PORSCHE SCRAPS PLANS TO BUILD A 911 PLUG-IN HYBRID

Bulky hybrid systems have become the de- facto solution in meeting mandated fuel economy targets for certain manufacturers. And after scratching their heads about it, the folks at Porsche have decided not to develop a 911 hybrid. “In the end, the disadvantages outweighed the advantages,” August Achleitner, Porsche’s head of 718 and 911 development, told Car and Driver. A hybrid 911 would have been several hundred pounds heavier than a conventional model and extremely expensive. To many enthusiasts, the idea of a heavier 911 for more money is wholly unappealing. So instead, Porsche will focus on making the “regular” 911 more efficient. Maybe we’ll see Porsche’s turbo-four packed into a 911, as a brand-new 912, in the quest for fuel economy.