Does the Porsche 992.2 Hybrid Engine Really Sound That Bad?

The 992.2 has a menacing sound profile despite stricter regulations

As a fan of the Porsche 911, I find myself frantically hoping that Porsche will not butcher its iconic sports car as the model embraces electrification. So far, the German automaker has managed to pull it off. The same goes for the 992.2 GTS soundtrack. Despite the updated 992 featuring an extra catalytic converter, making it quieter, compared to the 3.0-liter unit, used in all 992.1 Carrera models (and the 992.2 Carrera), the extra 0.6 liters of displacement translate into a deeper growl.

The 992.2 GTS comes, standard, with an electronically-actuated sports exhaust. This means that depending on which drive mode you’ve selected, you can have a more sedated note for long cruises or a deeper growl. The big single turbocharger (as opposed to the parallel twin-turbos on the 992.1 GTS) also translates into more pronounced turbo noises, which is always a bonus.

2025 Porsche 911 discussions on Reddit are fairly divisive, but 992.2 still gets a lot of heat

While comparing the soundtrack of the 992.1 and 992.2 T-hybrid (which I know is a subjective matter) and following discussions on Reddit, I was hoping that someone from Porsche is, actually, spending time there. While some are in favor of the "deeper growl” and pronounced turbocharger noise, others describe the T-Hybrid powertrain’s soundtrack as "less exotic” and "synthetic".

Maybe because some of it is pumped through the speakers? Remember how the 3.0-liter, twin-turbo flat-six in the 992.1 Carrera models changes notes, especially right before the redline? The 992.2 doesn’t have that. As the revs climb, it’s just more of the same. Of course, that’s nothing an aftermarket exhaust can’t fix, and companies like Akrapoviç, Dundon Motorsport, and Techart to name a few, have got your back.

Can clever engineering make up for the "less exotic” soundtrack?

The 992.2 isn’t just about the T-Hybrid powertrain, though. You also get a revised PDK transmission for even quicker shifts and the excess exhaust gasses are transformed into energy that can be used to power the e-motor. Despite the larger displacement, the 3.6-liter engine in the 992.2 also features a lower center of gravity due to not having as much periphery on top.

Then, there is the 2.9-second 0 to 60 mph dash. This number is claimed by Porsche who are known to be conservative, so I expect it could be even quicker. We already know that the 992.2 GTS is 8.7 seconds quicker around the Nordschleife than the 992.1 GTS, but even more impressive, is the fact that it is almost 0.4 seconds quicker around "the Ring” than the 992.1 Turbo S.

At this point, I have to assume some 911 enthusiasts still hold prejudice against Porsche’s T-hybrid powertrain. Some Reddit users even refer to it as “an abomination”. Despite the hybrid system adding only 110 pounds to the 992’s weight, it will never be among the most lightweight, modern-day Porsches, but certainly better than what they did with the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid. At the same time, the hybrid powertrain gives the mid-range 911 about as much potency as a 992 Turbo.

Porsche purists are, typically, searching for a more visceral driving experience, even if it means a slower car. It is why the manual transmission is so popular despite the PDK being a no-cost option and Porsche even introduced the 992.2 Carrera T as a manual-only model along with a manual option for the 992.2 GT3. The ever-stricter regulations, especially in Europe, have automakers scrambling for clever solutions, regarding noise and emissions levels, hence the first-ever hybrid Porsche 911. More performance-oriented 911 versions like the next-gen GT3 could also be affected as Euro 7 emissions regulations kick in.