Porsche: Hybrid 911 Coming Soon, Boxster and Cayman EV Noise TBD

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Porsche: Hybrid 911 Coming Soon, Boxster and Cayman EV Noise TBD

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But really, what will the electric 718s sound like?

Reports have circulated for years predicting the eventual arrival of a gasoline hybrid Porsche 911 sports car, and it’s no secret the German automaker is well down the path of bringing such a thing to market after being previously observed testing such cars at Germany’s famous Nürburgring circuit. Speaking at the recent Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7, though, company executives remained tight-lipped about powertrain specifics or which 911 model or models will be first to boast hybridization. However, we will see it become available on some if not all 992.2-generation cars once they replace the 992.1 series that went on sale originally in mid-2019 as a 2020 model.

Now we are working on the next generation [992.2], which [arrives] about the middle of the decade” said Frank Moser, Porsche’s vice president for the 911 and 718 model lines. “We have developed the hybrid, a performance hybrid of the 911, and that’s about in the middle of the decade—the next generation of the 992.”

When asked for more specific timing, Moser would only comment, “Maybe two years.” This suggests the first hybridized 911 model or models likely won’t be available from the moment the 992.2 series launches, as we expect the company to make the switch from 992.1 to 992.2 much sooner than the two-year timeframe Moser referenced. If that’s indeed the case, and given Porsche’s typical model-launch cadence, it stands to reason the first 911 hybrid powertrain will be reserved for a higher-performance 911 version like a GT2 RS or Turbo S.

Regardless of the hybrid powertrain’s details, Porsche reiterated its commitment to keeping the 911 packed with internal combustion for as long as industry conditions make it possible to do so.

“The 911 will be, definitely, if at all, the last [Porsche] that will be electrified,” Michael Steiner, Porsche board member for development, reiterated to MotorTrend. “The 911 should not get too heavy. So this is the reason we look more for performance-oriented solutions, and we have other cars for people who would like more electrification. We don’t see the need to just convert our icon [the 911] into an electric car that has disadvantages [in terms of overall raw performance.

Which Leads Us To The 718

Porsche in March 2022 confirmed it will only offer the next-generation (983-series) 718 Boxsters and Caymans as all-electric models when they go on sale as 2025 model-year vehicles. (Note: Steiner at Rennsport said some markets, including the U.S., will likely see the existing 982-gen cars sold for some time alongside the electric versions, influenced by market demand and regulatory conditions.) While specific power and performance figures are still unknown, enthusiasts almost universally worry about one thing in particular when it comes to EVs: the sound.

Asked by MotorTrend if Porsche has settled on or at least zeroed in on a signature noise for the upcoming electric two-seat 718 sports cars, Moser initially raised a few eyebrows with his reply.

“We have good guys [working on it], they know how to develop a good soundtrack,” he said. “You know [a bit] from the Taycan, [but] what is a typical electric Porsche sound? We never had one before. [Everyone] knows the sound from a flat-six, and therefore it’s difficult [to find something appropriate for a Porsche EV]. From my opinion, driving an EV, you hear nothing—and that’s great. So you remember you are sitting in a Boxster, electrified, and you hear nothing. You have a totally dynamic car that is agile, you hear nothing. I think that’s really good.”

Perhaps reading the looks on his audience’s collective face following his answer, Moser made it clear this is his opinion and not one that’s necessarily being strictly applied to the 2025 Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster EV lineups.

“We are working on the kind of sound which suits to the brand, to the different models,” he said, providing at least a whisp of reassurance. “But for me the sound is not the No. 1 goal.