Porsche to Launch Hybrid-Powered 911 Turbo S Later This Year
More than a year has passed since Porsche unveiled the initial 992.2-generation 911 variants, yet the range remains incomplete. After rolling out the refreshed GTS, Carrera, Targa, and GT3 models, the brand is gearing up to introduce another variant in the upcoming months. CEO Oliver Blume stated during the semi-annual earnings meeting that the Turbo S is expected to make its debut before the year's end. Additionally, a non-S version is anticipated.
Blume also confirmed that the Turbo S will incorporate a hybrid system. This aligns with former CFO Lutz Meschke’s announcement in October 2024, which indicated that the 992.2 Turbo S would be electrified. The new 911 model will utilize Varta batteries, following Porsche's recent acquisition of V4Drive GmbH from the Varta AG Group.
Currently, the GTS model already uses cylindrical cells from V4Drive, rebranded as V4Smart after Porsche acquired a majority stake in March. The 1.9-kWh battery packs for the vehicle’s T-Hybrid system are manufactured at the Ellwangen and Nördlingen facilities. By the end of the year, Porsche plans to expand its team to 375 employees across both sites to support the production of the new hybrid 911 models. There are also speculations that the GT2 RS might transition to a hybrid configuration, although this has not been officially confirmed.
Blume mentioned that Porsche is developing “new derivatives” and is heavily investing to enhance their performance, making them “a bit quicker” than the existing 992.1-generation cars. The GT2 RS was not part of the initial phase of the 911’s lifecycle since the most track-focused variant usually launches towards the end of the production cycle.
The transition to a hybrid system is expected to boost the Turbo S’s performance even further, although the current 992.1 model was already powerful. The pre-facelift Turbo S delivered 640 hp and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) from its twin-turbo 3.8-liter boxer engine, which was an increase of 60 hp and 37 lb-ft (50 Nm) over its predecessor. However, unless Porsche can reduce weight elsewhere, the additional hybrid components will add to the car’s mass. For instance, the US-spec GTS saw an increase of 103 pounds (47 kilograms).
Electric Future for Porsche’s Two-Door Models
Porsche’s two-door lineup extends beyond the 911. The production of the 718 Cayman and Boxster is set to conclude in October, but Blume assured that electric successors are in development. These electric models will follow the electric Cayenne, which is set to launch this year and will become available in showrooms by 2026. This marks a reversal in Porsche’s initial plans, which slated the EV sports cars to be released first.
While the first-generation Macan is scheduled to receive a gasoline-powered successor in 2028, there are no plans currently for a new combustion-engine Boxster/Cayman to replace the 982 model. Porsche is fully committing to electric vehicles for this segment, a bold move given that the engine has been a key attraction across all four generations, including the four-cylinder variants. With the introduction of electric replacements, features like the manual gearbox will also be discontinued.