For almost 50 years, the Porsche 911 has been synonymous with the finest driving experience that Germany (or anywhere else, for that matter) can muster. It’s never been about massive power figures or wild styling; instead, Stuttgart puts every shred of engineering into weight distribution, handling, aerodynamics, and, above all, just sheer automotive fun.
Porsche Goes Electric
Now, things are clearly a bit different than they were in 1964, when the 911 made its debut. Namely, electrification has fully arrived. It’s possible that the LaFerrari was the first true sports car that featured a hybrid power plant, and this technology has trickled down to nearly every other luxury marque over the past decade. In 2019, Porsche unveiled its first fully-electric vehicle, the Taycan sedan. This vehicle was immediately well-received by journalists and consumers alike, and illustrated that Porsche is more than capable of integrating electric power into their sports cars while remaining entirely uncompromising on the things that make Porsche so appealing to begin with.
The Taycan, in all of its trims, is fantastic, a strong seller, and has a great reputation for its driving experience. Given Porsche’s success in the electric arena, many have been wondering for years when an electrified variant of the 911 will make an appearance. In early 2023, Oliver Blume, CEO of Porsche, finally put many of these rumors to rest and confirmed that a hybrid version of their most classic sports car is in the works.
What We Know About the Upcoming Hybrid 911
The hybrid 911 is still extremely early in its development, so concrete details at this point are extremely scarce. One thing is for sure; we won’t be seeing a 992-generation hybrid. The 992 platform is preparing for a mid-life refresh and mild facelift in the next year or two, but the existing running gear isn’t currently setup for hybridization.
Eventually, Porsche’s electric sports car journey will eventually culminate in a fully-electric Boxter, the 718. For now, the 911 isn’t slated for this complete transition; as far as we know, the iconic 911 will always be powered, at least in part, by an internal combustion engine, with the option to add an electric motor.
Porsche’s Sales Plan
There’s one final, major reason why a hybrid 911 is in the works at Stuttgart; like many of their other German counterparts, Porsche is seeking to make a major pivot and electrify the majority of their lineup in the coming decade. More specifically, Porsche aims to have hybrids, and full-on electric vehicles, account for 80 percent of their sales by the year 2030. These plans are perhaps more realistic than those of their fellow countrymen at Mercedes-Benz, who hope to have an entirely electric fleet by the same time. Given Porsche’s more obvious focus on driver-oriented sports cars, it does appear like gasoline will always have a place on the dealership lots.
Hybrid 911 – Coming Eventually to a Dealer Near You
With the Taycan, Porsche has proven that they are capable of producing a fully-electric vehicle that is borderline equal to their internal-combustion sports cars. With the official announcement of a hybrid version of the iconic 911, it is clear that Porsche is looking to the future and embracing an increasing demand from consumers for the electrification of their cars. While Stuttgart is no doubt taking a huge by risk tampering with the formula of such a beloved motoring icon, fans of classic Porsche sports cars can likely rest assured that the finished product will be exhilarating and successful, and will no doubt be an excellent example of how to properly marry modern technology with a timeless design that folks remain very passionate about.
