The carparazzi have recently caught a Neunelfer doing its thing at the Nurburgring. It's not any ol' 911, though, but a 2025 model year Carrera GTS with the Aerokit, black calipers, and a round yellow sticker.
Located on the top right corner of the rear window, the sticker indicates hybrid assistance for the six-cylinder engine that's located behind the rear wheels. Zoom in, and you'll spot a beefy roll cage as well.
Pictured at the Nurburgring, the lightly camouflaged prototype also sports a redesigned exhaust system that brings the outlets closer together. Internally referred to as 992.2, the mid-cycle refresh of the 911 further differentiates itself with active vents in the redesigned front bumper. We also notice a barely different lighting signature from the outgoing 992.
Turning our attention back to the powertrain, what kind of hybrid assistance is hiding under there? Simply put, it's not known yet. Porsche big kahuna Oliver Blume confirmed that hybridization is on the menu for the 992.2, but he didn't say whether the facelift is going mild hybrid or full-on hybrid. For now, a plug-in hybrid setup is out of the question.
Some peeps believe that Porsche has adapted the hybrid part of the V4-engined 919 Hybrid for the 911, although that seems a bit of a stretch. On the other hand, remember that Porsche is Porsche, meaning that everything is possible from Zuffenhausen's favorite son for this generation of the Neunelfer.
Photo: SH Proshots
In addition to keeping CO2 emissions under control, hybrid assistance further means better acceleration. From a standstill and while in motion, a small electric motor should make a world of difference. It's highly possible that Porsche may replicate Merc's EQ Boost integrated starter generator for the 911, with said integrated starter-generator thingy assisting the 2.0-liter turbocharged engines of the W206 with up to 20 ps (20 horsepower) and a massive 200 Nm (271 pound-feet) of torque in certain driving scenarios.
Expected to be revealed in late 2023 or early 2024, the 2025 model year Porsche 911 is further expected to feature minimal interior changes influenced by the newly revised Cayenne sport utility vehicle. It's a given that every single version of the Neunelfer will get a little punchier, although it remains to be seen if the Turbo S will reach 700 ps (690 horsepower).
The non-hybrid Turbo S in production today boasts 650 ps (641 horsepower) and 800 Nm (590 pound-feet) of torque, making it the most powerful 992 to date. It's going to be dethroned by the GT2 RS, though, which is best described as a combination between the 911 Turbo S and the 911 GT3 RS.
The previous generation – a.k.a. 991.2 – launched at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed with a staggering 700 ps (690 horsepower) and 750 Nm (553 pound-feet) under its belt. Similar to the GT3, it's a rear-drive affair. Porsche said that only 1,000 were to be made, although we do know that approximately 1,300 were delivered in the US of A and Canada.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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