Luxury Hybrids: Celebrating 110 years after Ferdinand Porsche developed the world’s first car with hybrid drive, Porsche revealed today the 911 GT3 R, a new sports car with an innovative hybrid drive that promises to open a new chapter in the history of the automaker.

The innovative hybrid technology installed in the new Porsche 911 GT3 R has been developed especially for racing (it will unofficially coming on Porsche’s street cars as well) and features an electrical front axle drive with two electric motors developing 60 kW, each supplementing the 480-bhp four-litre flat-six engine.

Also, instead of the usual batteries in a hybrid road car, the vehicle features an electrical flywheel power generator fitted in the interior next to the driver that delivers energy to the electric motors. For those who don’t know, the flywheel generator itself is an electric motor with its rotor spinning at speeds of up to 40,000 rpm, storing energy mechanically as rotation energy.

This generator is charged whenever the driver applies the brakes. Then, whenever necessary, that is when accelerating out of a bend or when overtaking, this energy can be used from the charged flywheel generator.

This additional power is available after each charge process for approximately 6 – 8 seconds. This hybrid system can be used not only for extra power, but also to save fuel. The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will make its official debut at Geneva Motor Show in March and will be tested in the 24 Hours on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring on May 15th and 16th.

Andrew Christian
4wheelsnews
JustLuxe Contributor