Porsche 911 hybrid won’t be a plug-in, says company CEO – report

The long-rumoured Porsche 911 hybrid is finally expected to make its debut in the coming years – but when it does, it won't require a plug.

Speaking to Germany's Automobilwoche, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume confirmed a hybrid 911 is on the way, but that it won't be a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), telling the publication (in a translated quote): "It will not be a plug-in hybrid, but a very sporty hybrid from motorsport."

While not confirmed, it's likely Porsche's upcoming LMDh endurance racing program will be the motorsport series it draws inspiration from – a twin to the new Le Mans Hypercar class – with the brand set to enter the new hybrid category of the World Endurance Championship in 2023.

All LMDh entries must share a standardised hybrid system, which uses a Bosch electric motor and Williams lithium-ion traction battery to add a 50kW boost at speeds of over 120km/h, for a combined output of up to 500kW, and up to 200kW of energy recuperation power under braking.

Adding a similar motor to a new 911 Turbo S – the likely choice, given 911 hybrid prototypes previously spied testing have been based on Turbo models – would boost outputs to well beyond 500kW, from the 478kW/800Nm produced by the petrol-only car's 3.7-litre (officially 3.8-litre) twin-turbo flat-six.

Should the electric motor retain its 120km/h minimum limit, expect no change to the Turbo S model's 2.7-second 0-100km/h time – though Porsche could opt to bring the motor into play at lower speeds, allowing the engine to shut off in town to improve fuel economy and emissions.

Blume's comments represent a change from previous suggestions the 911 hybrid would be a PHEV, given the German car maker is yet to offer a hybrid vehicle without a charging socket.

The limited-run 918 Spyder hypercar of 2013 debuted Porsche's plug-in technology, before it spread to electrified versions of the Cayenne and Panamera large models.

It's widely believed the current-generation '992' 911 was developed with hybrid powertrains in mind, with the car's transmission, electric brake booster and all-wheel-drive system all engineered to support an electric motor, compact battery and regenerative braking.

However, this is believed to have occurred with plug-in tech in mind, with then-911 development boss August Achleitner telling Drive in 2018: "We’ve taken the experience we gained with hybrid versions of the Cayenne and Panamera as well as the 918 Spyder and applied it to the new 911.

"In the future, this will allow us to offer it with pure electric capability."

Porsche filed to trademark the 't-hybrid' moniker in Australia late last year – a suitable badge for the 911 hybrid, alongside the E-Hybrid branding used for the Stuttgart firm's plug-in models.

Launch timing for the Porsche 911 Turbo S T-Hybrid (as it could be known) is yet to be confirmed, however it's expected the electrified variant will form part of the facelifted '992.2' range, due in 2023 or 2024.