Porsche electrifies the 911 to meet Euro 7 emission standards. The Carrera GTS t-Hybrid retains its agility but gains weight.

History has a way of repeating itself. When the 996 series introduced a water-cooled boxer engine in the Porsche 911 Carrera, replacing the iconic air-cooled engine, Porsche enthusiasts were outraged. Unconfirmed rumors even suggest that security at the Zuffenhausen headquarters had to be temporarily increased. Fans faced another shock with the 991 series when turbochargers were added to the 911 Carrera engines for the first time.

Porsche 911 t-Hybrid: “Not Cool” for Many Fans And now this! With the latest model update, the 911 has been electrified, causing an uproar on social media among die-hard fans: “Sometimes you wonder if you’re sitting in a Hyundai or a Porsche,” one complained. Another kept it brief: “Not cool.” A third used harsh words: “What a disgrace for the 911! Assault!” When it comes to their sacred car, 911 enthusiasts have no sense of humor.

“We Can’t Afford to Mess Up the 911” The expectations for the new engine generation debuting in the Porsche 911 GTS were high from the start. Porsche 911 series director Frank Moser made it clear: “We can’t afford to mess up the Porsche 911!” His predecessor and current Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser had already announced three years ago: “We believe we’ve found the philosopher’s stone.” Back then, hybridization with capacitors from motorsport was suspected, and a knowing smile suggested they were not entirely wrong.

Battery Delivers Power Extremely Fast A 400-volt battery with 216 cylindrical cells and a capacity of 1.9 kilowatt-hours powers the hybrid system. Besides its low weight of 27 kilograms, these batteries are notable for their ability to rapidly absorb and release power. This is crucial for maintaining performance.

Let’s take a closer look at the so-called Corpus Delicti, the Porsche T-Hybrid. The engine now has 3.6 liters of displacement instead of three and features a single turbocharger instead of the previous biturbo setup. One turbo? This means a larger turbine, reminiscent of the legendary Porsche Turbo 930. Enthusiasts immediately think: “Turbo lag!” And rightly so. To counteract this, Porsche engineers have implemented an electric compressor system.