Porsche released the first production turbocharged 911 model in 1975, the 930 Turbo. Since then, the legendary German luxury car manufacturer has been on a non-stop mission of making new technological advancements within the world of turbocharging. While Porsche was not the first to produce a rear-engine turbocharged flat-six production vehicle (that honor goes to Chevrolet), they have been leading the way in new turbocharging innovations for decades.
One of Porsche’s latest breakthroughs is the hybrid turbo system found in the first hybrid 911 model ever, the 2025 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid. While e-turbo technology is not exactly new, Porsche is still finding new ways to find the cutting-edge of hybrid turbo performance with the new twin-turbo-powered 2026 Porsche 911 Turbo S.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including CarBuzz.
Porsche Is Pushing The Boundaries Of Turbocharging
Last month, Porsche debuted the new 2026 Porsche 911 Turbo S, continuing its glorious legacy as one of the fastest turbocharged vehicles ever produced. Indeed, the 2026 911 Turbo S is officially the most powerful production 911 model to date, and much of this newfound performance can be attributed to the new hybrid twin-turbo system. We recently learned some new details about this system when our friends over at CarBuzz discovered a new patent filed with the German Patent and Trademark Office that goes into the exact innovations taking place within the new Turbo S model. Curious what’s going on? Let’s do a quick overview first.
The 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid and Turbo S Break Ground With The New Hybrid System
The Porsche 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid and Porsche 911 Turbo S are now the first Porsche 911 models in existence powered by Porsche’s 400V T-Hybrid system. Porsche states that the new twin “eTurbo” system provides 60 additional horsepower compared to its predecessor and features a lightweight battery with a 1.9-kWh capacity that pushes the 911 Turbo S to a maximum output of 701 horsepower. Yet, how exactly does this twin-turbo setup compare to the single turbo found in the Carrera GTS T-Hybrid? Let’s explain.
Why Twin-Turbo Systems Are Imperfect
The recent patent filed by Porsche provides a diagram in which a flat-six engine with two parallel turbos is displayed. According to Porsche, the technology on display is intended for twin-turbo setups with common intake plenums. A known issue with twin-turbo systems powered by a common intake plenum is that air pressure monitoring is usually determined by a mass air flow sensor (MAF) that measures the combined air readings entering the engine.
However, this process is not as accurate or efficient as it could be because only the end volume of the air pressure mass is understood, but its origins are not. Thus, without knowing exactly how much air is coming from each turbo, you can never be sure about the full airflow efficiency of your system.
Theoretically, parallel twin-turbochargers should both provide the same amount of airflow. Yet, in practice, this isn’t always the case because of the complex airflow dynamics occurring in real time within the engine. A major known inefficiency is the pulses of the intake valves, which, in certain conditions, can cause what is known as ”flow stall”, a counteractive force on the intended direction of airflow. Not only does this issue hamper performance, but it can also cause serious internal damage in extreme cases.
Porsche Making Twin-Turbo Turbocharging Better
So how exactly do you fix the issue of flow stall in a twin-turbo system? Easy! All you need is something exactly like Porsche’s T-Hybrid system, which utilizes electric power to spin up its turbochargers without the need for flowing exhaust gases. This system achieves this by utilizing the MAF sensor to detect events of flow stall, which is determined by the intake pressure level.
When this pressure level drops below a zone determined by a map based on both engine speed and throttle input, it then cross-references the pressure level with the speed sensors present on each of the turbos. If one or both of the turbos have an abnormally reduced speed (determined by a pre-modeled speed range), then it is likely that an event of flow stall has occurred.
At that moment, the Porsche T-Hybrid system will function to counteract the negative airflow by using electric power to spool up the turbos to the correct operating speed. This ensures that the proper amount of airflow continues as is intended and that intake pressure levels remain stabilized. The result? Incredible instant torque delivery that provides nearly the same sensation as that of a fully-electric powerplant.
At any given time, one or neither of the turbos can or will experience flow stall. Thus, each individual turbocharger is only triggered to correct itself when necessary. Yet, Porsche takes this another step further by also utilizing the electric connection between the two eTurbo units. Through the vehicle’s shared electrical system, Porsche ensures that the electrical discharge/recharging levels of each turbo are always equal, another method of ensuring proper balance and monitoring of the flow of intake air.
Porsche’s Recent History Of Turbocharging Innovations
While the German brand’s latest triumph with the new T-Hybrid system found in the Porsche 911 Turbo S and Carrera GTS is amazing, it is only one stepping stone in Porsche’s renowned history in turbocharging development. Back in the 2007 model year, Porsche released the 997.1 Porsche 911 Turbo, the first Porsche utilizing VGT (variable-geometry turbo) technology.
VGT tech allows for a significant reduction in turbo lag and an overall increase in airflow efficiency by utilizing specific guides on the turbo’s turbine wheel that change their angle of attack according to exhaust speed. At low speeds, the guides are closed, allowing for higher airflow speed (like a small turbo) and reduced turbo lag. At high speeds, the guides open up, allowing more efficient exhaust flow, which prevents the parasitic nature of backpressure.
Stepping Boldly Into The Future Of Performance
The success of the VGT technology found in the 997.1 Turbo S led Porsche to make one of its more dramatic moves in recent history with the following 991 generation Porsche 911. In 2015, the 991.2 Porsche 911 was the first 911 generation that offered forced induction as standard for the base model Carrera and Carrera S, as well as the first occurrence of a Porsche 911 base model not featuring a naturally-aspirated engine.
This moment was a significant shift in Porsche’s intentions regarding performance turbocharging. If the base 991.2 Porsche 911 could get a VGT-powered 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six, just about anything would be possible, and the future of their performance innovations was guaranteed to be crazy. Despite the glorious benefits of turbocharging (near peak torque at 1,700 RPM), the Porsche flat-six did not lose its heart and still achieved an impressive 7,500 RPM redline.
The Magic Of Twin-Turbo Porsche 911 Models
Back in 1986, Porsche was looking to redefine what was possible with a performance vehicle, and they wanted to prove it through racing (as they still do now). With a story intertwined in motorsport, the German brand produced the Porsche 959, a homologation special developed specifically for Group B rally racing. This German speed demon was regarded as the most advanced street-legal sports car ever produced at the time, boasting AWD capability and a crazy powerful sequential twin-turbo system, the first of its kind for Porsche.
This 2.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six skyrocketed the Porsche 959 to a top speed of nearly 200 mph, and with a little modification, it could do a lot more than that. This twin-turbo powerplant was directly derived from the Porsche prototype race cars of the same era, as was the sequential system that helped smooth the extreme power delivery and boost lag associated with turbocharged engines of this era. At exactly 4,800 RPM, the big turbo would kick in and take you into a whole different tier of acceleration.
Porsche’s Modern Offering Still Delivers On Every Level
While the sheer magic and allure of the Porsche 959 can never be replicated, few individuals will ever be able to enjoy the exclusive experience behind the wheel of a seven-figure classic Porsche 911. Lucky for you, the most affordable 911 available now, the 2026 Porsche 911 Carrera, is faster off the line than the Porsche 959 and has a relatively similar top speed for a fraction of the price ($132,300 to be exact).
Even better, the T-Hybrid-powered 2026 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS and 911 Turbo S provide an entirely different level of acceleration that the Porsche 959 could never have imagined would be possible. Facts like these display why Porsche has always been a leader in performance innovation, and its latest efforts with the eTurbos are only among the brand’s most recent triumphs.