New Porsche 911 Hybrid Coming Soon: Specs, price and release info

Porsche now sells way more SUVs and saloons than it does sports cars. But the 911 is still the brand’s emotional heart, and defines its image and history. Now it’s going electrified. Can it bring its fanbase of traditional petrolheads along for the ride?
• Porsche already has lots of experience with electrification and hybrids, and actually raced an electrified 911 back in 2010 but this is the first time in the model’s 61-year history it will be offered in a road version – expectation is high, worries among hardcore fans ditto • The latter probably don’t need to panic quite yet, given this will likely be a boost to the existing – and signature – six-cylinder petrol engine mounted, per tradition, in the back of the car • Whether this will be a ‘mild’ hybrid boosting power and efficiency or mean the new 911 can cruise for limited periods on electric power like a McLaren Artura remains to be seen • While electrification is obviously an important shift to a more sustainable future Porsche, like other sports car brands, is making more noise about the performance gains than improvements to efficiency • No power output confirmed as yet, but Porsche says the hybrid 911 is nearly nine seconds faster around the Nürburgring than the equivalent model in the current range • Full details due with the global unveiling at the end of May • With even the base (all things relative) Carrera currently nudging £100,000 we’d predict the hybrid would well be the tipping point to the 911 becoming a six-figure car

If SUVs like the Cayenne and Macan – and the electric Taycan range – are very much the ‘head’ part of Porsche’s business the 911 is absolutely the beating heart. Even if it sells in relatively tiny numbers in comparison. That’s because 911 DNA runs through the veins of every car with a Porsche badge, whether in obvious things like the shape, the way they drive or fanboy details like the shape of the dash and position of the instruments within it. At this point we don’t know the details of this hybrid 911 but Porsche traditionally alternates generational changes with mid-life mechanical ones. Which, in plain English, means the car will be based on the existing one. But with the new engines. So, it will still look like a 911. But the power behind that famously humpbacked rear end will have a newly electrified boost. Pictures show versions with both the existing folding rear spoiler and larger fixed one as part of the more track-focused aerokit Porsche has been offering since the ‘whale tail’ 80s glory days. Full fat GT3 and GT3 RS versions traditionally follow later.

Porsche has been clever in its integration of traditional looks and modern tech on the latest 911, but if there were room for improvement we’d say a bit more premium polish might be in order given the way pricing is going. In the way of things expect renewed focus on connected technology, slicker operating systems for the screens and expanded driver assistance systems. But for details we’ll have to wait and see.

The million-dollar question, and one we can’t wait to find out the answer to. For now Porsche is more interested in talking about how intensively it’s been testing the new hybrid system in the harshest of environments, be that in the desert or on the legendarily tough Nürburgring test track in Germany. Around the latter racing driver and Porsche ambassador Jörg Bergmeister says “The new 911 has become considerably faster on the track. We have more grip, significantly more power, and the spontaneous response of the performance hybrid is a great advantage.” But, then, he has literally been paid to say that. Based on past experience we’d say Porsche usually delivers, though.

Full details on the new hybrid 911 are due at the end of the month, though we might have to wait a little longer for pricing and availability. We’d take a punt on it arriving before the end of the year, though.

A hybrid 911 might capture the headlines but the all-new and fully electric Macan is a much more important car for the brand, especially for sales and bottom-line profit.

Given its heritage, unmistakeable looks and signature rear-engined configuration it could be argued the 911 is in a class of its own. And while hybridisation has already come to the supercars above it the real influence will be felt in the next generation of electrified junior sports cars from the likes of Alpine and Lotus. If, indeed, they are coming.