www.hotcars.com 10 Things To Know Before Buying The 2022 Porsche Panamera GTS

The 2022 Porsche Panamera GTS has been launched for a base MSRP of $130,700 and comes with minor upgrades in the form of more optional packages and features, an updated infotainment system, and a few design changes to make it looks even more ravishing. The Panamera GTS's party trick, the mighty twin-turbo V8 motor, hasn't seen any changes in terms of performance, and the acceleration is as ferocious as ever.

The transmission is quick and the car handles like it's on rails. The beautiful interior gets endless customization options, just like the outgoing model year. The same is also the case with the powertrain, suspension, and brakes, all of which could be upgraded to make it even better. The spacious cabin and the feature-packed infotainment system are some of the other plus points. Competing with the likes of the Audi S7 and the Mercedes-AMG GT 53, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2022 Porsche Panamera GTS.

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10The Twin-Turbo V8 Is A Ferocious Motor

The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 motor that is shoehorned under the hood of the Panamera GTS produces 473 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. This motor comes mated to the 8-speed PDK automatic transmission and a full-time AWD drivetrain. The impressive performance numbers also convert to one of the best 0-60 mph times of the segment at 3.2 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 11.7 seconds.

Even though the performance is not as crazy as the BMW M850i Gran Coupe, it is still one of the fastest sedans in its class. The initial and mid-range torque is superb, and the PDK automatic transmission is quicker than ever. The turbo lag is nonexistent, and the car goes all the way to the red line very fast. The top-end grunt is superior to most of the rivals, too.

9Many Optional Upgrades

Offered for a base MSRP of $130,700, the 2022 Porsche Panamera GTS is also endlessly customizable, making it one of the preferred choices amongst enthusiasts who want to have a personalized ride. When it comes to the exterior, there are 22 color options, there's also your paint of choice option for an additional $11,430, 24 different wheel designs, and many other wheel accessories to choose from.

The interior also follows the same ethos, as it gets 15 leather upholstery color shades, multiple seating options, and a list of contrasting stitching options. The optional packages, such as a premium plus package, assistance package, SportDesign package, and a plethora of others are onboard too. There is a similar number of options to choose from in all the other sections like performance, comfort and assistance, lights and vision, and many more too. However, most of these optional packages are very expensive.

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8The 8-Speed PDK Automatic Is Still The Gold Standard

The 8-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission is standard and comes with no changes from the outgoing model year. Even though this transmission has been in production for quite a long time, it is still one of the fastest transmissions out there. The shifts are seamless and there is none of those head-boggling, even when driving like a maniac.

Put the car in normal mode, and you barely notice the shifts. However, put it in sport mode and the transmission changes its character completely. It is much faster than the already fast transmissions in the Audi S7 and the Mercedes-AMG GT 53, and the manual mode with the help of the steering-mounted paddle shifters makes the Panamera GTS an utter joy to drive around.

7Handles Beautifully

If you want to know the full potential of the luxury sports sedan, dial the car to the sport plus mode. The car handles slightly better than the Audi A7, which was a benchmark when it comes to handling and driving dynamics. The well-engineered chassis and the adaptive suspension system make the car a joy to tackle the winding B-roads and the racetracks.

There is rear-wheel steering as standard, which does make a difference, especially when making quick turns at a high speed. The air suspension with sport plus mode makes the car quite stiff, and hence this is the mode you choose if you are on a racetrack. The body roll is negligible, and the grip level is phenomenal. The steering is precise and direct, however, it could have weighted up slightly more to compliment the impeccable suspension and chassis.

6Great Ride Quality

With the adaptive air suspension setup with multiple suspension modes on offer, the ride quality turned out to be reasonably pliant than you would imagine from a performance luxury sedan. When driving the car through the towns, put the car in the comfort mode and the ride quality is reasonably comfy. However, the larger bumps and potholes do filter into the cabin.

Driving on the highway is where it shines the most. The ride quality turned out to be very flat at these speeds, and the passengers wouldn't feel tired even after a couple of hundred miles of traveling without any breaks. There is no pitching and bobbing to report, and the car has no major body roll.

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5Infotainment Screen Is Big And Bright

The 12.3" touchscreen Porsche Communication Management 6.0 infotainment system that comes in the 2022 Porsche Panamera GTS is a mixed bag. The display is bright, and the touch response is excellent, as you would expect from a car that costs more than $130,000. The fluid animations and decent user interface are some of the other plus points.

However, we were disappointed with the lack of rewinding satellite radio and the controls that are on the steering wheel cannot control the favorites section of the infotainment. Apart from that, all the required features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM radio, Apple Music and Apple Podcast, navigation, and Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity are onboard.

4Many Driver-Assistance Features Are Optional

Like many other models from the Porsche stable, the 2022 Panamera GTS doesn't get the whole host of safety and driver-assistance tech that even the cars that cost half the price gets. Features like forward-collision monitoring, automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control are part of the optional packages.

They are also ridiculously priced and if you opt for these features, the car is certainly going to end up very expensive. However, all the basic safety features, such as airbags, a reverse camera, parking sensors, side-impact beams, Porsche Traction Management, and Porsche Stability Management are standard. The car is also tough in terms of build quality.

3Spacious Cabin

The cabin of the 2022 Porsche Panamera GTS is not going to be a deal-breaker for anyone out there. The front seats are wide and sporty, with excellent under-thigh support and lower back support. The cabin is very ergonomic, too, with everything being placed where it should be. The plenty of seat adjustments and the spacious front row add to the comfort factor.

Being a 4-seater sedan, the rear row of this luxury sports sedan can only seat two passengers, since it gets captain chairs with a massive armrest and center console in the middle. The captain chair rear seat also retains all the qualities of the front seat, with impressive legroom and shoulder room on offer. However, the headroom is a bit restrictive due to the coupe-like roofline. The 17.6 cu ft of trunk capacity is not the best either.

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2Excellent Brakes

The braking hardware hasn't seen any updates, and it still comes with the massive 15.4" front rotors and 14.4" rear rotors coupled with all the braking features like ABS, ventilated rotors, brake assist, hill-hold control, and many more. All of these helped the car to do the 70-0 mph braking in just 145 feet, which turned out to be better than all the rivals in the segment.

The brakes offer sharp initial bite and excellent feedback. The wide, all-season tires are wrapped around 20" or 21" wheels and also contribute to the braking performance. The sticky rubber makes sure that the car stops without any loss of grip, and the ABS isn't very intrusive. The front-end dive is minimal and there is no major brake fade.

1Classy Exterior Design

This is one of the best-looking sedans out there, and even after more than five years in production as the second generation, it still looks the part. The long list of color options and all the optional packages and accessories makes it pretty customizable, ultimately making every Panamera GTS look a bit different from the next. The Mamba green color is retained too, and that shade just highlights all the cuts and creases on the car very well, making it very handsome to look at.

The 2022 Porsche Panamera GTS is well-proportioned, with a decent amount of front and rear overhang. The rear spoiler, LED headlights and taillights, 20" Panamera Design alloy wheels with optional 21" alloy wheels, painted brake calipers, and the sleek coupe-like rear quarter makes the car look completely different from the competition. The car is also very wide and low to the ground, and that adds to the sportiness.