Ten months on from its global debut as part of the 992-generation Porsche 911 facelift range, the 911 Carrera GTS is on sale in Thailand, where the first production hybrid 911 road car is priced at 17.4 million baht (RM2.3 million).
The most apparent styling revisions to the 911 GTS include the use of a front fascia that employs five active, vertical cooling air flaps on each side, which are complemented by adaptive diffusers in the front underbody; these open and close depending on the airflow required.
Compared to its pre-facelift iteration, the 992.2 Carrera GTS gets electrification and a bump in engine displacement from 3.0 litres to 3.6 litres from increases in both bore and stroke, to 97 mm and 81 mm, along with VarioCam camshaft adjustment and a valve control using roller rocker arms.
Dubbed T-Hybrid, the electrified components in the 992.2 Carrera GTS powertrain are in its turbocharging as well as on its driveline. The former is a single turbocharger setup replacing the twin turbos of the pre-facelift GTS, and and electric motor located between the compressor and turbine wheels of the turbocharger works to improve throttle response and performance by developing boost when required.
An electrically driven turbocharger means that the GTS now no longer requires a wastegate, says Porsche, and the electric motor in the turbo doubles as a generator, developing up to 11 kW using the exhaust gas stream, similar in a way to the MGU-H system in a modern Formula 1 engine.
Joining the electric turbo is a second, 54 PS/150 Nm electric motor that is integrated into the driveline, within the eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission. Both motors draw from a 400V, 1.9 kWh (gross capacity) battery located in the front of the car in the previous location of the 12-volt battery, which is now a lightweight lithium-ion unit situated behind the rear parcel shelf.
The electric components to the powertrain bring a 50 kg weight penalty, though in return it contributes to a combined output of 540 PS and 610 Nm, or 61 PS and 40 Nm more than the purely combustion-based pre-facelift 3.0L GTS. This enables a 0-100 km/h time of three seconds – 0.3 second quicker than the pre-facelift GTS – and a top speed of 312 km/h.
In terms of chassis, the 992.2 Carrera GTS gets rear wheel steering as standard, with its PDCC anti-roll stabilisation system integrated into high-voltage systems for improved flexibility and precision. Its variable damper-equipped sports suspension brings a 10 mm-lower ride height. Here, the show car is fitted with 20- and 21-inch alloy wheels of a Carrera GTS-specific design.
Inside, the 992-generation 911 goes to fully digital driver instrumentation with the facelift, now using a 12.6-inch curved display offering seven view layouts, including a Classic one that evokes the traditional five-tube design with a central tachometer.
While most regular versions of the 911 have typically offered rear seats, the 992-generation facelift is now a two-seater by default, though the 2+2 layout is an option at no added charge. As before, a range of equipment and upholstery options will be available to the buyer; the GTS as seen here gets the electrically adjustable sports seats, with Race-Tex upholstery featuring across the cabin.
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