The Driver’s Seat: Henry Catchpole on the Porsche 911 Hybrid

The new Porsche 911 (992.2) GTS has gone hybrid.

But while that word may strike instant dismay into the hearts of many enthusiasts, this is a slightly different sort of electrically boosted drivetrain. This is a T-Hybrid. That means the system adds less than 110lb (50kg) to the kerb weight of a GTS while providing significantly greater response, thanks to an eTurbo and an eMotor. As Henry Catchpole found out on the road and on the Ascari circuit in Malaga, Spain, this also means a 0–60mph time of just 2.9 seconds—and a rather good soundtrack.

Of course, any extra weight can be seen as a cause for frowning, and the added complication certainly won’t please home mechanics. What’s more, the switch to hybrid is rather confusing when you look at the CO2 emissions and fuel economy figures, because they are very similar to those of the non-hybrid, previous-generation GTS. That’s largely down to the fact that this is a hybrid that cannot run on electric power alone. What gives?

Why isn’t this a 911 that can ape a Porsche Taycan? Well, this engine is all about making sure that Lambda = 1 at all times, without any drop in performance. If you’re not entirely sure of your Greek alphabet, then you’re certainly not alone, but you’ll find an explanation in the film.

In this review of the new 992 GTS, you’ll also find some rather clever graphics courtesy of Apple Vision Pro technology, which lets us show you the full layout of the hybrid powertrain. The completely new 3.6-liter flat-six can produce 478bhp and 420lb ft of torque on its own, but in total the new T-Hybrid system has outputs of 534 bhp and 450 lb-ft of torque, which is some 31 bhp and 103 lb-ft more than a current 911 GT3.

The base price for the new Porsche 911 GTS T-Hybrid is $166,895, but if that’s too steep, then Porsche has also released a new version of the standard Carrera, which starts at $122,095. Catchpole drove the (still non-hybrid) Carrera on the launch in the south of Spain as well, which proved quite the contrast.

***

Check out the Hagerty Media homepage so you don’t miss a single story, or better yet, bookmark it. To get our best stories delivered right to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters.