The Porsche 911 Turbo S redraws the limits

If there's one car that's been resistant to change, stubborn even, it's the Porsche 911. Throughout its more than 60-year history, its basic formula hasn't changed.

- By ULYSSES ANG

Throughout the generations, it's a careful evolution of the same basic formula-the engine is mounted at the back and power being sent to the ground (typically) through the rear wheels. However, every so often, the formula is tweaked a bit more be through the introduction of all-wheel drive, turbocharging, and the water-cooled engine. With the latest 992.2 generation, electrification can now be added into the formula.

Porsche has been reluctant in adding electron motivation into its flagship sportscar, and rightfully so. Hybrids get flak for being heavy, clunky, and cumbersome adjectives you don't associate with high-performance vehicles. Still, lessons learned from the racetrack, through Le Mans and Formula E, and on the road with the Taycan EV has helped Porsche develop an innovative solution: the T-Hybrid system. And after rolling it out in the 911 Carrera GTS, Porsche honed it even further. From a technological breakthrough, it's now the foundation of high-performance.

Talking about numbers, the latest 911 Turbo S is the most powerful series-production 911 ever with 711 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque. What the numbers fail to convey is that these peak outputs occur sooner and stay longer. The secret here is the eTurbo which uses electric motors to drive the turbo's turbine. This means peak pressure is available regardless of engine load and is available within a very short time frame. And here, it's got two of them. Even more ingenious is that excess boost pressure isn't blown off, but is used to generate power that can be deployed by the electric motor (housed in the transmission) or stored in a lightweight high-voltage battery.