Key Takeaways
- Porsche’s first-ever hybrid 911 lapped the Nurburgring in 7:16.934, 8.7 sec faster than its pre-facelift equivalent.
- The 911 Hybrid underwent 3.1 million miles of testing, proving its performance and readiness for production.
- The hybrid variant may replace the current 911 Turbo, utilizing motorsport-derived technology for maximum performance.
Porsche has today announced the completion of development of the first-ever hybrid Porsche 911 ahead of an international unveiling on 28 May. The headline of its development is that the newcomer – part of the facelifted 992.2 generation of the iconic sports car – has lapped the Nurburgring in 7:16.934. Porsche claims this is 8.7 seconds quicker than a comparable model from the pre-facelift lineup, but hasn’t specified which trim it sees as an equivalent model. However, the 911 hybrid is officially quicker than the 641-horsepower 992.1 Turbo S, which completed the feat in 7:17.3. Behind the wheel was Porsche brand ambassador and regular Nurburgring driver Jorg Bergmeister, and the prototype was equipped with standard road tires plus the optional fixed-wing aero package.
“We have more grip, significantly more power, and the spontaneous response of the performance hybrid is a great advantage.”
– Jorg Bergmeister, Porsche brand ambassador and test driver
3.1 Million Miles To Prove First Hybrid 911 Ready For Production
Porsche has completed more than 3.1 million miles of developmental testing for the new powertrain, putting it through numerous track tests, country road driving, and city traffic to prove the performance hybrid powertrain is ready for series production. Speaking of the arduous development journey, Porsche’s VP for the 718 and 911 models says Porsche “left nothing to chance
during development and tested the new 911 under all sorts of conditions all over the world from the freezing cold to scorching heat, as was the case during the final stages of testing in Dubai.”
Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.
“Whether at a high drivetrain load in the demanding conditions of mountain passes or in the stop-and-go traffic of an urban environment, the new 911 has mastered even the most difficult challenges with aplomb.”
– Frank Moser, Vice President Model Line 911 and 718
What To Expect From The Hybrid 911 And 992.2 Facelift
Porsche hasn’t given out many details on what to expect from the 911 Hybrid, but from previous comments, it won’t be a plug-in hybrid, relying on a smaller battery for torque-fill and spooling up the turbochargers to minimize lag. It is believed that the variant that set the aforementioned Nurburgring time may be a replacement for the current 572-hp 911 Turbo. This correlates with the eight-second improvement in Nurburgring time over the unnamed pre-facelift model. Porsche CEO Oliver Blume previously described this model as an “ultra-sporty hybrid – as seen in racing – for selected derivatives of the 911 model line.”
Related
Porsche Finds Another Secret To Keep Combustion Engines Alive
Leaking pistons are usually a bad thing, but Porsche has found a way to harness their power.
The rest of the lineup will also receive updates, with reports from our spy photographers suggesting the Carrera models may revert to a naturally aspirated engine once again, with the potential for a junior hybrid model being available on these lower trims in AWD only form (the front axle powered by electricity). Sources close to Porsche have told CarBuzz that hybrid models will not be available in anything but AWD.
Visually, all 911 Porsches will get an update, with a new front fascia spied in development sporting new vertical vanes that have left fans divided. When Porsche unveiles the 992.2 facelift later this month, we expect this hybrid model to be revealed alongside the base Carrera trims, too, while the GTS and GT3 will follow later in standalone unveilings.