Porsche dispatched the GTS version of the Panamera saloon to the Goodwood hill climb challenge, because this is the sportiest version of the car and the one with best handling. Sure, the Panamera Turbo is much more powerful, but the GTS is more focused, lighter, stiffer and all in all a better tool for negotiating twists and bends of the legendary Goodwood hill. As far as performance matters, the Porsche Panamera GTS is a fabulous car. But my god it’s ugly! The car’s been around for a few years now, and it should have grown on us. But it hasn’t. Not one bit.

The power unit in the new Porsche Panamera GTS is a modified 4.8-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine, delivering 430 hp (316 kW) at 6,700 rpm, trumping the engine in its Panamera S/4S sister models by 30 hp (22 kW). The maximum torque also increased by comparison, from 500 Nm to 520 Nm. Porsche Panamera GTS sprints to 100 km/h in under 4.5 seconds, accelerating on to its top speed of 288 km/h. With NEDC fuel consumption of 10.9 l/100 km – only 10.7 l/100 km with low-friction tyres – the Porsche Panamera GTS remains as much of an efficiency role model in its milieu as all Porsche models.