Porsche’s First Hybrid 911 Debuts May 28th

Porsche has revealed that its first hybrid 911 will premiere on May 28th — and it can outperform its gas-only counterpart on the track.

The event will stream at 9AM Eastern on Porsche’s YouTube channel.

Porsche didn’t reveal technical details of the 911 hybrid. However, it noted that the new version completed a lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife (a legendary track frequently used for performance testing) in 7 minutes and 16.9 seconds, or 8.7 seconds quicker than its gas-only equivalent. The car was using a common fixed rear spoiler option, but had standard road tires.

The hybrid 911 is more powerful, grippier, and has a “spontaneous response,” former race driver and Porsche ambassador Jörg Bergmeister claimed.

The automaker has teased a hybrid for a while, and model line VP Frank Moser previously hinted at a mid-decade rollout. The expansion isn’t surprising. You can already buy hybrid variants of cars like the Cayenne and Panamera, and a 911 version would help Porsche meet stricter whole-fleet emissions and fuel economy standards.

Don’t expect an all-electric 911 in the near future, however. Porsche intends to electrify 80% of its lineup by 2030, but has repeatedly ruled out a 911 EV this decade. The option reportedly isn’t technically feasible at the moment. The 911 is defined by its lightweight, rear-engined design. An electric model released today would have to use a heavy battery pack and otherwise lose its signature driving dynamics.

For now, Porsche is focusing is EV attention on both its from-scratch Taycan sedan as well as the electrified trim of its Macan SUV. The company will eventually have to go completely electric as countries completely ban combustion engine cars, but it’s not rushing to adopt the technology as quickly as some manufacturers.