Refreshed Porsche 911 with hybrid power breaks cover
If you have been wondering, TopGear South Africa has consistently shown admiration for the Porsche 911 range, from the formidable 930 911, which gained its cult name as the ‘widow maker’, to the 911 GT3, which is very nearly a fully-fledged race car in terms of performance and driving experience.
The range itself has cemented its reputation in the automotive industry due to its basic layout of rear-drive/rear-engine, a six-cylinder boxer engine, and balance between drivability and performance. These attributes, among others, are the cornerstone of the 911 experience.
Throughout eight generations, the iconic Porsche 911 series has evolved since its initial debut in 1963. Now, with the current 992 range, Porsche is meticulously updating and enhancing the lineup with the introduction of the refreshed range, which, for now, consists of the Carrera, Carrera GTS, Carrera 4 GTS, and Targa 4 GTS.
Besides the revamped exterior and interior, the biggest news here is that the 911 GTS range has gone the hybrid route. In this case, they get a rear-mounted 3.6-litre flat-six engine that replaces the outgoing model’s 3.0-litre unit, which will still power the lesser models in the range.
The engine is paired with an electric motor and an electric turbocharger, enough to pump out 398kW and 610Nm a significant bump of 45kW over its predecessor. Despite its weight increase of 50kg, likely due to the T-Hybrid drive system, the 911 Carrera GTS coupe is no slouch. It accelerates from the starting line to 100km/h in 3.0 seconds and can reach a maximum speed of 312km/h.
The base 911 Carrera, on the other hand, soldiers on with the same twin-turbo 3.0-litre boxer engine with an intercooler borrowed from the Turbo models, now good for 290kW and 450Nm of torque. In its coupe application, it accelerates from 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds, or 3.9 seconds with the Sport Chrono package, en route to a top speed of 294km/h.
The range packs an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the rear wheels in the base Carrera and rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive in the case of the GTS and Targa models.
Aesthetically, the refreshed 911s feature fresh new looks, new wheel options that range from 19 to 21 inches, and enhanced aerodynamic features, though active in the GTS variant.
Moving inside, the biggest change here is the introduction of a fully digital instrument cluster that measures 12.6 inches as well as a high-resolution 10.9-inch central display screen with Apple CarPlay and optional video streaming when parked.
As standard, the GTS range comes with rear-axle steering for improved agility, while its suspension has been lowered by 10mm for better performance and handling.
While we anticipate the arrival of the Turbo and Turbo S models and the GT3 RS, the facelifted range brings a host of significant upgrades to the history books of the 911, hybridisation being one of them, and now, eight generations and six decades later, the Porsche 911 has shown amazing resilience in the world of sports cars.
- 911 Carrera, R2,477,000
- 911 Carrera Cabriolet, R2,746,000
- 911 Carrera GTS, R3,386,000
- 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet, R3,654,000
- 911 Carrera 4 GTS, R3,546,000
- 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, R3,814,000
- 911 Targa 4 GTS, R3,814,000
