Porsche Has Been (Sort Of) Building Hybrids For 125 Years. Here's All Of Them

Image: Porsche

On the back of a successful Cayenne S Hybrid introduction, Porsche also launched its first hybrid racing car in 2010 with the GT3 R Hybrid. This incredible car was not built to any specific rulebook, though it raced a few times in special exhibition classes and almost immediately proved its mettle on the track.

Everything from the standard 911 GT3 R was retained, including the 480-horsepower four-liter engine. The car added a pair of 60 kW electric motors to the front axle and a then-revolutionary KERS-style flywheel energy storage unit, supplied by Williams Engineering, in the passenger seat floor, deleting the need for heavy batteries altogether.

With all-wheel drive and a big power boost, the GT3 R was instantly quick on track. The car entered a round of the American Le Mans Series, in which it finished ahead (though unclassified) of all the other GT-class competition. It was also raced at the ‘Ring for the 24-hour event, and finished on the podium. An impressive finishing result for effectively unproven technology.