TAKE a long lingering look at this Porsche because it might be the last of the 997-generation 911 models before the switch to the new — and probably extremely similar — 998 model later this year.

And with such an important task resting on its wider Carrera rear end, it offers an alluring addition to the 20-odd list of 911s on offer.

It is far from cheap, but it delivers possibly the best-value 911 on the market. Dropping in above the Carrera 4S and beneath the Targa 4, the GTS Coupe comes with a package of equipment that makes you feel you might have stumbled on a near-£80,000 bargain.

At the heart of the beast is the 3.8-litre engine, producing an extra 23 horsepower over the 911 Carrera S. That drives only the rear wheels, which sit on a wider rear track under widened rear body styling worn by the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 model.

Despite the awesome power that can be unleashed from a car capable of blasting from 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds and on to a mind-numbing 190mph, the GTS is a pussycat to drive.

The standard six-speed manual gearbox is light and slick and though no one wants to get stuck in a line of slow-moving traffic in a performance car, the flat-six engine’s 408 horsepower feed in smoothly to make day-to-day driving supremely comfortable.

Porsche’s electronic Active Suspension Management system is fitted as standard , with the “normal” setting offering a more comfortable basic shock absorber set-up, switching to a more sporty mode in the case of a dynamic driving style. The “sport” setting switches to harder shock absorber settings to support a more agile driving style.

To ensure the GTS stands out from others in the Carrera range, it sits on 19-inch, centre-locking RS Spyder alloy wheels painted in black with high-gloss finished rims, shod with low-profile tyres. To bolster the motorsport feel the front wheels are 8.5in wide and the rear wheels a chunky 11 inches.

Up front is Porsche’s SportDesign front apron with spoiler edge painted in black, special side skirts also in black, and the Carrera GTS logo on doors and rear lid. The area between the two dual 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. Soft-touch Alcantara also coats the rim of the new three-spoke SportDesign steering wheel and on the gearlever and handbrake.

The GTS not only looks the part, it also sounds it too, thanks to a sports exhaust system with two dual black-painted tailpipes producing a unique sound. Pushing a dashboard button produces an even more resonant exhaust tone.

To ensure buyers know exactly what they are taking on, Porsche allows customers to explore the potential of their new car on a complimentary course at the Porsche Experience Centre, run at the Silverstone race circuit.

It is the heady blend of raw power and crisply communicative steering, everyday manageability and the ability to thrill that makes the GTS such an exhilarating four-seater.