Hybrid 911 is officially con nrmd ed
An electrified 911 is on its way this summer, as part of extensive revisions that will form the basis of the Gen2 992
Porsche has nally con rmed what many already suspected: the 911 will receive its rst hybrid powertrain in 2024. The electri ed 911 will be part of mid-cycle revisions for the Gen2 992, reportedly set to be revealed in early summer and going on sale towards the end of this year.
The hybrid unit will feature alongside revised six-cylinder petrol engines, updated exterior styling and a subtly refreshed interior – all part of the 992’s much-anticipated facelift. The news was shared by Porsche chairman, Oliver Blume, who in recent weeks has mapped out the arrival of four new models this year. The 992.2 will feature alongside a new Panamera, Taycan and the all-electric
Macan. Blume said: “Once again we are deploying technology in series-production models that we have derived from the world of motorsport. And our customers can look forward to further technological innovations along those same lines.”
The major 911 model update has been two years in development. It’s designed to see the 992 through to 2027, when an all-new ninth-generation 911 is expected to appear. The adoption of a petrol-electric hybrid system is arguably the most signi cant alteration to 911 engine design since the shift from air- to water-cooled propulsion, which was signalled 27 years ago by the unveiling of the 996. Enthusiasts are likely to be divided in opinion, with the majority expecting the hybrid system to pave the way for the arrival of a fully electric 911 in the coming years.
According to reports, the new hybrid drivetrain will be offered in a four-wheel-drive 911 model, combining the 992’s at six turbocharged engine with an electric motor positioned on the front axle. While the petrol engine will drive the rear wheels, it’s thought that the electric motor will only power the fronts. Experts have speculated that there’ll be no need to plug the new 911 in to charge it, with the system storing power generated by the engine in a lightweight lithium-ion battery, ready for redeployment.
It’s unclear whether the Carrera models will use a hybrid system, although a range of hybrid 911s with varying levels of performance can be expected. While low-production GT models are likely to remain naturally aspirated, a powerful hybrid RS could well act as an eighth-generation 911 swansong.
A potential lifeline for the traditionally powered 911 is Porsche’s commitment to renewable synthetic fuels. While the 2030 target remains, by which time the company expects that “more than 80 per cent” of its new vehicles will be fully electri ed, its efuels project remains a huge focus. Porsche built the rst commercial efuels plant in Chile to demonstrate how the production of efuels can work on an industrial scale, enabling combustion engines to operate at nearly carbon-neutral levels.