911 Turbo

Make
Porsche
Segment
Coupe

An all-electric 911 is not a priority for Porsche right now, but it's no secret the German automaker is working on a hybrid version of the current 992-generation sports car. Testing for the first-ever Porsche 911 hybrid has already begun, and now CarSpyMedia has captured the first footage of an electrified Porsche 911 Turbo prototype tackling the Nurburgring. Although it may look like an ordinary Porsche 911 Turbo S, the yellow sticker on the rear indicates it has an electrified powertrain.

If you're wondering why the rear windows are darkened, the batteries are placed behind the front seats for testing purposes. According to the YouTube channel's source, the prototype utilizes a 400-volt electrical system instead of the Taycan's larger 800-volt system.

At this early stage of development, the extra weight of the battery appears to be unsettling the car. The prototype looks unwieldy as it swerves around the track. At one point, it understeers and veers off the track as the test driver struggles to keep it under control. We're not too worried though, as Porsche will reportedly use a front-mounted battery pack to improve the weight distribution in the final production version.

Since the prototype is based on a 911 Turbo, the hybrid version will likely be called the 911 Turbo S E-Hybrid. The lack of a charging port suggests the electrified 911 will not be a plug-in hybrid.

Details about the powertrain are still scarce, but Porsche has promised the hybrid will be the most powerful 911 yet, slotting above the Turbo. For reference, the current 911 Turbo S produces 640 horsepower, so adding electrical assistance could boost the output to around 700 hp. This would match the output of the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which generates 690 hp and 641 lb-ft of torque.

The first Porsche 911 hybrid is expected to arrive in 2023 as a 2024 model to coincide with the 992-generation 911's mid-cycle facelift, but there should be other new variants to tide us over until then.