Porsche unveils a fresh hybrid version of the 911 as an increasing number of people opt for hybrids over purely electric cars.
This development also marks an important milestone in the journey of one of the most iconic vehicles in the world. As hybrid cars are becoming more commonplace across various vehicle types, they have gained significant popularity, particularly in the United States, even though the sales of electric-only models seem to be plateauing.
The reputable German automaker, Porsche - which is a division of Volkswagen AG, has been incorporating plug-in hybrid models such as the Cayenne e-Hybrid SUV and Panamera e-Hybrid four-door car. However, a hybrid 911 was something quite different.
At first, hybrid power will be exclusive to just one version of the vehicle: the highly-powered 911 Carrera GTS. With an electric motor integrated into the car’s eight-speed transmission enhancing the car's six-cylinder gas engine, the latest 911 model will be able to generate an impressive 532 horsepower, a 59-horsepower boost compared to the present Carrera GTS model.
The 911 is one of those vehicles that is closely tied to a gasoline engine. And there are very few automakers that are as closely associated with a single model as Porsche is with the 911. Although Porsche currently sells more SUVs than sports cars, the 911 remains its signature model. Even the Porsche Macan and Cayenne SUVs, which have rounded edges and sloping hoods, have design elements that pay homage to the 911.
Significantly, this car will not be a plug-in hybrid, like other Porsche hybrid models. Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid and Panamera e-Hybrid are plug-in hybrids with batteries that can be recharged by both an EV charger and the vehicles' engine. These models can also be driven for a short distance on electricity alone after their batteries have been fully charged. The 911 Carrera GTS will be a self-contained hybrid, recharged by both the engine and from braking, but not capable of driving for a significant distance on just electric power.
In a significant departure from its norm, Porsche also sells fully electric cars, the Taycan and the new Macan Electric SUV. But the company’s executives have hinted that the 911 would be the last Porsche to go all-electric because its engineering is so unique and inherent to its brand. Taking away the engine in the back, which gave the car its quintessential shape and rear-weighted driving feel, would compromise its identity as a 911. This new hybrid model with its gas engine still in the back, allows for the closest version of an electric 911 without raising such concerns.
Despite the rising popularity of electric vehicles in the United States, their growth rate has slowed considerably in recent times. The slowdown in sales has been attributed to the relatively high prices of these cars and the lack of reliable public charging stations for them. Hybrids, on the other hand, are cheaper and do not require charging infrastructure.
While this hybrid won’t come cheap, prices for the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS will begin at around $165,000. This hybrid version of the car clocked a record lap time of 7 minutes and 17 seconds around Germany's legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack – 8.7 seconds faster than a comparable current-generation 911 Carrera GTS. This faster time indicates that the car's handling isn't impaired by the added weight caused by the batteries and electric motors.2
The launch of the new hybrid version coincides with around sixty years since Porsche unveiled the 911. The very first 911 was presented in 1963 but did not go into production until 1964. This larger and more powerful addition to Porsche's original model, the 356, shared similar design elements: small back seats and engines mounted behind the rear wheels. This setup was similar to the Volkswagen Beetle, a car conceived by Ferdinand Porsche Sr., the father of Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche, who created the 356. Ferry's son, Ferdinand "Butzi" Porsche, played a part in the 911 design, which was modeled after the 356's teardrop shape. Although its form has remained recognizable, the backseats have become more cramped through the years.
1 https://www.businessinsider.com/new-porsche-911-gts-will-be-a-plug-in-hybrid-2021-122 https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2022-porsche-911-gt3-torque-vectoring-axle-nurburgring-lap-time-03 https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/07/porsche-to-launch-911-with-hybrid-drive-tech-for-2025.html4 https://www.bbc.com/news/business-598450735 https://wired.com/2019/01/the-911-carrera-s-is-porsches-best-selling-car-ever/
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In this context, here are two sentences that contain the words 'cars' and 'business':
The sales of electric-only models seem to be plateauing, indicating a shift in consumer preferences towards hybrid cars in the automobile business.
Despite the slowdown in electric vehicle sales, Porsche's executives have hinted that the 911 would be the last Porsche to go all-electric due to its unique engineering and brand identity, impacting the company's overall business strategy.
Source: edition.cnn.com
