Porsche is introducing a battery to its 911 sports car for the first time. The model’s electric motor will work alongside its traditional gasoline engine to enhance performance. The hybrid 911 has undergone extensive testing, including lapping Germany’s challenging Nürburgring test track.

It completed the course 8.7 seconds faster than its conventional predecessor. Porsche has no plans to release a fully electric or plug-in hybrid version of its iconic vehicle. Instead, the company is focusing on the use of green synthetic fuels to promote carbon-neutral driving.

The Porsche 911, first introduced in 1963, is known for its powerful combustion engines and distinctive design. With a current average selling price of €184,000 ($199,000), the 911 remains a major profit centre for parent company Volkswagen Group.

Hybrid sales in the U.S. have more than doubled since 2020 and are projected to increase by 35 percent this year. Hybrid technology is gaining widespread acceptance among sports car manufacturers. Ferrari reported that 46% of its first-quarter shipments consisted of hybrid cars.

Porsche has confirmed that the new 911 will be unveiled on May 28, but further details have not been disclosed. The manufacturer has been offering the electric Taycan since 2019 and recently launched the electric Macan.

Registrations of hybrids across Europe surged by 20 percent in the first quarter compared to a year ago—nearly double the growth rate observed for plug-in hybrids and more than five times the growth rate for pure EVs, according to industry analysts.