Three Non-hybrid Alternatives To The Upcoming Porsche 911 Turbo S You Can Still Buy New

If you're not a fan of the 992.2Turbo S taking the hybrid route, these sports cars offer thrills and performance, minus the electrification

by Dimitar Angelov on September 4, 2024, 07:00

The Porsche 911 has finally taken the hybrid route for 2025, setting the tone for future sports cars of the German carmaker. The next-generation Porsche 718 goes even further by becoming fully electric, but the company is adamant that the 911 will feature an internal combustion engine for as long as possible, especially on the 911. While Porsche’s T-Hybrid powertrain, effectively, schooled sports car manufacturers on how to properly hybridize a performance car without making it too heavy, many people frown upon the notion of an electrified sports car. With the 992.2 Carrera GTS being able to match and, in some aspects, even surpass the 992.1 Turbo S (starting MSRP of $230,400), the 992.2 Turbo S will also rely on the same hybrid setup, although with around 710 horsepower, instead of the 532 seen in the GTS. That said, if you are looking for something that has the pedigree and performance but doesn’t come with a complex hybrid powerplant, here are three Porsche 911 Turbo S alternatives that will deliver the thrills.

Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06

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The eighth-generation Corvette brought many firsts for the iconic nameplate. Mid-engine Corvette concepts existed for decades, but this only came into fruition in 2020. The iconic American sports car is now closer to something you’d expect to come out from Italy. It also sounds Italian thanks to Chevy’s first V-8 with a flat-plane crankshaft. The engine, albeit smaller than the base C8 Stingray, packs 185 extra ponies, and revs to a Ferrari-like, 8,600 RPM.

A manual transmission is no longer an option, meaning the Tremec eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic is the only available option. It’s only fair since the last 911 Turbo to feature a manual transmission was produced over 15 years ago. The price for this American exotic-ish sports car starts at $111,795. Even with options, the C8 Corvette Z06 will be a lot more affordable than the hybrid 992.2 Turbo S, which is expected to start at over $200,000.

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Feature	Base Trim	Top Trim
Engine	6.2L V8	6.2L V8 (Z06)
Horsepower	490 hp	670 hp
Torque	470 lb-ft	460 lb-ft
0-60 mph	3.7 seconds	2.6 seconds
Top Speed	184 mph	189 mph

Nissan GT-R

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Nissan, as a brand, may not have the same status as Porsche, but the GT-R enjoys a similar motorsport fame as the Porsche 911. While Porsche’s T-Hybrid powertrain packs a serious punch for its horsepower rating, the Nissan GT-R remains relatively analog by modern standards. Of course, a big reason for that is the fact the R35 GT-R came out back in 2007, and no radical changes have been made over its 17-year production cycle. Nissan says 2025 will be the last year of the R35 GT-R, and even then, production will be limited to 1,500 units, 300 of which are going to be the track-focused NISMO.

With so many performance car offerings, it’s easy to forget that the R35 GT-R was specifically designed to take on the Porsche 911 Turbo. For 2024, the Nissan GT-R also offers a limited-slip differential in the front, for even madder cornering capabilities. Gundam robots inspire the GT-R design and it boasts a drag coefficient of 0.26 Cd, which was slightly improved in 2017. Despite the aging platform, the Nissan GT-R still manages to give more expensive supercars a run for their money, for a fraction of the cost, and it does so without any form of electrification. Prices for 2025 haven’t been announced, but for 2024, the R35 Nissan GT-R starts at $121,090. The NISMO GT-R sits at the top of the range, at $221,090.

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Feature	Base Trim	Top Trim
Engine	3.8L twin-turbo V6	3.8L twin-turbo V6 (NISMO)
Horsepower	565 hp	600 hp
Torque	467 lb-ft	481 lb-ft
0-60 mph	3.0 seconds	2.8 seconds
Top Speed	197 mph	200 mph

Ferrari Roma

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The Ferrari Roma may be the second-most affordable offering of the Italian brand, but that doesn’t mean it is lacking in the performance department. Its twin-turbo V-8 features a flat-plane crankshaft, dry-sump lubrication, and revs to 7,500 RPM. The engine is also positioned entirely behind the front axle, giving the Roma a front-mid-engine layout and a 50/50 weight distribution.

The Roma shares a chassis with the Portofino but is meant to be lighter. The optional, lightweight components reduce the curb weight by 216 pounds. The Roma’s FR configuration with a 2+2 cabin makes it one of the most usable, sports cars that come with a prestige badge. The 2024 Ferrari Roma starts at $247,310 while the Roma Spider starts at around $260,000.

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Feature	Base Trim	Top Trim
Engine	3.9L turbocharged V8	3.9L turbocharged V8 (Special Edition)
Horsepower	612 hp	671 hp
Torque	560 lb-ft	577 lb-ft
0-60 mph	3.4 seconds	3.2 seconds
Top Speed	199 mph	205 mph

Dimitar Angelov

Dim has been an automotive journalist since 2014. Although he is interested in all things automotive, his main interests revolve around, Asian, classic, and sports cars. He is particularly fond of Porsche sports cars as well as JDM classics from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and others. Dim operates mainly from Bulgaria, but can, occasionally, be seen attending Europe's most reputable Auto shows, and events. Read full bio