Porsche 911 May Gain High-Performance Hybrid Variant
Next-gen model built to accommodate electric powertrain
If Lamborghini is adding a hybrid, then it makes sense that Porsche's most iconic sports car wouldn't be immune to the electrification crusade underway by Volkswagen Group. Porsche is mulling over a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the 911, according to a report fromBloomberg.
Citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter,Bloombergsays the vehicle could debut a few years after the eighth-generation 911 comes out. If engineers can figure out how to reduce the weight of the battery, the plug-in 911 could offer a range of about 40 miles in EV mode,Bloomberg'ssources claim.
Porsche has set up the new 911 to accommodate an electric powertrain to keep options open, a Porsche spokesman confirmed toBloomberg. The next 911 is expected to debut near the end of 2018.
Porsche recently added electrification to the Panamera in the form of the Turbo S E-Hybrid, a high-end $185,000-plus saloon. Packing a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 and an electric motor, the model produces a total of 671 hp and 626 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in 911 also promises high levels of performance, although exact specs remain unclear.
Purists may lament the shift to hybrid technology, as if adding turbo power wasn't enough of a blow. But this is the way that Volkswagen Group is headed. Through 2022, the automaker is investing around $40 billionin future mobility technologies, primarily electrification. By 2030, the automaker wants to have electrified variants of every model in its lineup, including Porsches. And let's not forget the Mission E sports car is in the pipeline for 2019.
Source: Bloomberg
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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