The facelifted 992.2 Porsche 911 has only been on sale for about a year, and we’ve already seen five different standard production variants roll out, from the trackday warrior GT3 to the road-focused 911 T. However, we haven’t officially seen the next 911 Turbo yet, but new spy shots show a car with a conspicuous sticker that tells us a lot about what’s in store for the next Turbo.
See, the Nürburgring requires all electrified vehicles testing on the Nordschleife to wear a yellow sticker, indicating the presence of high-voltage components should a collision happen and first responders need to attend the scene. Well, a 911 Turbo was spotted by YouTube channel CarSpy Media lapping the ‘Ring with that yellow sticker in its rear window, indicating that electric assistance could be coming to the new quickest 911 variant.
In hindsight, this felt inevitable when the 992.2 911 GTS debuted with the T-Hybrid system, a form of parallel hybrid assistance with electric motors in the dual-clutch automatic transmission and the turbocharger attached to the 3.6-liter flat-six cut lag and boost output. While this means you can’t get a 911 GTS with a manual gearbox anymore, the result is 542 horsepower and acceleration quicker than a 911 Turbo S of a decade ago. Motor Trend managed zero-to-60 mph in 2.6 seconds and the quarter-mile in 10.7 seconds with the new GTS, whereas a 2015 911 Turbo S in the same hands logged 2.7 and 11 seconds, respectively.
As it stands, the pre-facelift 911 Turbo cranks out 572 horsepower and 553 lb.-ft. of torque, allowing it to achieve some truly silly acceleration figures. However, with the hybridized GTS stepping closer and closer toward its turf, it’s time for Porsche to turn up the wick, and hybridization is one way of adding a slug of extra output without having a huge impact on carbon emissions.
What’s more, carrying the T-Hybrid tech from the GTS over to the Turbo is a great way to promote the system, as the Turbo holds a unique position of a legacy flagship. Sure, the GT3 might have more hype around it, but “Porsche Turbo” has been a byword for stonking acceleration since 1976, and having more track-focused models in the lineup lets the 911 Turbo use heavier, more complex systems to achieve absolutely wicked figures.
Are there any other changes we can discern from spy shots? Absolutely. It looks like this test car’s running wheels that share a motif with those on the Panamera Turbo, and the car sports GTS-style active air guides in the front bumper. Around back, the rear valence has been redesigned with a more prominent diffuser and vertical air curtains. I’d expect to learn more as the next 911 Turbo is officially unveiled, which could happen this year judging by the relative timing of previous 911 Turbos.
Top graphic images: YouTube/CarSpy Media
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I’m fine with this if it’s what it takes to keep the GT3 naturally aspirated. It’s been a long time since the 911 Turbo was really a pure driver focused car anyway. I’d argue that things started to shift away from it being the true halo 911 with the 996 generation.
Since then it’s become a GT car and something that’s designed to be a comfortable daily. That’s not a bad thing either, it fills an important role. But it’s all about low effort, easily controllable, all weather straight line speed in relative comfort. They’re also PDK only and while I’m sure they’ll throw down blistering lap times they’re not really intended to be track cars.
In that context hybridization is a no brainer. I don’t think the average 911 Turbo buyer will care because I don’t think the average 911 Turbo buyer is necessarily a diehard enthusiast. I’d imagine that the average 911 Turbo buyer is a well to do new money type who struts into a Porsche dealership Vince McMahon style and goes GIVE ME THE FASTEST CAR YOU HAVE!
I sure hope this means that the GT3 remains naturally aspirated, because IMHO that’s a way bigger deal. The people that buy and lust after GT3s care deeply about the form factor. It needs to have a flat 6 without any assistance that sends power directly to the rear wheels and has an available manual transmission. It’s the purist’s choice, and I hope it gets to remain that way for years to come.
The GT3 makes them too much money for them to mess with the formula. Just think about when they thought they could axe the 6MT in the GT3 and their buyers flipped.
I’m always curious if we’re going to get a GT2 every subsequent generation though. They’re always so bonkers that I can’t believe that they have anywhere to go for the next one.
We all should have known that this was coming. The GTS can’t have a technology that the higher end Turbo lacks. Maybe the hybrid will be the difference between the Turbo and Turbo S?
Torque fill if turbo is a bit too big? Much easier if you size a turbo for redline and use the electric motor to fill the mid-range.
So what are the odds this is effectively the GTS engine and Hybrid system but with a second turbo added? IIRC the GTS has the e-turbo off only one bank with the other bank having it’s exhaust joining the other bank’s exhaust post-turbo. Maybe an extra couple tenths of a liter displacement, 30-50% more boost and in the 650hp range.
An extra .2 liters and more turbo (size or quantity) seems like a safe bet. But since weight in the Turbo is less of a concern, maybe they tweak the electric motor for some more grunt as well?
One step closer to my alternator “turbo” tattoo being truly accurate. That’ll show the haters!
Ah, but there is no alternator on these.
If there’s anything I know about the 911, it’s that history and tradition and pressure from the PCA will make sure traditional things stick around far longer than necessary.