The 911's most significant update in half a decade brings more than just a mild facelift

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You heard that right. This is the brand-new 2025 Porsche 911, the latest iteration of the world's most iconic sports car. And if you find yourself struggling to spot the differences, you'd be forgiven.

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In keeping with the "evolutionary, not revolutionary" principle, the designers at Porsche have opted for a rather conservative approach to the redesign. You might notice the refreshed bumpers or the new HD Matrix design headlights with their 32,000 individually controlled LEDs, but the general appearance of the Carrera remains largely akin to that of its predecessor.

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This theme continues within, with the familiarity of the expansive dashboard and the minuscule gearshift selector. However, a closer look reveals numerous changes, some of which may not be to the liking of all. The rear seats are now a no-cost optional extra, a departure from the classic 2+2 configuration that Porsche has followed for over sixty years. As is the riddance the traditional starter switch and the beloved central tachometer have been replaced by a nondescript start-stop button and a digital gauge cluster. The retention of physical buttons offers a sigh of relief, but these modifications highlight the efforts made to modernize the 911. And they are even more apparent beneath the metal and leather.

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The refreshed 911 Carrera, much to the delight of enthusiasts, retains the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged boxer engine and the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission of the outgoing model. The engine has been lightly modified to deliver more power than its predecessor. Interestingly, the majority of the modifications to the powertrain are reserved for the GTS.

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The 992.2 Carrera GTS replaces the 3.0-litre engine of the old car with a 3.6-litre engine, increasing power to 485 PS. The innovation, however, comes in the form of electrification. Not electrification like in a Prius, but like in F1. The new GTS incorporates a "T-Hybrid" system that adds 50kg (110 lbs) to the weight of the car. And you can't have a manual. But that is the extent of the disadvantages.

The system produces a combined 541 PS in the 911 Carrera GTS

The electric turbocharger of the 911 Carrera GTS

Central to the T-Hybrid system is an electric motor integrated into the turbocharger, positioned between the compressor and turbine wheel. This motor instantaneously accelerates the turbocharger, building boost pressure for more responsive power delivery. This design eliminates the need for a traditional wastegate and enables the use of a single turbocharger instead of two. The powertrain also features an electric motor integrated into the eight-speed PDK, providing up to 150 Nm of extra drive torque and a power boost of up to 40 kW, reducing emmissions in the process. Both motors are connected to a high-voltage battery, which, despite its form being comparable to that of a conventional 12-volt starter battery, stores up to 1.9 kWh of energy.

The 911 Carrera GTS has air inlets in the front bumper that can open and close when needed

This latest addition to the legendary lineage of sports cars signifies a crucial step in the modernization of the 911. In 1997, Porsche introduced the first-ever water-cooled 911, the 996. The 996 proved that regardless of your relentlessness to maintain traditional values, to some extent, you must move with the times.

Porsche has repeatedly declared its intentions to retain the combustion engine in the 911 for as long as possible. The 911 has long stood as a testament to the conservation of purity. As reassuring as that may be, with its digital displays and hybrid system, the 992.2 911 is a sign of the times.

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