If you’re a regular listener to our Click past the jump to read more about the current Porsche 911 Turbo S.,->ke4828 you’re likely familiar with our affinity with high-tech halo cars and the benefits they bring to less expensive, more everyday cars by technology trickle-down. Well, it appears Porsche is planning to share a few of the 918 hybrid hyper car’s parts with an upcoming version of the 911 Turbo S, and the Panamera Turbo S.
Why add a hybrid system to a car as seamless as the 911? The benefits are numerous and often obvious, but sometimes can be more obscure. The easiest positive to recognize is more horsepower. Adding the 918’s 156-horsepower electric motor to the 911 Turbo S’ 560-horsepower flat six results in a possible 716-horsepower hybrid drivetrain. That would help the 911 run the ‘ring with the latest Lamborghinis->ke44 and Ferraris->ke252 out there.
On the more obscure side, adding a plug-in hybrid system would allow the 911 to drive within Europe’s future Zero-Emissions Zones where conventional engines are banned in congested urban environments. Switch to full-electric mode, and the car becomes legal to drive downtown.
What’s more, it shouldn’t be difficult for Porsche->ke1 to tailor the e-Hybrid system for not just the 911 and Panamera, but for other vehicles in the future. It’s possible for the trickle-down to continue further into even more affordable vehicles like the Cayman->ke5 and Boxster, but only after the development and hardware costs come down. This not only helps Porsche’s overall CAFE ratings, but helps boost horsepower ratings and performance standards as well.
It sounds like a win-win to us.
Click past the jump to read more about the current Porsche 911 Turbo S.
Why It Matters
The days of automakers confining hybrid drivetrains to boring economy cars are gone. In fact, one of the fastest production cars out there -- the McLaren P1 -- uses a hybrid drivetrain to achieve greatness. These systems are coming into their own as both a means of saving fuel while also providing plenty of power for sideways shenanigans. Porsche’s (unconfirmed) decision to add e-Hybrid technology to the 911 speaks volumes about the company’s eagerness to become a leader in this technology.
The 911 Turbo S serves as one of Porsche’s most elite and high-performing sport cars to date. Powered by a 3.8-liter flat six-cylinder engine mounted out back, the Turbo S makes 560 horsepower and hits 60 mph in a staggering 3.1 seconds on its way to a 197 top speed.
Experts often herald the car as one of the best performing cars ever built, as it handles just as well on the road course as it does the drag strip. That performance comes at a great cost, however. The base price for the Turbo S comes in at $182,050. Imagine adding in the cost of a hybrid system, and the sticker price would likely jump well past $200,000.