Ah, the Porsche 911, the rear-engined wonder from Zuffenhausen, Germany. Everybody that knows anything about cars is keenly aware of this machine’s pedigree and, of course, how engaging and enjoyable the 911 is to pilot. There’s a reason this vehicle has such a cult following around the globe. It should be no surprise, then, that the Carrera GTS variant was named the 2025 World Performance Car by the World Car Awards. This is an undeniably prestigious accolade, though it’s also one that’s entirely predictable.
A Crowded Field, A Well-Deserved Victory
The jury that hands out the World Car Awards is composed of some 96 automotive journalists hailing from a whopping 30 different countries. To take home this coveted award, the 911 Carrera GTS defeated 16 other high-performance vehicles, everything from the
and Aston Martin Vanquish to the exotic
and workaday Ford Mustang.
Helping clinch the win, Timo Resch, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, explained in a media release, “The 911 Carrera GTS, with its performance-focused hybrid powertrain, takes what we have learned in racing and applies it to the road.” The executive acknowledged that the car’s instant torque and lightweight design make this 911 more enjoyable and exciting to drive. “We are grateful to the World Car jury for recognizing the significant engineering and development effort we have taken and are thrilled to receive this award,” Resch added.
Clever Engineering Abounds
Under the hood, the 911 Carrera and Targa GTS models feature a 532-horsepower drivetrain, Porsche’s new T-Hybrid system, which is centered around a 3.6-liter flat-six engine. This setup incorporates a 1.9-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack to store energy that would otherwise be wasted, so it can be reused later, improving efficiency.
Taking advantage of that stored electricity are two electric motors – one fitted between the engine and automatic transmission, and another inside this powertrain’s single turbocharger. The former provides up to 53 horsepower and more than 110 pound-feet of torque, for enhanced performance, plus that unit operates as a generator to recharge the battery pack, but the latter motor is much more intriguing. The dynamo fitted inside the turbo serves two purposes: spinning the compressor up to build boost, so there’s minimal lag, and it functions as a generator, producing almost 15 horsepower worth of electrical energy. The hot exhaust gasses that spin the turbine wheel also turn the generator, which charges the vehicle’s battery. How clever is that? Enhanced performance and improved fuel economy are hard to argue with.
The Porsche 911 is a living legend, and the automaker is constantly working to improve this sports car, to make it more enjoyable and efficient. The Carrera GTS taking home the World Performance Car award is no surprise, but the win is still well-deserved.
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