GTS variant, first launched twelve years ago, distills the essence of 911-ness to a more elemental form. Not the fastest and certainly not the most expensive, but arguably the most pure. The tradition continues.
Out here on the forest-lined and largely deserted roads, this red wedge with the oh-so sexy hips has shrink-wrapped itself around me. I’ve never driven a 911 with such front-end bite. Turn into a corner and the GTS’ nose hunts down the apex like a truffle dog on the scent. Roll into the power early and the front retains its laser trajectory. Fabulous.
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Coupe Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Coupe Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Coupe Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Coupe Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Coupe Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Coupe Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Coupe Photo by Peter Bleakney
The 473-hp twin-turbo 3.0L flat howls, barks, revs, and catapults us from bend to bend with addictive ferocity. Porsche has performed somewhat of a miracle here — making a turbocharged engine act and sound naturally-aspirated. Porsche also says it wants to save the manuals, and with a linkage this good it has a chance.
Some folks deride the all-new larger 991 (code named 992) as being too slick, too GT-like, a bit too removed from the pure Porsche driving experience. Well, if you can’t afford the 911 GT3 and seek a visceral 911 thrill, then yes, this new 2022 GTS Coupe with a starting price of $150,700 does indeed deliver. To get at the very pointy end of the 911 GTS driving experience, this tester is optioned to $196,780.
So where’s all that bargain business I was talking about?
GTS vehicles find their spot in Porsche hierarchy just above the S models and below the Turbo variants. Trying to option an S up to GTS spec would cost more, and you can’t really do that anyway because the GTS get its own bespoke features. So yes, GTS equates so a value proposition in Porsche-world.
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Coupe Photo by Peter Bleakney
GTS visual differences include a Sport Design Package with matte black trim, darkened headlights and taillights, 20”/21” staggered centre-lock Turbo S wheels in satin black, and a 10mm lower ride height. Mechanical upgrades include 911 Turbo brakes, GTS-specific Porsche Active Suspension Management, rear helper spring from the 911 Turbo, and specially tuned sport exhaust. That jewel of a turbo 3.0L flat-six is tuned to 473 horsepower and 420 lb-ft — up 23 and 15 respectively from the previous 911 GTS.
The Sport Chrono package is standard and buyers can choose between an eight-speed PDK twin-clutch auto or no-cost seven-speed manual with a delightful short throw shifter. There’s reduced sound deadening too, and in that respect, the Porsche engineers didn’t fool around. This car is loud inside. So maybe take a pass on any expensive audio upgrades.
That’s not to say every 2022 911 GTS has to be as visceral, engaging, freakin’ loud, and downright life-affirming as this Carmine Red rear-drive Coupe with the Lightweight Design Package. To showcase the other end of the GTS spectrum, Porsche had an all-wheel drive 911 Targa 4 ($173,700) for us to sample. Unique to the Targa GTS is its matte black targa bar, and this car featured the no-cost optional five-bolt Turbo S wheels in lieu of the centre-lock alloys.
Interestingly, the Targa is the 911 model buyers spend the most on in terms of upgrades. As such, this specimen was loaded to the tune of $214,200 with such things as upgraded Bose Audio, 18-way adaptive sport seats, matte carbon fibre interior trim, adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, night view assist, ambient lighting, matrix headlights, front axle lift, and so it goes.
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Targa Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Targa Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Targa Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Targa Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Targa Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Targa Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Targa Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Targa Photo by Peter Bleakney
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Targa Photo by Peter Bleakney
On the road, this all-wheel drive Targa 4 GTS with the PDK auto feels markedly different than the rear-drive Coupe. Sure, it still handles like a dream, but the Targa’s extra 175 kg of mass and driven front wheels erase some of that raw, playful purity of the Coupe, adding a more mature, panted feel. And a bit more understeer when diving into bends. Still, this special Targa is crazy quick, thrilling and mighty vocal.
The 2022 911 GTS gets Porsche’s latest Communication Management 6.0 with larger touch points, simplified operation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, and improved speech recognition that can be activated by “Hey Porsche.”
Canadian deliveries for the 2022 Porsche 911 GTS commence early in 2022. So all you Porsche bargain hunters who seek a 911 with more edge and engagement, get your orders in now. And save the manuals.
Keyword: First Drive: 2022 Porsche 911 GTS