Previewing the 2020 Porsche 911 Hybrid
The 2020 Porsche 911 Hybrid might pack upwards of 700 horsepower — and it may also look just like our unique rendering.
Over the past year, Porsche has offered bits of information on the next generation 911, code-named the 992, including a look at the new car in black-and-white camouflage. More recently, 911 model director August Achleitner told Autocar that there would not be a full-electric version right away, but he briefly referenced the electrification of the legendary sports car.
Today, we take a look at what we might see when the 2020 Porsche 911 Hybrid arrives.
Plug-In Technology is Likely
First and foremost, while the rumors don’t specify that the 2020 Porsche 911 Hybrid will be a plug-in model, it seems likely the electrified sports car will feature a system similar to the one offered on the Panamera S E-Hybrid, but with far more power. Porsche could skip the plug-in portion of the system, but by including that feature, the drivers will enjoy better range and better performance capabilities.
Let’s also keep in mind that earlier this year, Porsche made a commitment to invest six-billion Euros on plug-in and full-electric technology. If the 992 isn’t going to feature an all-electric package, it seems like that the 911 – arguably the brand’s most important vehicle – will benefit from a big chunk of that plug-in technology investment.
Big Electric Performance
While there has been no official information on how much power the 2020 Porsche 911 Hybrid might offer, rumors point to a number north of 700 horsepower. That might seem outlandish to some, especially when the Panamera S E-Hybrid offers far less power than that, but we aren’t talking about a fuel-friendly sedan – we are talking about the 911. While improved fuel economy and all-electric driving will be pleasant perks for the 992 hybrid, we expect that the electrified sports car will focus more on using the new technology to bolster performance.
In much the same way that the 918 Spyder relies on the electrification to offer power more than it offers improved efficiency, the 911 Hybrid will likely couple a new turbocharged flat-six with a performance tuned electric drive system. According to Autocar, the 992 Hybrid could be an electric boost button, affording the car even greater performance in short bursts.
More importantly, this hybrid 911 will help the model like and the brand meet emission regulations in markets all around the world.
Autonomous Technology
Also while speaking with Autocar, Achleitner spoke about autonomous technology, pointing out that the 911 “will always have a steering wheel”. That makes sense, as most people who buy a 911 do so because they love to drive, but with the push for self-driving high-end vehicles, it makes sense for Porsche to add something like Cadillac’s Super Cruise or the Tesla Autopilot system, where the car handles the basics of driving in less-than-exciting situations like a long highway trip.
Porsche executives have discussed autonomous vehicles quite a bit lately, going into detail on their upcoming plans for vehicles that drive themselves – at least part of the time.
The 911 Look
Regardless of whether or not the 2020 Porsche 911 Hybrid is a plug-in, we can expect that it will maintain every aspect of the 992 styling. While we might see some unique aerodynamic bits, some uniquely-painted features and possibly an extra door on the body (for the plug-in connection), it is likely that the electrified package will be most-easily recognized by its badging.
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