Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2010 – 2012) Review
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Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2010 – 2012) At A Glance
The best 911 Carrera in the range, adds even more enjoyment to the great driving experience, reasonable economy considering the superb performance it offers.
Doesn't look very different from a standard Carrera.
While Porsche has branched out into new markets in recent years with models like the Cayenne and more latterely the Panamera uber saloon, it's the core models that most people still associate the Porsche badge with. And for many, the 911 remains the ultimate Porsche and a name that, despite the emergence of supercars like the Audi R8, still holds plenty of sway.
It may not turn heads like other high performance sports cars, but the fact it's a common sight on our roads is down to one simple fact - the 911 is bloody good. It manages that rare feat of combining great performance with driving enjoyment, refinement and everyday useability. So while the basic shape has remained unchanged since the 911 first came along in the 1960s (a running joke among many...) the years of evolution have produced a near perfect sports car.
And sitting at the top of the 911 Carrera range is the Carrera GTS. Available as both a coupe and convertible it uses the same 3.8-litre six-cylinder engine as the Carrera S but power is boosted to 408bhp thanks to a host of engine changes including a new intake system, closing the gap on the 911 GT3 which has 435bhp. The engine has been optimised to deliver its torque lower down and the result is that it feels noticeably quicker when accelerating from low speeds.
But the GTS isn't just about more power. It has a wider rear body - the same as the Carrera 4S - but retains the standard rear-wheel drive layout, along with unique 19-inch black centre-mount RS Spyder wheels, which gives it more grip and stabilty in corners. Inside there are unique touches too including plenty of Alcantara trim, including on the steering wheel, plus the removal of the back seats to save weight. It also gets uprated brakes.
It's a car that's genuinely more than the sum of its parts, so while the individual changes may not seem that substantial, the end result is a real joy to drive. The Carrera GTS is certainly special enough to deserve its place as the ultimate model in the 911 Carrera range. At a shade more than £78k, it's an expensive buy of course, but at roughly £2000 more than the Carrera S is relatively good value considering all the extras it gets as standard.
Later in 2011 Porsche introduced the four-wheel drive Carrera 4 GTS.
Reviews for Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2010 – 2012)'s top 3 rivals
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Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2010 – 2012) handling and engines
- Engines range from Carrera GTS Coupe to Carrera 4 GTS Coupe PDK
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 24–25 mpg
Although the Carrera GTS may not look dissimilar to a standard 911 Carrera, park the two side by side and the differences are a little more obvious. Especially at the back. The GTS has the same wider body of the 911 Carrera 4 models, even though it has a standard rear-wheel drive set-up plus the front and rear track is wider which gives extra stability in corners. The GTS also gets special tyres for the unique centre-mount 19-inch RS Spyder alloy wheels which come in black as standard along with the sports exhaust system.
But aside from the styling changes, the crucial difference between the Carrera GTS and the 'standard' Carrera S model is an increase in power. It uses the same 3.8-litre six-cylinder engine (and creates the same wonderful deep note) but has been tweaked to give an extra 23bhp, producing 408bhp. This means it's not far behind the 911 GT3 which has 435bhp athough it's still some way behind the thunderous 911 Turbo which can call on 500bhp.
The engine has been 'optimised' by Porsche and produces its maximum output at 7300rpm, just short of the maximum engine speed of 7500rpm. To put that into some context, the engine in the Carrera S delivers 385bhp at 6500rpm so it's easy to see this engine is designed to have a sportier character to it, rather than just being more powerful.
Thanks to a new intake system (we won't bore you with all the technical bits) it also delivers its torque more smoothly across the rev range. 320Nm is available at just 1500 rpm and although maximum torque is no different from the Carrera S at 420Nm it peaks from 4200rpm all the way to 5600 rpm, so you can access more of the engine's mid-range power more easily - and without having to change down a gear and work it too hard.
So what does this all mean? Well on paper the Carrera GTS Coupe with the standard six-speed manual gearbox does 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds - that's a smidgen quicker than a Carrera S (0.1 seconds to be exact) while the top speed is 2mph faster at 190mph. But in everyday driving what you notice is that it's easier to access the power in the GTS than in a standard Carerra. So for instance when you're overtaking, the power comes on song a touch sooner and although it's only 23bhp more powerful, that tweak to the intake system certainly makes it feel even more sprightly.
While it's unlikely you'd buy a Carrera GTS to merely potter around in, the fact you don't always have to rev it hard to get good acceleration means it's as refined and easy to drive as a standard 911 Carrera when you want it to be. It does have the same fairly heavy clutch, which in traffic soon becomes tiring on your left leg, but the throttle pedal isn't so sensitive that it's hard to drive at low speeds.
In fact, like the standard 911, the Carrera GTS is easy to use everyday. The steering is light at low speeds, visibility is pretty good and while the ride is firm (this is a high performance car after all) it's not back breakingly stiff. But when you want it to go like brown stuff off a garden implement, it doesn't hang about. Ask it to accelerate and you're rewarded with a delightful throaty combination of exhaust and engine sound as the revs rise. And it just seems to go quicker and quicker the more you work it.
But the GTS is at home on fast sweeping bends. It turns in with amazing precision and there's a lovely feel through the steering which you rarely find with modern cars. Thanks to the wider rear track and those big tyres, it's certainly more grippy at the back and in the wet the traction control doesn't need to intervene as often. As with all 911 models, you're always aware that there's a hefty engine behind you, but the GTS gives you a bit more confidence, especially in less than ideal driving conditions and feels more stuck to the road.
Like the rest of the Carerra range, the GTS is available with Porsche's PDK automatic gearbox. This is a double-clutch gearbox similar to the Volkswagen DSG one and is impressively quick at changing up, while it's just as swift at going down a notch when you want some acceleration. It's certainly not cheap though and will set you back a hefty £2500 - expensive even by Porsche prices.
But it's a good alternative to the standard manual and one of the better automatic gearboxes available on a performance car. It certainly puts the likes of the Maserati electro-actuated gearbox to shame. The seven-speed PDK comes with gearshift paddles on the three-spoke sports steering wheel (which is standard) that has a lovely polished aluminium finish, or you can just leave it in manual and it will happily do it's own thing very impressively.
If you go for the PDK gearbox you can also choose the optional Sport Chrono Package Plus. This has a Launch Control function which gives you the fastest possible acceleration from a standing start plus a race circuit shifting strategy, giving very fast gear changes. It does seem a little extreme and it's not something you'd really use on the road, but it's a real experience and drops the 0-62mph time to 4.2 seconds in the
coupe and 4.4 seconds in the cabriolet.
And what about economy? Well you don't really buy a Porsche if you're worried about running costs, but the Carerra GTS doesn't fare too badly given the performance and power it offers. The average claimed consumption is 26.6mpg for the coupe while choosing the PDK gearbox improves this to 27.7mpg, although in everyday driving don't expect to see more than about 22mpg and far less if you want to actually enjoy that performance. And who wouldn't want to?
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet | 26 mpg | 4.8 s | 251 g/km |
| Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet PDK | 26 mpg | 4.6 s | 251 g/km |
| Carrera 4 GTS Coupe | 27 mpg | 4.6 s | 247 g/km |
| Carrera 4 GTS Coupe PDK | 27 mpg | 4.4 s | 247 g/km |
| Carrera GTS Cabriolet | 27 mpg | 4.8 s | 242 g/km |
| Carrera GTS Cabriolet PDK | 27 mpg | 4.6 s | 242 g/km |
| Carrera GTS Coupe | 27 mpg | 4.6 s | 242 g/km |
| Carrera GTS PDK | 28 mpg | 4.4 s | 240 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2010 – 2012)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
89%
Real MPG
24–25 mpg
MPGs submitted
9
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2010 – 2012) interior
- Boot space is 105 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4435 mm |
| Width | 1852 mm |
| Height | 1300 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2350 mm |
As it's the top model in the 911 Carrera range, the GTS comes well equipped, especially so by the usually minimal Porsche standards. The design and layout of the interior are the same as a standard 911 but the first thing you notice is that there are no back seats (not that the back 'seats' are exactly expansive anyway) which helps the GTS to shed five kilograms. You can however have the seats fitted for no extra charge and you can also opt for a 90-litre fuel tank (which is also a no-cost option) boosting the range compared to the standard 67-litre tank.
The main standout feature in the GTS is the use of Alcantara with the centre section of the sports seats, the steering wheel rim, the handbrake lever and door handles all trimmed in the lightweight material. There are still some question marks about whether it works as a steering wheel material, it tends to wear quite quickly and then isn't as nice to touch compared to leather, but it certainly makes the interior feel different.
The GTS also gets the new three-spoke 'SportDesign' steering wheel makes its debut in the Carrera GTS. It was previously only available on cars fitted with the PDK gearbox, but now comes on manual version of the GTS and looks far more modern and stylish than the standard 911 steering wheel. Like all 911s, the seating position is pretty much perfect and there's plenty of adjustment in the steering column too, so you can have it nice and close even if you're tall.
Optional extras include sports bucket seats at £2000, sat nav at £1300, rear parking sensors for around £350 while the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) are a hefty £5500.
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2010 – 2012) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4435 mm |
| Width | 1852 mm |
| Height | 1300 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2350 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1420–1595 kg |
| Boot Space | 105 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / Unlimited miles |
| Servicing | 20000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £78,370–£92,549 |
| Insurance Groups | - |
| Road Tax Bands | L |
| Official MPG | 26.4–27.7 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
| Coupe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Carrera 4 GTS Coupe 3dr | £83,145 | 26.9 mpg | 4.6 s |
| Carrera 4 GTS PDK Coupe 3dr Auto | £85,670 | 26.9 mpg | 4.4 s |
| GTS 3dr | £78,370 | 27.4 mpg | 4.6 s |
| GTS PDK 3dr Auto | £80,895 | 27.7 mpg | 4.4 s |
| Open Car | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet 2dr | £90,024 | 26.4 mpg | 4.8 s |
| Carrera 4 GTS PDK Cabriolet 2dr Auto | £92,549 | 26.4 mpg | 4.6 s |
| GTS Cabriolet 2dr | £85,249 | 27.4 mpg | 4.8 s |
| GTS PDK Cabriolet 2dr Auto | £87,774 | 27.4 mpg | 4.6 s |
Model History
September 2010
Porsche unveiled the 911 GTS
A new member of the 911 family that combines a powerful 408bhp 3.8-litre flat six engine with rear-wheel drive to create an exceptionally sporting Carrera. It has a widened rear body styling emphasises the classic rear engine configuration of the 911 while the wider rear track further enhances the chassis dynamics. On sale in December 2010 priced from £76,758.
With a power output of 408 hp, outstanding vehicle dynamics and a specification that emphasises the character of the iconic sports coupe, the new 911 Carrera GTS ascends to the pinnacle of the Carrera model series.
Powered by a 3.8-litre direct injection flat six engine that has been tuned to produce an additional 23 hp more than the 911 Carrera S, the new GTS combines the traditional 911 virtues of exceptional sporting performance, distinctive styling and day to day versatility.
Special attention was paid to the cylinder charge in the 3.8-litre flat engine fitted to the Carrera GTS in order to deliver 408 hp. A special resonance intake manifold features six vacuum-controlled tuning flaps that switch between power- and torque-optimised geometry, whereas in a Carrera S power unit there is only one tuning flap. Consequently, the maximum torque of 420 Nm is available at 4,200 rpm, 200 rpm earlier than with the Carrera S for increased low rev response. Added to this is a sports exhaust system with two dual tailpipes producing a unique sound. The outer shells of the exhaust pipes are painted in black and their inner tubes are polished on the outside and nano-coated.
As standard, the Carrera GTS has a six-speed manual gearbox and the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) is available as an option. In comparison with the Carrera S, top speed of the GTS with manual transmission rises by 2mph to 190 mph. In general, acceleration from zero to 62mph improves by 0.1 seconds; for a GTS Coupé with PDK and a Sport Chrono Package Plus in Sport Plus mode the benchmark sprint takes just 4.2 seconds.
True to the Porsche Intelligent Performance philosophy, this additional sportiness goes hand in hand with more rational appeal: the new 911 Carrera GTS consumes no more fuel than the Carrera S in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). Fuel consumption of a Carrera GTS with PDK in the NEDC is 27.7 mpg (10.2 litres/100 km) and CO2 emissions are 240 g/km.
Unique within the 911 Carrera family, the GTS combines the 44 millimetre wider body of the all-wheel drive Carrera 4 models - including widened rear track - with a classic rear-wheel drive configuration.
There are many more details which underline the design and technology of the GTS from other Carrera models. For instance, the GTS sits on 19-inch centre-locking RS Spyder alloy wheels, painted in black with high-gloss finished rims, with 235/35 ZR 19 tyres on the front axle and 305/30 ZR 19 tyres on the rear. Further features include the SportDesign front apron with spoiler edge painted in black, special side skirts also in black, and the Carrera GTS logotype on doors and rear lid, in black or silver depending on the body colour. The area between the two tailpipes on the rear apron is also finished in black.
In combination with the standard black interior colour, the centre sections of the driver and passenger sport seats are covered with black Alcantara. The sporty interior ambience is further emphasised by use of Alcantara wherever driver and passenger come into direct contact with the vehicle; such as on the rim of the new three-spoke SportDesign steering wheel and on the gear lever and handbrake.
The new Porsche 911 Carrera GTS had its global debut at the Paris Salon in 2010 and went on sale in the UK in December 2010, priced from £76,758 for the Coupe and £83,493 for the Cabriolet.
Fitted to every 911 Carrera GTS is a Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), a sophisticated vehicle security package approved to Thatcham Category 5 standard, and customers will also be able to explore the potential of their new car by participating in a complimentary course at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone.
May 2011
Carrera 4 GTS went on sale
Priced at £83,145 (Coupé) and £90,024 (Cabriolet). The new Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS combines a 408 hp 3.8-litre flat six engine with intelligent all-wheel drive that delivers a further exhilarating dimension to the dynamics of the iconic rear-engined sports car. The 911 was first offered with four-wheel drive in 1989 and the drivetrain has been a popular option ever since. Now, the 911 Carrera 4 GTS broadens customer choice in 2011, building on the success of the two-wheel drive Carrera GTS that went on sale in December last year.
The 911 Carrera 4 GTS power unit has its origins in the 3.8-litre, six-cylinder from the Carrera S. A comprehensive redesign of the intake duct has added 23 hp, taking the peak power output to 408 hp at 7,300 rpm. The improvement in the engine’s breathing not only increases peak power output but also its flexibility thanks to a more generous torque curve in the lower and middle engine speed range. For example, 320 Nm is available from as low as 1,500 rpm; overall, the six-cylinder engine delivers its peak torque of 420 Nm across a broad engine speed range from 4,200 - 5,600 rpm.
Fitted in combination with the uprated engine is a sports exhaust system which produces a distinctly sporty sound. Consequently, the new Carrera 4 GTS has an unmistakable acoustic signature, and this unique character is supplemented by exhaust tailpipes finished in a distinctive black surface design.
While the engine is identical to that used in the two-wheel drive Carrera GTS, the four-wheel drive version features Porsche Traction Management (PTM) to offer even more driving stability, traction and agile handling. The PTM achieves this by directing the optimal proportion of the engine torque to the front wheels via a multiple-plate clutch. Furthermore, the Carrera 4 GTS features a limited-slip rear differential as standard which contributes to the dynamic performance of the electronically-controlled all-wheel drive system, and indicates the driving focus of this new model.
The Carrera 4 GTS is fitted as standard with a six-speed manual transmission, and the Coupé model sprints from 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds, the Cabriolet in 4.8 seconds. If equipped with the optional Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) seven-speed double-clutch transmission, an additional 0.2 seconds can be trimmed respectively from these acceleration times.
While driving dynamics is the prime source of attraction with a Porsche, as is typical of the Stuttgart marque, running costs are also engineered to have broad appeal. By applying the principles of Porsche Intelligent Performance, the fuel economy of these new all-wheel 911 models is identical to that of the equivalent 385 hp 911 Carrera 4S models. For example, the Carrera 4 GTS Coupé returns 26.9 mpg Combined based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) with CO 2 emissions of 247 g/km.
Visually, the new Carrera 4 GTS models differ in points of detail from earlier variants with rear-wheel drive. In addition to the designation on the doors and rear lid, the distinguishing characteristic of all models with all-wheel drive is the additional reflective stripe between the tail lights. As well as the characteristic all-wheel drive wide body style, increased rear track width is added, a specification that is unique to all GTS models.
In numerous other details, the GTS models differ both visually and technically from the other Carrera models. For example, they run on 19 inch RS Spyder alloy wheels in black with a central wheel bolt and gloss-finished rims; 305/30 ZR 19 tyres are fitted on the rear axle.
Additional visual features include the Sport-Design front apron with black painted spoiler lip and special side skirts, also in black. Inside, there are sports seats for driver and passenger. Typical of the GTS, the emphatically sporting black Alcantara trim on seat centre panels, steering wheel rim, gearshift and handbrake lever, door handles and door storage box lid and extension are offered as standard. Porsche Communication Management offering touch-screen controls for the audio system is a further highlight.
The 911 Carrera 4 GTS Coupé and Cabriolet goes on sale in the UK in July 2011, priced from £83,145 for the Coupé and £90,024 as a Cabriolet.
What to watch out for
Late model Porsche ECUs record how the car has been used, in particular if it has ever been over-revved. So vital to see a readout of an interrogation of the ECU before buying a used 997.
