New and Old GTS Models Meet Capital of Culture

Looking Back

Porsche is always fond of looking back on its illustrious history, and so are we. Every time a new model comes out, we can almost always trace a line back to a model from the past as its inspiration, and that's certainly true of the 1963 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS and the latest GTS models, which recently gathered in the Croatian port city of Rijeka for a photo shoot.

Photos: Porsche

Sporty Comfort

The Python Green Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 is the latest in a long line of GTS models, packing a proper naturally-aspirated six-cylinder engine, precise handling, and several exclusive standard features. It's more than worthy of being bestowed with the Gran Turismo Sport name, which symbolizes a high degree of comfort and a higher level of sportiness than its peers.

Photos: Porsche

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Follow the Formula

Meanwhile, its forefather, the 1963 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, waits around the corner. Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche, who had been responsible for the 911’s design, also drew the 904. It wears an impressive design, of course, but it also follows the traditional Porsche formula for success.

Photos: Porsche

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Solid Numbers

With 180 horsepower on tap, the 904 weighs in at just 650 kilograms (1,433 pounds), is just 1.06 meters high (roughly 42 inches), and reaches a top speed of 263 kilometers-per-hour (163 miles-per-hour). The racing version was quite successful as well, securing a class win at Sebring and Le Mans, as well as a double victory at the Targa Florio, the infamous endurance race in Sicily. 

Photos: Porsche

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More Porsche

The acronym GTS still stands for more power, more speed, and more performance. In short, more Porsche. This was true of the 924 Carrera GTS Rally of 1981, where Walter Röhrl won the German Championship, and of the first 911 Carrera GTS of 2010. And it was true of the Cayenne GTS from 2012, one of the most dynamic SUVs of its time. Now, more than half a century after the 904 Carrera GTS caused a sensation, all Porsche models can be ordered in this extra sporty variant.

Photos: Porsche

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Carrying the Torch

The new Macan GTS may not be as light or low as the 718 or 904 GTS, but it does personify that acronym with supreme comfort and maximum sportiness. It packs a twin-turbo V6 that produces 375 horsepower, and perhaps more importantly, a heavily revised suspension that makes it a joy to drive across curvy stretches.

Photos: Porsche

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Three Letters, One Legend

Porsche likes to say that its prominently placed GTS lettering makes a promise. The common denominator among all Porsche GTS models is that they consist of three letters, but equal one legend. It's just another feather in the cap of one of the world's all-time great automakers, and an idea that figures to exist far into the future as well.

Photos: Porsche

>>Join the conversation about the GTS models right here at Rennlist.com.

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