Amit Saraswat 
The inevitable — 911 going hybrid
Porsche has been transitioning to an electrified future with models like the all-electric Taycan and Macan and plug-in-hybrid Cayenne and Panamera. Thankfully, the 911 was away from hybridisation but that is set to change. The 911 model lines are at the cusp of undergoing hybridisation, thanks to a “newly-developed” hybrid powertrain.
“The high-performance hybrid seamlessly continues innovative development of the 911 drive”, said Frank Moser. He further added, “The hybrid drive benefits the driver whenever they are accelerating. The technology will prepare us for future emission standards for the Porsche 911”.
Frank also mentioned that the new high-performance hybrid will be a part of select derivatives of the 911 model line. Hence, it is safe to assume that the new hybrid powertrain will power multiple lines of the 911, with different drivetrain and power configurations. The prior conversions between Porsche top executives and media have revealed that the new 911 hybrid will not have a charging port, indicating that it would be a self-charging hybrid system, which is different from the plug-in-type hybrid powertrains of the Cayenne and Panamera.
Trusting the information and conversations online, the new 911 hybrid is likely to boast an electric motor at the front axle, powering the front wheels, while the engine will power the rear wheels, thus making it e-AWD. We have already seen such drivetrains in multiple models from Toyota and Lexus. Since the powertrain is said not to carry a plug-in-hybrid setup, we expect it to carry a small Li-ion battery pack with fast charge and discharge capabilities, which would be beneficial for its use case.
Porsche 911 purists can contain the disappointment since its flat-six engine still has some time left. Porsche officials have clarified on multiple instances to continue with the internal combustion engines with the 911 for as long as possible. Porsche is also developing synthetic fuels, which could inject a new life into the 911 model range among the increasing global emission standards.
