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Update: ‘Specifications,’ ‘Fully-electric 911 unlikely,’ and ‘Porsche 911 Hybrid Release Date’ sections updated.
Right from its market launch in 1964 to the present day, the Porsche 911 has been considered by many as the ultimate expression of a sports car. However, Porsche’s iconic rear-engine two-seat model is set to receive a hybrid variant in the coming years, in the journey towards an all-electric future. The Porsche 911 Hybrid, as it’s being called, will usher in a new era for the nameplate.
Here’s what we know so far:
Confirmation
In an interview published by Car Magazine on December 29, 2022, Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche and Volkswagen AG, confirmed that a Porsche 911 Hybrid will be coming in the future. Blume mentioned that the new hybrid version will become part of the standard 911 range.
Specifications
According to a Car & Driver report dated March 9, 2024, the Porsche 911 Hybrid will have a hybrid system co-developed with Bugatti-Rimac, in which Porsche has a 45% stake. This system will comprise an integrated starter generator, an 80 to 90 hp propulsion motor for the front wheels, and a 400-volt battery pack. The electrification components will add less than 60 pounds to the car’s weight.
The propulsion motor will assist a 395 hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine, which will exclusively come with an automatic transmission. Rumor has it that the hybrid powertrain will produce more than 520 horsepower in the highest-output configuration. However, this recently speculated output seems too low to us.
According to a report Auto Motor und Sport published on June 21, 2022, the Porsche 911 Hybrid could offer almost 700 hp (515 kW) and 1,000 Nm (737.6 lb.-ft.) of torque. The future 911 GT3 RS is also rumored to enter the market with an electrified powertrain, claims the German publication.
Fully-electric 911 unlikely
The C&D report claims a pure-electric Porsche 911 won’t arrive during the current (992) generation or even in the next (994) generation that is programed in 2028. It is now seen as a possibility only during the 998 generation, after 2035.
It is likely that Porsche is not ready to switch the 911 completely to a fully-electric model, with the most significant hindrance likely being its weight. The 911 has always been appreciated for its tactile and sporty driving dynamics, factors that are easily manageable with a conventional gasoline powertrain. Fitting a large battery pack to achieve a competitive pure-electric range will possibly make the 911 far too heavy, which Porsche would wish to avoid. Further down the road, when lightweight batteries are available, the electric sports car segment could become lucrative.
Porsche Strategy 2030
The Porsche 911 Hybrid will be part of the company’s future sustainability and mobility goals. According to the ‘Porsche Strategy 2030’ plan, the German automaker intends over 80% of its total vehicle sales by 2030 to consist of hybrid or fully-electric models. The coming few years will see Porsche being bullish when it comes to electrification with all-electric versions of the Boxster, Macan (unveiled in January 2024), Cayenne, and Panamera, though the 911 will continue using ICE powertrains far beyond other models in the company’s portfolio, Blume told CAR in the interview.
Porsche 911 Hybrid Release Date
Blume and Porsche have not disclosed details regarding the arrival of the 911 Hybrid. However, the Car & Driver report suggests it will arrive at U.S. dealerships as early as 2026.
TopElectricSUV says
The 911 is truly one of the best sports cars in the market, both for purists and general car buyers, but big changes will come in view of its future. Porsche might have to fully electrify its darling 911 nameplate sooner than it or its enthusiasts might like to!
Featured image: Porsche Newsroom
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 16 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading CEOs and vehicle developers from around the world.
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