THE NEW PORSCHE 911 CARRERA GTS IS A HYBRID, WE'LL STILL TAKE ONE.
Porsche is life. Before this here SXdrv writer shuffles off this mortal coil, he will own a Porsche. The way new car prices are going, and even previously-loved Porsche prices, the closest to owning one will be a 1:18 scale model. Anyhoo, the main model for the Porsche brand, the 911, has just been given a comprehensive makeover that sees improvements carried out in every aspect of the car. The thing that makes this new 911 a bit different from the rest we’ve seen over the years is that it features hybrid technology, something we never thought we’d see on a Porsche 911. The new 911 Carrera GTS is the first street-legal 911 to be fitted with a super-lightweight performance T-Hybrid powertrain, so it’s a special model. The new setup has a newly developed electric exhaust gas turbocharger that features an integrated electric motor, which is placed between the compressor and turbine wheels and it works to instantly bring the turbocharger up to speed, which in turn immediately builds boost pressure. The electric motor in the exhaust gas turbocharger also functions as a generator. It generates up to 11 kW of electric power, which is extracted from the exhaust gas flow. The wastegate-free electric turbocharger allows for the use of a single turbocharger instead of the previous two, ensuring a more dynamic and responsive power delivery. A permanent magnet synchronous motor is integrated into the new, more powerful 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (PDK). Even during idle, it adds up to 150 Nm of torque with 40 kW of power. These electric motors are mated to a lightweight and compact high-voltage battery, the size of a regular 12-volt starter battery, except this one stores up to 1.9 kWh of energy and operates at 400 Volts. The base for the powertrain and the part that makes the most power is the newly developed 3.6-litre boxer engine with an enlarged bore of 97 mm and an increased stroke of 81 mm to increase the displacement by 0.6 litres over its predecessor. The engine also features VarioCam camshaft control and a valve control with rocker arms that maintain an ideal air/fuel mix ratio over the entire map.
Even without electrical assistance, the new boxer powerplant is strong, rated at an impressive 357 kW with 570 Nm of torque - with all systems working in unison, the new 911 Carrera GTS is rated at 398 kW of power with a decent 610 Nm of torque, which is a 45 kW increase over the outgoing model. The car is only 50 kg heavier now too, which is impressive when you consider the added weight of the hybrid side of the setup. The 911 Carera GTS can accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds - that’s ridiculously quick. One thing we’ve noticed with Porsche performance claims is that what they say can be done, can be done with anyone behind the wheel. The onboard systems make it easy. If you carry on hoofing it, the new 911 can hit a top speed of 312 km/h. If the hybrid setup ain’t your thing yet, there’s still an opportunity to buy a new 911 Carrera without the hybrid assistance side of the setup. This is the one we’d spend our lotto winnings on until the second generation of hybrid 911 comes out, you know, just so they find all the bugs in this setup first. The new 911 Carrera features a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre boxer powerplant that has also had quite a rework that includes using the intercooler from the Turbo models, which now sits directly under the rear lid grille, above the engine. The turbos come from the previous generation’s GTS model, and the retune sees the setup rated at a decent 290 kW with a healthy 450 Nm of torque. This translates into a 0 - 100 km/h launch in as little as 4.1 seconds or an even quicker 3.9 seconds if the Sport Chrono package is optioned. The top speed is up at 294 km/h. That’s a whole 0.1 seconds quicker and 1 km/h faster than the previous model, respectively, for the 911 Carrera Coupé. There’s obviously a full exterior change, a full new interior setup and a host of new technical and electronic upgrades. Here in SA, the Porsche 911 Carrera lists at R2,477,000, while the Cabrio version comes in at R2,746,000. For the one with a bit of hybrid power, the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS is listed at R3,386,000, the droptop at R3,654,000, the 911 Carrera 4 GTS at R3,546,000 and the 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet comes in at R3,814,000.
Take a look at the YouTube video from Mat Watson and the Carwow crew as they take a proper deep look at the latest Porsche 911 that now features a hybrid powertrain. Mat also starred in the live stream of the launch doing a heads-up drag race against the outgoing model 911 GTS which was driven by Porsche ambassador Mark Webber: NEW Porsche 911 Revealed! | carwow
Be sure to check out our YouTube channel here for more exciting and exclusive SXdrv content! And don't forget to smash that subscribe button!