It’s been over a year since Porsche introduced the 992.2-generation 911 variants, but the lineup is still far from complete. Following the launch of the facelifted GTS, Carrera, Targa, and GT3 models, the next flavor is due in the coming months. CEO Oliver Blume announced during the half-year earnings call that the Turbo S is set to break cover later this year. A non-S model is likely coming as well.
Porsche’s boss also reiterated that the Turbo S will adopt a hybrid setup. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise since former Chief Financial Officer Lutz Meschke revealed the 992.2 Turbo S would be electrified back in October 2024. The upcoming 911 version will use Varta batteries, following Porsche’s recent acquisition of V4Drive GmbH from the Varta AG Group.
Notably, the GTS already features cylindrical cells from V4Drive, which was rebranded as V4Smart after Porsche became the majority shareholder in March. The 1.9-kWh battery packs used for the car’s T-Hybrid drive system are produced at the Ellwangen and Nördlingen sites. By year’s end, Porsche aims to grow the workforce to 375 employees across both locations in preparation for new hybrid 911s. Rumor has it that the GT2 RS could also go hybrid, though nothing is official yet.
What we do know from Blume is that Porsche is cooking “new derivatives” and is investing heavily to make them “a bit quicker” than the 992.1-generation cars. The GT2 RS wasn’t available in the first half of the 911’s lifecycle, as the most track-focused variant typically arrives near the end of the production run.
Going hybrid likely means the new Turbo S will deliver more punch, not that the 992.1 was underpowered. With 640 hp and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) from its twin-turbo 3.8-liter boxer engine, the pre-facelift Turbo S already had 60 hp and 37 lb-ft (50 Nm) more than its predecessor. But unless Porsche finds ways to cut fat elsewhere, the added hardware will come with a weight penalty. In the case of the GTS, the extra mass amounts to 103 pounds (47 kilograms) for the US-spec version.
Porsche Cayman EV prototype
Photo by: KGP Photography
Porsche’s two-door lineup isn’t limited to the 911. Production of the 718 Cayman and Boxster ends in October, but Blume confirmed the electric successors are still in the pipeline. The EV duo will arrive after the electric Cayenne, which debuts this year before hitting showrooms in 2026. Zuffenhausen has reversed the order of these launches, as the EV sports cars were initially supposed to come first.
While the first-generation Macan is getting a gas-powered successor in 2028, there’s no indication that a new combustion-engine Boxster/Cayman will follow the 982. Porsche is going all-in on EVs for this segment. It’s a risky move, considering the main draw of all four generations has always been the engine, even the four-cylinder ones. With the electric replacements, the manual gearbox will also become a thing of the past.
