Porsche has revealed the new 992.2 generation of 911, and with it the first-ever, street-legal hybrid version of its iconic sports car.
As ever, there are very few design changes between the latest iteration of 911 and its predecessor – but one major difference is how the new generation of 911 GTS has, for the first time, a hybrid engine.
It’s the only member of the 992.2 generation to get electrical assistance, but it surely won’t be the last. Porsche also revealed the new base-level 911 Carrera, and while that isn’t a hybrid, other models – like the Carrera 4S, Turbo and the Turbo S – are likely to also go hybrid when they arrive at a later date.
For now, the only hybrid 911 is the GTS. This car is powered by what Porsche calls a T-Hybrid system – which stands for turbo hybrid, since a new, high-performance battery is called upon to send power to both the PDK automatic transmission and the turbocharger. Located between the windshield and the frunk (with storage space unchanged), the battery has a tiny capacity of just 1.9 kWh, making it around 50 times smaller than that of the all-electric Porsche Macan.
The 911 hybrid cannot be plugged into a charger. Instead, the tiny battery is filled using regenerative braking – like with other EVs and hybrids – and also by harvesting exhaust gas pressure created by the turbo.
The battery powers two motors; one produces 55 horsepower and is housed inside the eight-speed PDK transmission, while the other serves up 14 hp and drives the turbocharger. Crucially, this means the turbo can get to work without having to wait for exhaust pressure to build – commonly known as turbo lag – and thus improving engine response. The engine now has just one turbocharger because, Porsche says, the second is no longer required and turbo lag has been all-but eliminated.
The combined output of the new 3.6-liter, straight-six engine and clever hybrid system is 534 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. Porsche claims a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 3.0 seconds for the 911 GTS hybrid, which means we can expect a 60 mph sprint time beginning with a two. Top speed is a little over 193 mph. Given this is only the GTS, a car that normally sits in the middle of the 911 lineup, one can only imagine how quick the next generation of 911 Turbo S will be...
Porsche says the 400-volt T-Hybrid system adds 110 lbs to the weight of the GTS, of which a little over half is the battery itself. Interestingly, while technically a hybrid, the new 911 GTS cannot be driven on electric power alone, it cannot be plugged in to recharge, and Porsche is not claiming any major improvements to the emissions or fuel economy. It’s a hybrid, but not as we know it.
Despite the new hybrid drivetrain, the latest 911 looks very much like the old one. There are subtle changes to the lights and rear bumper, plus a set of active aero flaps at the front. The interior no longer places an analog rev counter ahead of the driver; instead, this has been replaced by a curved, all-digital, 12.6-inch display like that of the electric Taycan and Macan, with seven different layouts to pick from. Mercifully, some of these include the option for old-fashioned dials, albeit made from pixels. The rear seats are no longer available by default, but can be added back in as a no-cost option. This means the new 911 is homologated as a two-seater, but can be bought as a 2+2 for the same price.
The rotating, key-like starter switch has also gone, and is instead replaced by an engine start/stop button, and even the manual transmission is no more, since the hybrid system only functions in conjunction with an automatic ‘box. Remember though, this is only for the T-Hybrid powered GTS. The rest of the previous-generation 911 will remain on sale in non-hybrid form, at least for now, and Porsche will likely replace these gradually with hybrid versions over the next couple of years.
Priced from $164,900, the new 911 GTS hybrid is available to order now.