Porsche 911 hybrid coming 'for sure'

Porsche could release more than one version of its next-generation 992-series 911 with hybrid technology.

The German sports car maker has already confirmed its iconic 911 will be offered with petrol-electric power for the first time after the new 992 arrives around 2018, and now the 911’s long-standing development chief has revealed the green light could come for a number of 911 hybrid variants.

“It’s not yet decided, but I expect for sure in the next 10 years there will be at least one hybrid version of the 911 and maybe more,” August Achleitner told motoring.com.au.

The next 10 years covers off the lifecycle of the 992, which should be a minimum seven years.

Achleitner was speaking on the sidelines of a technical workshop in Germany for the latest 991.2 911 Carrera and its new generation ‘9A2’ 3.0-litre turbocharged 3.0-litre boxer engine, which is a response to tightening global fuel economy and emissions standards, just as a 911 hybrid will be.

He confirmed the investigation of hybrid technology for the 911 had been underway for some time.

Achleitner said fitting the hybrid power pack within tight confines of the unique rear-engined 911 was the main challenge facing engineers.

“We are working and checking hybrid possibilities since years, but it’s completely dependent on the state of development of the batteries because they have to be very small as a package in the 911 to make it useable. Otherwise it would make sense.”

Achleitner took the opportunity to knock on the head speculation a 911 hybrid might come with a four-cylinder petrol boxer engine. He said beyond that just which internal combustion engine might be used wasn’t the hardest part of the process.

“The most complicated point in the discussing of a hybrid version for the future is not the engine itself, it’s more the components with the battery and the power electronics and so on. You don’t find too much more space in a 911 where you can place more components so it is not easy.”

Porsche has practical experience of hybrids because it has already launched hybrid and more recently plug-in hybrid versions of the Cayenne SUV and Panamera luxury saloon.

But it has also used the technology recently in the 918 Spyder supercar and has an ongoing hybrid development program in place as part of its world endurance championship effort with the 919 racing car, which Australian Mark Webber drives for.

“If you have a look on the 919 racing car you can see we are working on hybrid technology and our connection between the racing department and our department is quite close,” Achleitner said.

The 919 uses lithium-ion battery cells supplied by US-based Chinese-owned A123 Systems.