Since the first 356 no.1 of 1948, Porsche vehicles have always won, on road and track, by combining peak performance with optimum efficiency. The goal of going further and faster, but using fewer resources, has driven Porsche to introduce innovative new drivetrain technology over its 75-year history – from powerful, efficient combustion engines, to turbocharging, to plug-in hybrid, and most recently, full-electric.
Now, Porsche offers its customers a choice of drivetrain options to suit every use case, from hot laps on the racetrack to the daily commute. Varying levels of electrification are on offer, to meet the needs of every Porsche driver. Which one is right for you? Let’s have a look at the options and find out.
Long before the Porsche company was founded, Ferdinand Porsche’s first vehicle was an all-electric four-wheeler called the Lohner-Porsche, introduced in 1903. Now, Porsche has come full circle, offering fully-electric power in the Macan SUV and the Taycan sports car, with outputs ranging from 402 hp in the Macan 4 to a whopping 1,019 hp in the Taycan Turbo GT – the most powerful vehicle in the current lineup.
All fully-electric Porsche vehicles share numerous technical advances, including an 800-volt architecture to reduce weight and increase charging speed; the instantaneous traction of twin electric motors and all-wheel drive, and convenient charging ports on both sides of the vehicle.
Drivers of Porsche electric vehicles love that they save hundreds of dollars a month on fuel costs, and that they will never have to stand outside in the freezing cold to pump gas. With a complimentary home charger and installation from Porsche Centre Vaughan, you’ll always leave home with a full tank of electrons in the morning – and get into a car that has been pre-heated to your desired temperature while plugged in.
If you are excited about the benefits of electrification, but regularly cover long distances or tow a trailer, a plug-in hybrid Porsche may be for you. This technology, first introduced on the 918 Spyder hypercar, is now available in the Cayenne and Panamera model lines, with power outputs ranging from 463 hp to 729 hp.
The latest generation of Porsche’s plug-in hybrid technology provides an all-electric range of up to 80 km, meaning you can do most of your daily commuting without using any gasoline, and in blissful silence. Then, when you need to tow your snowmobiles, or tackle the drive to Montreal, a powerful, efficient V6 or V8 turbocharged gasoline engine is on tap as well. In this use case, the electric motors help to provide massive low-end torque and smooth out gearshifts for the most comfortable ride.
For long-range comfort and versatility – as well as “green plate” access to HOV lanes throughout the Greater Toronto Area – Porsche plug-in hybrids offer drivers the best of both worlds.
Proof that electrification can benefit Porsche’s pure sports cars as well as its four-door vehicles exists in the new 911 Carrera GTS models, now powered by a “T-hybrid” flat-six that offers performance almost on par with the 911 Turbo, in your choice of rear- or all-wheel drive, and coupe, cabriolet, and targa body styles.
Instead of using twin turbochargers, the new T-hybrid system in the Carrera GTS models uses a large, single electric turbocharger, which completely eliminates turbo lag while providing a larger power and torque boost than before. Working in concert with a second electric motor integrated into the eight-speed PDK transmission, the GTS’s electrified system delivers instantaneous throttle response at all engine speeds – and, like a Formula 1 car, can recuperate electrical energy under braking to improve efficiency.
Porsche’s new T-hybrid system combines everything we love: a high-revving gasoline engine, the torque of a turbo motor, and the instant response of electricity, all in one compelling, daily-drivable sports car package.