On paper, the Porsche 911 Hybrid may be better, but it doesn't matter.
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Porsche 911 is one of the most influential sports cars in the automotive world. The legend is 61 years in the making and counting, but it is in 2024 that Porsche finally did something many hoped it wouldn't come to – a hybrid 911. Porsche purists are, likely, spitting fire at the moment, and understandably so. One of the purists and most classically correct, high-performance vehicles finally succumbed to modern trends.
Although things aren't as bad as they sound the hybrid model laps the Nurburgring 8.7 seconds faster than what the 992-generation Porsche 911 Carrera S posted back in 2020. That's 7:16.9 minutes versus 7:25.6 minutes. I have always respected Porsche and the engineering prowess behind the 911 and other high-performance Porsche models.
While all this sounds impressive, here are a few reasons why it doesn't matter.
In the past, top speed was the boasting figure of any high-performance vehicle. Those days are long gone and for some time now, the Nurburgring Nordschleife is the place of choice for testing and developing modern-day, high-performance machines. Porsche purists still romanticize the idea of an air-cooled Porsche 911, so I doubt many of them would appreciate the new 911's hybrid powertrain.
A faster car doesn't necessarily mean a better one
A hybrid 911 would inadvertently mean a heavier car. While the 992 generation is much larger than any 911 before it, it's still relatively compact and lightweight compared to the competition. Even a 2024 BMW M2 is currently pushing over 3,800 pounds, which is almost identical to the much bigger 992 Turbo S.
Porsche hasn't revealed a lot of details regarding the hybrid powertrain, but we know it's not a Plug-in hybrid. Knowing the company's past work with the 911, Porsche would want to keep weight to a minimum, so we could be looking at a very powerful, mild-hybrid system or a full-hybrid setup. The only other thing we know is that the 911's hybrid powertrain will be focused on performance rather than fuel economy.
3. The hybrid variant of the Porsche 911 will not become a desirable classic
We know that all 911 generations have their fan base, and sooner or later, each of them becomes a desired classic. This is especially true for the high-performance 911 variants or those that are highly-limited.
So far, we have gathered that the 911 hybrid will replace the current 911 Carrera S in the model's lineup, so it would be more of a mainstream model. Given the sentiments in the Porsche 911 community, I reckon the 911 hybrid would be a tough sale. Make no mistake, Porsche will sell plenty of hybrid 911s, but I reckon those would be tough to resale after their first owners are done with them.
What are the positives?
May 28 2024 is the official reveal of the first-ever Porsche 911 hybrid.
1. More power
For now, we know that it will be more powerful than the corresponding 911 Carrera S, currently producing 450 horsepower from a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, flat-six engine. First reports suggest the hybrid Porsche 911 will make around 475 horsepower, putting it on par with the GTS and Dakar versions of the 992-generation Porsche 911.
2. Instant torque and more straight-line performance
It is the electric aspect of the powertrain that makes the 8.7-second difference between the hybrid Porsche 911 and the Carrera S, but what will that do to the overall feel of the car? As an added bonus, the hybrid Porsche 911 will, likely, be a bit more fuel-efficient, but do you really care?
3. Porsche made sure the 911's hybrid powertrain works under all conditions.
Porsche's rigorous, 3.1-million-mile testing included the Nurburgring as well as different regions of the world, ranging from extremely cold to extremely hot climates. Obviously, we won't know until sometime after the product has been released, but knowing Porsche, engineers haven't left anything to chance.
Porshe said it would keep the 911 combustion-powered for as long as possible, but what is your take on this new hybrid version of the iconic sports car? It seems odd given the 2024 Porsche Cayenne GTS stays a non-hybrid V-8 model. Feel free to share your honest opinion in the comment section below.
About the author
Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.
Image source: Porsche 911 Carrera, 60 Years of Porsche 911
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