Porsche Panamera GTS

The GTS is the best choice in the Panamera range. It has more standard equipment than the flagship Turbo, and even comes with the more expensive model’s styling tweaks. Plus, the bark of its V8 is better, thanks to a standard sports exhaust, and it’s only three-tenths slower from 0-62mph. It’s £10,000 less than the Turbo, too.

Porsche says the Panamera GTS is the “purest” member of its GTS family – but is it worth the extra money over the regular Panamera 4S?

For £6,000 more, the GTS takes the V8-powered 4S, lowers it 10mm on sports air-suspension and gives it the flagship Turbo model’s looks. That means 19-inch wheels, black headlamp surrounds, a speed-activated rear spoiler, the Turbo’s bumpers and a matt-black sports exhaust.

The cabin is as exquisitely crafted as ever, but gets a sports steering wheel and goodies such as Bluetooth, iPod integration and touchscreen sat-nav.

This car is really about performance, however. The 4.8-litre V8 has 30bhp more than in the 4S, at 424bhp, and gives 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds.

The Sports Chrono Pack adds a sharper Sports Plus setting to stiffen the suspension, quicken the throttle response and optimise the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission’s shifts.

All-wheel drive, an active anti-roll bar and Porsche’s Torque Vectoring keep the car stable. In Sports Plus mode, the GTS is a remarkably agile machine. Switch back to Comfort, though, and the smooth ride around town is equally impressive.

At £90,409, the Panamera GTS isn’t cheap, but it’s a full £10,000 less than the Turbo.