Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Geneva Debut

Another blow for real-engined supercars, another win for tree-huggers: German carmaker Porsche announced it will debut the hybrid version of the recently released 911 GT3 R at the March 2010 Geneva Auto Show.

Taking inspiration, Porsche says, from the 110 year-old design of Ferdinand Porsche's Lohner-Porsche hybrid, the production-based GT race car will use a hybrid technology purpose-built for racing, with two electric motors (60 kW each) featured on the front axle and the 480 hp naturally aspirated four-liter flat-six driving the rear wheels.

The 911 GT3 R features no heavy batteries, but an electrical flywheel-powered generator installed inside next to the driver. The generator also acts as an electric motor, spinning at speeds of up to 40,000 rpm while mechanically storing energy.

It also acts as a KERS system, charging whenever the driver applies the brakes and releasing an additional 120 kW of stored kinetic energy to the motors when accelerating. According to Porsche, the additional power is available after each charge for approximately six to eight seconds.

Following the world debut at the Geneva show, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be tested in long-distance races on the Nurburgring, culminating with the 24 Hours on the Nordschleife of Nurburgring on May 15-16. Porsche hasn't set a goal to win the race, but to turn the car into a "racing lab".

"The 911 GT3 R Hybrid is a perfect example of the Porsche Intelligent Performance philosophy, a principle to be found in every Porsche: More power on less fuel, more efficiency and lower CO2 emissions - on the track and on the road," Porsche says in a release.