About ten years ago, in 2010, Porsche’s revolutionary turbocharged RennSport model initially appeared in showrooms. Naturally, the 993-generation GT2 was the first turbocharged vehicle produced by the GT division. This was followed by the all-conquering, widow-making 996-generation GT2. Porsche had already achieved global recognition for its huge power delivery and the terrifying nature of these vehicles by the time the 997 GT2 RS was released as somewhat of a send-off for the Mezger-developed turbocharged engine. The GT2 RS increased its race car sensitivity and added a PDK transmission for the 991 generation. These Porsches, especially the early models, were unreliable, and you couldn’t make the most of them unless you were an experienced racer. Renn does, after all, stand for racing.

You may also look over to the naturally-aspirated area of the GT division garage and see what the GT3 RS has been up to. The most uncompromising GT3 RS you can buy is the latest 992-generation model. Although it doesn’t have significantly more power than the 991-generation vehicle it replaces, it nonetheless managed to shave several seconds off of its lap time at the Nurburgring. All of this was accomplished using a genuine motorsport approach to the development of the suspension and aerodynamics, adding a ton of small mechanical and electronic tweaks to fine-tune the car for the intended use. You can expect that the following GT2 RS will bring real racing technology to the street in a similar manner.

Since the GT2 RS at least, Porsche has been experimenting with hybrid racing vehicles. In actuality, the GT2 RS wasn’t even mentioned until a secret dealer meeting in May 2010, while the 997 GT3 R Hybrid made its debut in February 2010. In the preceding years, Porsche has developed and raced not only the 919 Hybrid prototypes to multiple Le Mans wins and championships, but it has gone racing (and won) with full-electric cars in Formula E, and recently debuted the hybrid-driven 963 prototype for another run at the Le Man’s regulations. Electrified racing endeavors are almost as closely linked to Porsche’s history as any other single racing cars have ever been, thanks to over fifteen years of hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) racing research. Furthermore, it has been nearly a decade since Porsche unveiled the 918 Spyder, its hybrid hypercar. It’s time to apply that hybrid racing innovation to the 911, the brand’s most recognizable sports car.

Porsche made sure everyone was aware that the 992’s chassis was built with extra space for hybrid gadgets when it was being developed. The manufacturer has not yet delivered on that specific Checkov rifle. Autocar magazine claims that is going to alter. It is expected that the upcoming GT2 RS, which is rumored to be the most potent and quick-accelerating Porsche 911 ever made, would bring that hybrid development to the road. The new hybrid drivetrain is aiming for “more than 700 horsepower” and most certainly won’t cost anything like the 918’s exorbitant price tag, even though it may not produce the full 875 horsepower that the 918 Spyder was capable of. The new vehicle seeks to displace the one it replaces, and Porsche uses itself as a yardstick. 2017 991 GT2 RS achieved a remarkable 0-60 time of 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 211 mph. The new 992 hybrid version will have to discover a way to not just match but surpass those numbers, and it probably needs to figure out how to break a previous lap record as well. I’m not sure how Porsche will be able to get all that power down to the ground, but if anyone can do it, it’s Porsche.