- Porsche says the 911 GTS is future-proofing the world’s most desired sports car.
- Porsche has demonstrated that electrification can be a tool for driving excitement rather than merely improving efficiency.
- The new 911 Carrera GTS Coupé starts at $381,200.
Porsche has fundamentally upgraded the legendary 911, and the good news is it’s now a hybrid. Why is that good news? Because it’s not the Prius or Camry style hybrid we’re talking about. Instead, this is balls to the wall, extra performance LeMans 24-Hour or Formula 1 hybrid.
This 992.2 generational update is not about saving fuel. Instead, it’s about adding performance and, according to Porsche, “future proofing” the world’s most desired sports car.
Porsche calls the system ‘t-hybrid’ and says it’s inspired by motorsport technology. It’s not going too far to suggest it represents a performance revolution. For now, the system is only offered in Carrera GTS, the 911’s highest-performing non-GT model. But given how hard this latest GTS goes, God help us (and Porsche’s opposition) when this tech makes its way to the 911 Turbo family.
The devil’s in the details. So, here’s everything you need to know about the new Porsche 911 GTS and the company’s groundbreaking approach to electrification in its most iconic model.
Performance First
The 911 Carrera GTS introduces a super-lightweight performance hybrid system that puts the emphasis squarely on performance and dynamics rather than fuel economy.
At the heart of this system are two electric motors – one sandwiched between the engine and gearbox, and the other spinning an electrically boosted turbocharger. Traditional turbos require exhaust gases to spin up the turbine wheel before boost pressure builds (that’s what most of us know as turbo lag). The t-hybrid’s electric turbocharger eliminates this entirely with an electric motor placed F1-engine-style between the turbo’s compressor and turbine wheel.
The motor can instantly bring the turbocharger up to speed, delivering boost pressure from the moment you press the accelerator. But it also performs another duty, functioning as an energy recovery system that prevents overboosting (the GTS’ turbo has a wastegate) and harvesting up to 11kW of power from the exhaust gas flow to charge the bespoke lightweight battery.
The electric boosting and zero lag also means the turbo itself can be much larger, ensuring the all-new engine never runs out of puff.
The Boxer Engine Grows Up
But the motor spinning the turbo isn’t the only electric motor in play in the new Porsche 911 GTS. Like a Le Mans racer, the new 911 also features a motor sandwiched between the trademark 911 flat-six petrol engine and its all-new eight-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox.
This motor provides instant torque and power to assist the engine, especially from low revs. The term here is ‘torque filling’, and thus the motor can deliver up to 150Nm from idle speed and add up to 40kW through the rev range.
The t-hybrid system pairs the motor with an all-new, larger capacity but more compact and lower 3.6-litre six-cylinder boxer engine. It sounds just like it should (in part thanks to some clever sound synthesis), revs like an engine half its capacity and combined with the e-boost delivers a very impressive 398kW and 610 Nm – a more than 60hp jump over the old GTS.
And take it from me: the numbers don’t do the car’s performance justice. Remember that instant extra 150Nm? That makes its presence felt in the real world, massively improving in-gear acceleration.
Even the standing start 0-100km/h has been improved. At just 3.0 seconds, the rear-drive GTS is around half a second faster than the car it replaces and all but matches the last-generation all-wheel-drive Porsche 911 Turbo S. Combined with launch control, the performance can literally make your head spin.
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Hybrid Without the Heft
One of the biggest concerns with hybrid systems is weight – batteries and electric motors are notoriously heavy. But this is a Porsche! The net weight increase has been kept to circa 50kg.
Every part of the drivetrain has been optimised. There’s an electric aircon system and no starter motor -the boost motor plays that role.
Porsche has also developed a high-voltage battery that matches the size and weight of a conventional 12-volt starter battery while storing up to 1.9 kWh of energy and operating at 400 volts. Even the 12-volt battery itself is a lightweight lithium-ion racing-style effort.
Smarter Handling
Thanks to the minimal weight change, the Porsche 911’s legendary road and racetrack handling is unaffected by the addition of the GTS’ t-hybrid system. But Porsche didn’t rest on its race-bred laurels.
For the first time, the GTS comes standard with rear-axle steering. At high speeds, this increases stability by steering the rear wheels in the same direction as the fronts, while at lower speeds, it reduces the turning circle by counter-steering the rear wheels.
Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) anti-roll stabilisation system is offered and thanks to the new 911 GTS’s 400V network, the electro-hydraulic control system can be more powerful and faster acting for improved precision. Combined with adaptive dampers and reduced ride height, the GTS is ready for anything short of actual racing…
Look Closer, It’s Different
To the casual observer – and even some keen eyes – the Porsche 911’s iconic lines appear unchanged. But this new 992.2 generation of 911 barely shares a panel with the outgoing cars.
Above the bumper line, the nose has been steepened to match 911s of old. The rear, too, has been tweaked to deliver a more traditional silhouette. Under the bumper up front, active cooling air flaps define a ‘new modern’ feel to the car and are complemented by adaptive underbody front diffusers.
When cooling requirements are minimal, closed flaps optimise aerodynamics. When demand increases, particularly in high-performance driving scenarios, the flaps direct large amounts of air to the car’s radiators. An optional aero kit includes a more aggressive front spoiler, sill panels and GT-style fixed rear wing. It’s a good-looking add-on. You can expect more than a fair share of GTS buyers to tick that option box.
Private Screening
Of course, no new model update lands without a significant upgrade in connectivity and screen real estate – the 911 is no exception.
Connectivity has been enhanced with a QR code that simplifies logging into the Porsche Communication Management system. Apple CarPlay integration is deeper than ever.
The most obvious change, however, is that the instrument panel goes to a full virtual representation with multiple screen modes, including the classic five-dial Porsche staple. Although there’s no doubt there’s added functionality and some buyers will welcome the extra digitisation of this important car-driver interface, it’s a step too far for me. The part-digital, part-analog gauges for the outgoing 992.1 series 911 were better.
The Rest of the Range
Although mechanical changes are less extensive in the standard Porsche Carrera and Carrera T variants, the updates delivered to the models in this generational change are still worthwhile.
The cooking model Carrera now features a revamped 3.0-litre twin-turbo boxer engine that produces 290kW and 450Nm. One key change is the adoption of a top-mounted intercooler — just like the hero 911 Turbo models. The same styling and connectivity changes give the most affordable 911s a fresh look and feel.
Ker-effing-ching
Good to note that affordable is a relative term when it comes to Porsche. The new 911 Carrera GTS Coupé starts at $381,200, while the standard 911 Carrera Coupé is almost $100,000 less at $280,500. All-wheel-drive, Targa and convertible options are also available, with the 911 Carrera 4 GTS Coupé priced from $401,300 and the 911 Targa 4 GTS from $437,900.
Australian buyers will find the new 911 models generously equipped compared to markets like the UK and USA, with standard features including Surround View with Active Parking Support, Lane Change Assist, Comfort Access and BOSE Surround Sound System across all variants. The GTS includes otherwise expensive options such as rear-wheel steer, adaptive suspension and a host of other features as standard.
Porsche says this generation of 911 is the most customisable ever – you name it, you can probably change it. Deliveries for all models in Australia are expected during the first quarter of 2025.
Electric for Enhanced Performance
The new Porsche 911 Carrera GTS represents a step change in the evolution of the iconic sports car. Porsche could have stepped on its ‘whatsit’ here big time just to satisfy green interests. But it hasn’t.
By incorporating hybridisation in a way that enhances rather than compromises the 911’s character, Porsche has demonstrated that electrification can be a tool for driving excitement rather than merely improving efficiency. The t-hybrid system’s focus on response, power delivery, and handling showcases Porsche’s commitment to maintaining the 911’s status as the benchmark sports car, even as automotive technology fundamentally shifts toward electrification.
For enthusiasts, this may be the most compelling argument yet that the electric future of driving can be every bit as thrilling as its combustion-powered past.
