Porsche is planning to resurrect the GT2 RS using electric tech developed for the 919 Hybrid that last won the Le Man 24 Hours in 2017 and the new 963 LMDh that’s gunning for victory this year, according to a new report.
The GT2 RS has always been the wildest car in the 911 lineup and the last one was no slouch with 690 hp (700 PS). But intel from Autocar claims the next one due in 2026 will easily be the craziest yet thanks to an electrified powertrain capable of producing more than 700 hp (710 PS). It is also sure to be the most expensive thanks to an MSRP that is likely to be more than $300,000.
The report suggests that the new drivetrain will be mild-hybrid rather than a PHEV like the Ferrari SF90, the McLaren Artura, and also the Cayenne and Panamera from Porsche’s own lineup, which both come with plugs. That ties in with previous comments from Porsche CEO Oliver Blume, who said that when the 911 gained a hybrid model it wouldn’t take the form of a PHEV.
Avoiding the PHEV route would allow Porsche to fit a smaller battery pack to keep weight down and packaging problems to a minimum, while still helping meet tightening emissions regulations. The electric motor is expected to be integrated into the transmission and the battery will also be mounted in the rear leading to a 39:61 front-to-rear weight split. It claims Porsche has opted for a more straightforward 400-volt electrical system to save weight, and that while the RS will be able to cover short distances on electric power like Chevy’s new Corvette E-Ray, the focus is on adding performance without adding too much mass. The firm is said to want to limit weight gain to 220 lbs (100 kg).
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That weight target, the quoted rear-biased weight balance, and Porsche reportedly mounting the electric motor inside the transmission all tell us that the GT2 will retain a rear-wheel drive layout. That’s long been one of the key differentiators between it and the Turbo on which it’s based. But what about that other big differentiator, the manual gearbox? In recent times the GT2 has had one and the Turbo hasn’t. Autocar says that the decision on whether to continue to only offer the GT2 with a manual might come down to whether the transmission can handle the rumored 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of the electric motor plus the more than 550 lb-ft (746 Nm) served up by the flat-six.
Porsche will no doubt be hoping the GT2’s new hybrid hardware helps it retake the Nürburgring lap record for production cars from Mercedes, whose AMG One dethroned the old GT2 RS last year with a blazing 6:35:18 lap time. But hybrid tech will also be offered in more mellow versions of the 911 in the next few years, paving the way for a fully electric 911 in the 2030s.