The end is coming for petrol-only performance cars

Porsche’s new 911 hybrid has completed testing

It’s officially the beginning of the end of purely petrol-powered sports cars. We’ve already got hybrid Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but now comes confirmation that the iconic Porsche 911 will follow the modern trend.

Porsche has long-vowed to ensure the last petrol model it makes will be the 911, but it will add its first hybrid powertrain to the famous sports car later this month.

But it’s not all bad news.

The German brand hasn’t revealed any technical details but has claimed the hybrid 911 is notably quicker than its petrol-only equivalent model. Porsche has been testing this new petrol-electric powertrain around the world, from extreme cold weather to the deserts of Dubai, and, of course, the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Porsche brand ambassador and racing veteran, Jörg Bergmeister, was the man behind the wheel for the track testing and lapped the Nordschleife 8.7 seconds faster in the hybrid compared to the corresponding version of the previous 911.

The Porsche 911 hybrid is faster around the Nurburgring than a non-hybrid version

“The new 911 has become considerably faster on the track,” Bergmeister said. “We have more grip, significantly more power, and the spontaneous response of the performance hybrid is a great advantage.”

While there isn’t any technical information on the new hybrid, Porsche CEO has previously confirmed in interviews that the 911 won’t have a plug-in hybrid system. Instead, the most likely scenario is a compact set-up with a small (less than 5kWh) battery with an integrated starter motor and electric motor to drive the front wheels. It’s likely that Porsche has worked with Croatian electric vehicle specialists, Rimac, to develop the new system, as Porsche owns a significant percentage of Rimac.

This hybrid system will be paired with the existing turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine. The engine is expected to make around the same 283kW as it currently does, but the hybrid system could boost total system performance to 350kW or more.

The hybrid will be introduced as part of the updated 992.2 generation 911, which is expected to see the current architecture through until 2028, when an all-new model (likely dubbed 994, as 993 has been used). That next generation could introduce more electrified versions, but given Porsche’s commitment to petrol power it will still be heavily biased towards the famous flat-six engine.

We won’t have to wait too long for more answers, though, with Porsche confirming the 911 hybrid will make its world premiere on May 28.