Credit: Motor Authority
The EV bandwagon had been nothing short of interesting over the years. With Porsche, we were given the Taycan, featuring striking proportions and a timeless and instantly recognizable design. What about the other models? Should we expect electric versions of, say, the 911? The answer, at least for now, is no.
However, hybrid technology is definitely at our fingertips here, starting with the current 992 generation. Fans of models such as the GT2, Turbo S, and more will have the opportunity to experience this shift when the 992 receives its standard mid-cycle refresh in the next 1-2 years. These variants are expected to receive electrified powertrains.
Speaking to the 911 Turbo S, a facelifted version has been spotted again in prototype form. The prototypes that were being tested looked similar to the current 911 Turbo S, but there was a yellow sticker spotted on some of them, which is an industry-standard requirement for electrified test cars in certain countries, one of them being Germany, Porsche’s home.
Some aesthetic changes were taken note of in the spotted prototype, including new designs for the taillights and exhaust tips. We are anticipating updates to the front as well, such as new headlights.
The 911 Turbo S should be arriving alongside the updated 911 Carerra, one of the models to be offered in a hybrid option.
According to an article by Motor Authority, their spy video of the Turbo S that was captured suggests there is still plenty of work to be done to these hybrid prototypes. The tester seemed to bounce around a lot, which may be due to the extra weight created by the hybrid components. One theory in making the 992 was that “the extra space required for all the hardware was one of the reasons the footprint of the 992 generation was made larger than the previous 991.”
Credit: Motor Authority
The 992’s motor would be powered by a relatively small battery– likely a 400-volt electrical system. A small battery and lower voltage would be all that is needed here, as a higher voltage system is better for rapid charging, as seen in all-electric vehicles. For instance, the Porsche Taycan uses an 800-volt system for its power.
Moving on to the engine of the 911 GT2, with the push to hybrid we would likely see a twin-turbo 3.8 liter flat-6, in accordance with the 911 Turbo. Another potential technology to be featured is a cooling system that would replace traditional engine fans for air that is pushed by an electrified turbo. The predicted combination of power is expected to create an output of over 700 hp, reaching above the power generated by the 991 GT2 RS.
With this push towards hybrid and electric vehicles, Porsche is expected to rely on mild-hybrid setups as a means of avoiding heavy batteries that, for instance, a plug-in hybrid setup would need. We should expect to see the updated 911 992 models start arriving in the 2024 model year.
What are your thoughts on these shifts toward hybrid vehicles? Would you rather see all-electric?
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