By Jeff Glucker
Porsche announced it was putting a hybrid powertrain in a version of its current 911. Some folks decided that this meant the beginning of the end. I am here to say that all it does in this case is make the car even more fantastic. The Porsche 911 GTS kicks a whole lot of ass.
Powering this version of the current 911 is a turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six engine and an electric motor. That electric motor lives inside the 8-speed PDK gearbox. The combined output is rated at 532 hp and 449 lb-ft of torque, and you can spec the car with RWD or AWD.
The grip is endless. The power is effortless. The best part, though, is that it all still feels extremely “Porsche”. You’re only getting 103 pounds of extra weight with the motor and its 1.9-kWh battery pack. You’re also getting a car that can rip from 0-60 mph in the mid two-second range. The hybridization here isn’t about fuel efficiency; it’s about efficiently destroying corners, lap times, and distances.
If you don’t want a hybrid 911, there are other choices in terms of performance and cost, both above and below the GTS. The Carrera, Carrera S, and T are all sublime options, and the Turbo and GT3 variants are almost singularly focused monsters. As it always has, the GTS remains the balanced option in the lineup. It’s effortlessly fast, quite comfortable, and stunning to look at when you step away from it.
I just wish it didn’t cost so damn much… but that’s what this amount of capability will run you in the current market. As tested, the one you see here stickers for $206k.
Kamil Kaluski