HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE SUMMER LAUNCH OF THE PORSCHE 911 HYBRID

Since its introduction in September 1964, the Porsche 911 has developed into one of the most adored, iconic sports cars ever. The 911 has been at the pinnacle of the performance car scene for decades, with the most recent models being some of the best. Throughout its history, the 911 has been gas-powered only, being one of the last Porsche models available not to be electrified to some extent. However, this is all about to change, with the long-time rumored hybrid version of the 911 revealed this summer.

Each time a new 911 variant is revealed, it's safe to say that a new experience will be delivered, with the 911 Hybrid expected to be no different. Porsche's shift to electrification with its current lineup came back in 2010 with the Cayenne, which has now expanded to models such as the Panamera, Macan, and the all-electric Taycan. Still, the 911 is expected to follow a different path regarding its technology. While information is still limited, here's what we know about the upcoming reveal of the new Porsche 911 Hybrid.

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The 911 Hybrid Won't Be A PHEV

Regarding the upcoming 911's hybrid powertrain, the flagship sports car for the Stuttgart-based brand will be taking a different route as to how it will introduce electric power. The mentioned models, including the Panamera and Cayenne, feature a plug-in hybrid system, whereas the Macan is offered even as a pure BEV like the Taycan. However, for the 911, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume announced that the sports car won't be a PHEV. Instead, it will come with a mild-hybrid system.

Models such as the Panamera and Cayenne work perfectly as plug-in hybrids due to the massive efficiency benefits they bring. However, the 911 is designed for the sole purpose of delivering the most memorable driving experience, leading Porsche to look to alternative methods to extract the most performance out of the car through electric power. Because of this, attention was turned to motorsport's application of mild-hybrid technology.

A Look At The Hybrid Powertrains In Motorsport

Hybrid powertrains have become the norm for a select few four-wheel motorsport disciplines, with the two highest-level categories in Formula One and the LMDh Endurance class seeing tremendous benefits from their mild-hybrid technology.

Of course, the racecars in these categories are designed for one thing only, to be as fast as possible. With Blume mentioning that the 911 Hybrid's powertrain will be inspired by motorsport, this new entry into the iconic sports car's lineup could be something exceptional.

Although Porsche doesn't compete in the Formula One Championship, they do compete in WEC and IMSA, with two LMDh hypercars racing for Porsche Penske Motorsport (WEC and IMSA and two more racing for customer competitor Hertz Team Jota (solely WEC). Instead of being PHEVs, LMDh cars feature both a combustion engine and an electric motor, with the motor being powered by kinetic energy created mainly through braking to improve acceleration and overall performance.

This layout is what's expected to feature in the upcoming 911 Hybrid, with a modified version of Porsche's famous 3.0-liter flat-six engine powering the rear wheels, a 400-volt electric motor, and a 2.0-liter kWh lithium-ion battery pack being implemented for the front axle. The 3.0-liter flat-six engine will reportedly be the same spec as what's found in the Carrera, which in 2024 produced a total of 443 horsepower. However, in 2025, the power output is expected to be increased.

In addition to using methods similar to motorsport hybrid systems, such as harvesting energy through braking, the system will use the engine as its own generator. If the 911 Hybrid uses the same, or even similar, technology as the WEC Hypercars, the performance of the current 911 992 models could easily be eclipsed.

Assistance From Rimac

For the new 911 Hybrid, Porsche reportedly collaborated with Rimac Automobili to develop the best electric motor possible. This partnership between the two manufacturers makes perfect sense, as Porsche currently owns 22-percent of the Rimac Group.

In the world of all-electric performance cars, the Rimac Nevera holds the title for the fastest EV in the world, making the idea of the manufacturer assisting with the new 911's powertrain all the more compelling.

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Part Of The Mid-Life 911 Refresh

Along with additional 911 models, the upcoming 911 Hybrid will usher in a new wave of sports for the 992 generation, being named the 992.2 instead. The 992 generation, which is the eighth in total, was released in 2019 and has seen many different variations in a short space of time. This includes the GT3/GT3 RS, the Targa, the Turbo/ Turbo S, and the Carrera. In addition to introducing a new hybrid version, each new 992.2 model will also receive updates.

What Changes Will The Facelift 992.2 Bring?

Overall, the 911 992.2 update will retain the same overall shape as the existing 992, but almost every soft part will be updated for 2025. For the front end, multiple different designs have been spotted on prototype cars testing on the road. Higher trims are expected to feature an aggressive aero-focused design, while lower trims will keep things more understated. Towards the rear of the car, the design most likely won't see any significant changes.

As with most facelifts, Porsche will introduce all-new wheel designs, but it's currently unclear which designs each 911 variant will receive. The single- and double-trim-specific exhaust configurations are also expected to return, along with revised lighting. Still, we'll likely have to wait until the official reveal of the 911 992.2 to know what features the 911 Hybrid will be available with.

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Porsche's Future Plans For Electrification

With the first hybrid version of the 911 expected to be on sale later this year, Porsche will begin its next phase of electrification for the sports car using the 2025 model. A model 911 model that isn't newly available anymore is the mighty GT2 RS, which was discontinued after the 2019 model year.

However, Porsche has announced that the performance nameplate will be re-introduced, with the new GT2 RS slated to be unveiled in 2026. This time around, the model will also feature a mild-hybrid, once again being inspired by Porsche Penske Motorsport's 963 LMDh endurance racer.

An Electric Porsche 911?

As for an all-electric Porsche 911, the manufacturer doesn't plan to switch the sports car to an EV until at least the next decade. Porsche expects up to 80% of its fleet to be fully electric, with the expanse of the Taycan range and the introduction of the all-electric Macan being key models to hit this target.

While details about the summer reveal for the hybrid-led 911 992.2 are still quite limited up to this point, the unique nature of the said hybrid powertrain is guaranteed to introduce us to an even better Porsche 911 experience, setting the stage for what potential electric power has in store for the high-performance sports car.