Driving report Porsche 911 GTS: Electric Eleven without E-feeling

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FAULHABER Drive Systems

It's time: Porsche has electrified the 911. Because with the facelift, in addition to the usual cosmetic changes, there is the new T-Hybrid for the first time. This leads to an explosion in performance.

Water cooling, double clutch, even the shape of the turn signals—for 60 years, the Porsche community has commented on even the smallest change to the 911 in advance with almost rebellious indignation. Only to then build the pedestal for the mother of all sports cars even higher and buy more cars than before. But this time, the uncompromising affection of the hasty high earners is put to a severe test.

The Swabians are bringing the big facelift for the current generation of their sports car to the market. Internally, it is designated as 992.2 and the prices start at just under 130,000 euros (approx. 141,000 USD). This facelift includes not only a revised design. There is now a modernized ambiance and more electronics—for example, no more mechanical instruments. In addition, the equipment has been reconfigured and—Porsche owes this to the petrolheads—there is a bit more power.

T-Hybrid: Electric drive hardly noticeable

The so-called T-Hybrid for the sporty GTS model also marks the start of electrification for the 911. Prices start at around 170,000 euros (approx. 185,000 USD) for the coupe without and about 180,000 euros (approx. 196,000 UDS) with all-wheel drive. The corresponding cabriolet starts at 185,000 euros (approx. 201,000 USD) , and the Targa, only available with all-wheel drive, at more than 190,000 euros (approx. 208,000 USD).

For some, it may be a relief, for others a disappointment: you feel absolutely nothing from the electric intervention in the drivetrain. At least not the way one would expect. Because whoever starts the Elfer—now with a start button instead of an ignition key—still hears a six-cylinder engine, which with its displacement increased from 3.0 to 3.6 liters even sounds a bit more bass-heavy. No matter how gently you accelerate or how slowly you drive: the sports car always uses the power of a boxer.

What one does feel, however, is the dramatically improved performance. Sure, instead of 480, there are now 540 hp on the vehicle registration. But even if you couldn't accuse the GTS of being sluggish before and the top speed of 312 km/h (211 mph)  remains unchanged, the car now literally explodes with propulsion: On paper, it takes four tenths off the predecessor in the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in three seconds. In practice, it feels as if you've been driving a Polo instead of a Porsche up to now—the new 911 responds so eagerly to the gas and throws itself towards the horizon with such vehemence with its up to 610 Nm. And because life doesn't always go in straight lines, the GTS comes standard with rear-axle steering for greater agility.

Electric turbocharger

For the electric boost, Porsche goes to great lengths. That's why they don't just screw a 41 kW E-machine with 150 Nm into the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox and install a particularly lightweight and small 1.9 kWh battery in the bow, as they do with the Cayman or Panamera. This one cannot be charged at a socket—unlike the larger series. Instead, they install an electric turbocharger which applies pressure immediately when starting and serves as a generator under load in order to recharge the battery as quickly as possible.

Even though this elaborate package is noticeable during the test drive, it is hardly noticeable at the gas station. If driven sportily, the hybrid should be somewhat more economical than the previous GTS. But on paper, it uses 10.5 liters—just like its predecessor. So why is Porsche going to all this effort anyway? Because this way the Swabians at least offer more power and performance without more guilt. And because this engine meets the Euro-7 standard, giving petrol heads a future. 

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Porsche 911 as a pure combustion engine—Electric 718 in progress

After the facelift, Porsche offers the basic model and later again Turbo & Co with pure combustion engines. The OEM promises the electric enthusiasts the first electric sports car as a successor to the 718 for next year. And for the broad mass, they trust that it will go the way it has always gone—with the big and small revolutions in six decades of 911 history. The love for the Elfer is endless. And no matter how loud the outcry may be, for most people it turns back into enthusiasm after the maiden voyage.