The sports car market is full of more options and price points than ever before. The first tier is the Mazda Miata, Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR 86 low-powered in the $25-30K range. The next level is the ponycar V8s including, but not limited to, the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Charger in the $35-45,000 range. And above those prices, there are still dozens of options from the realm of luxury and beyond.
But sports cars are more than numbers like power and price, especially since electric cars destroy all concepts of speed and acceleration with amazingly fast times from zero to 60 mph. That’s when something like the 2022 Porsche 911 Carerra GTS starts to make sense.
Porsche’s GTS models, although traditionally expensive, pack several enthusiast-type options into one car. For this 992nd-generation 911 (generations are numbered starting in the 1960s with 911, then 930, then 964, etc.), the GTS is offered with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with manual gearbox or dual-clutch, in a coupe, convertible version. Convertible or Targa, and with several lightweight upgrades to unleash that latest speed.
All 2022 Porsche 911 GTS cars are equipped with low-profile sound-absorbing materials, and the coupe offers the option to get rid of the lighter windshield and rear seat. The GTS, which visually differentiates itself from the base 911, features central locking wheels, and black exterior accents including badges, front and rear lights, and engine grille slats. Targa versions get a black Targa bar. The GTS is also equipped with larger 911 Turbo brakes, lower ground clearance than the standard 911 and a sport exhaust system.
1 from 8
North American Porsche cars
It comes standard with the company’s four-way-adjustable Sport Seat Plus that is finished in Race-Tex, but for the first time the GTS can be fitted with carbon-fiber racing seats. The Sport Chrono package is also standard on the 2022 911 GTS. It adds drive modes, launch control when paired with a dual-clutch transmission, synchronized gear changes for maximum acceleration, a Sport Response button that turns everything into extreme sport for 20 seconds, a stopwatch installed On the dashboard and dynamic transmission mounts make it even softer. High speed shifts.
The new generation Porsche Communication Management features a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. It also comes with a built-in voice assistant and Apple Music, although it only comes with USB-c ports, so buyers may need an adapter. Standard partial digital instrument cluster with analog tachometer in center.
Inside, adjustments to the seats, transmission and steering column are done manually to save weight. That analog feeling makes more sense with the GTS. Only the 911 GT3 is a stiffer core with less creature comfort. The seats are comfortable and hold the driver in place, but are a little stiff from the factory and have no bottom angle adjustment. However, the GTS comes standard with ventilated and cooled seats, which run fast on a hot Michigan day.
Bluetooth takes a long time to connect and start up, but once connected, everything works fine. The touch screen is easily accessible, albeit sometimes hard to see in the glare of the sun, and the menus are easy to navigate. Bose surround sound is also standard and sounds excellent at high volume levels.
1 from 6
North American Porsche cars
There are barely two car seats in the back, but the 911 will carry two adults and two children to their destination in relative comfort. This applies only to forward-facing child seats, and the rear seats do not fit behind the driver.
The 2022911 GTS is equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that produces 473 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. That’s 23 horsepower and 15 lb-ft more than the standard 911. This tester features a free seven-speed manual transmission, but an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is standard. It can be purchased with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
The only disappointment in the driving experience is the gearbox, which looks fragile and plastic. But the movement is smooth and the swings between gears are short. The clutch locks in the middle of the pedal stroke for quick and easy shifting.
The six-cylinder engine does not reach maximum power at 6500 rpm, but the torque soon reaches 2300 rpm. This means that once the driver starts, there are no stops in acceleration, which makes the three-digit mark easy, even though the 911 “feels” the speed and closeness.
North American Porsche cars
Steering is tight and precise. To get to the highway, drivers will need to have both hands on the steering wheel when changing lanes. The 911 GTS features 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels with sticky Pirelli tires, which means it has more grip than just about anything on the road. The only easy way to spin the rear tires is to release the clutch from a standstill with the traction control turned off.
The suspension adapts to the driving situations, which also speeds up throttle application and adds weight to the steering. It is more flexible than average in all modes, but when moving quickly on smooth pavement, the stiffness is appreciated.
Standard safety features include lane-keeping with assisted traffic lights, adaptive cruise control, surround-view monitoring, automatic distance control, and Porsche’s dynamic lighting system plus wet mode. This last part is important because if you’re driving in Sport mode in the rain, the dashboard will light up, advising the driver to switch to the safer, less aggressive mode.
At one point, the Porsche 911 was a bit cheaper than its supercar competitors. But the base model is now close to six figures, and the best 911s more than double. So, the 911 GTS ($142,600) has a pretty competitive set.
On the less expensive end of the coupe are the Ford Mustang GT500 ($79,420), Nissan GT-R ($113,540), Chevrolet Corvette ($60,900) and Jaguar F-Type R ($73,400). Up there is an Aston Martin Vantage at $143,900, a Lamborghini Huracan with a base price of $206,295 and a McLaren GT ($200,000).
Each of these vehicles will make the car enthusiast swoon with unprecedented power and control. But only the 911 GTS delivers the right combination of ride quality, agility, propulsion and sound that will never go out of style, no matter how many electric cars you beat in a sprint.