2025 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS: When a 911 Met a Prius

The 911 nameplate has always been a staple among many enthusiasts and petrol heads. From the track-ready GT3 to the Powerful Turbo, to the iconic Sport Classic, the GTS 911 lineup has been known to be the sweet spot for the 911 model, bringing bits and goodies from higher-end and more desirable models in a cheaper package. However, new for the 2025 model year and the 992.2 refresh, the GTS model gets a hybrid powertrain, begging the question: Did Porsche make the 911 into a sleek, upscale Prius?

Absolutely not! The new GTS maintains exceptional functionality in terms of performance, yet the addition of the hybrid powertrain elevates the driving experience to exhilarating heights. The GTS ditches its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline 6 for a larger 3.6 liter with an electrically enhanced turbocharger which is of aid to control emissions as well as performance. The new engine gets additional assistance from a powerful electric motor that is interestingly tucked between the transmission and engine, still embracing the character of its rear engine heritage from decades past. Sadly though, there is no option of a manual for the GTS lineup anymore as it only comes with a PDK dual-clutch automatic. With the electrification of the turbocharger as well as the electric motor, Porsche’s T-Hybrid system, Turbo Hybrid, distinguishes itself from other Porsches hybridized and electrification of the fleet of Porsche vehicles. Yet, the 911 has always been a true simple enthusiast, especially the GTS lineup. Surely, enthusiasts aren’t keen on cruising a German iteration of the Prius.

But it’s not a German Prius’. First off it is way more powerful than a Prius while producing a blistering 541 horsepower, which is up from the previous model’s 473. However, Porsche’s engineers applied the engine to be engaging throughout the RPM range by balancing the ratio of fuel and air through the engine fostering an even faster throttle response, improving the 0-60 time for the all-wheel drive model from just over 3 seconds to now 3 seconds flat. The electric motor and turbo also help operate the new anti-rollbar system, improving the car’s cornering performance mid-corner alongside its four-wheel steering system from the previous model as standard equipment. Prices for the Carrera GTS commence at around $165,000 and escalate to $186,000 for the Targa GTS with base options fitted as standard. One might think all these new hybrids and electrical components would increase the weight of the car drastically, however, Porsche was mindful of the addition of these systems, resulting in only a hundred-pound weight gain. It’s also worth the gain due to the increases in performance and handling, proven by the blistering fast time of the Nürburgring circuit of 7 minutes and 16 seconds, a full four seconds quicker than the outgoing 650 horsepower 911 Turbo. So, in short, the new enhancements remain faithful to the core principles of the GTS lineage.

The redesign of the 992.2 GTS is modest, focused on making room the hybrid powertrain’s electronics, especially with repackaging the larger engine. To add more flair to the iconic 911 body style that has been a staple for generations, Porsche added new LED Matrix headlights as well as a redesigned bumper with active airflow that can assist the car with cooling and aerodynamics. The new redesign also gets updated wheel options ranging from 19 inches to 21 inches. The new refresh also gets new vents, rear taillights, and center-mounted exhausts on the exterior. The interior shares components with other 911, while adding a push-to-start button as well as a digital gauge cluster, going away from the analog setup from generations past. 

The GTS will be the introduction of the 911s of the future, embracing the hybridization of the entire 911 lineup. We should eventually see this hybridization enter the higher-end 911 models and eventually trickle down into a wider range of base models. Enthusiasts may not be too thrilled about the hybridization; however, the addition could be a cornerstone to help the distinguished 911 genes live on while still embracing an engaging drivetrain and classic rear engine platform.