Vonnen's 911 Hybrid Offers Power in a Unique Way

Real World Test

Porsche remains dedicated to electric power now and moving forward. But one thing they've refused to mess with, at least for now, is their iconic and beloved 911. A 911 Hybrid is coming eventually, but according to Porsche, not any time soon. So in the meantime, those seeking an electrified 911 must look to a company called Vonnen for a solution. We've covered Vonnen's interesting machine in the past, but now that Autoblog has actually taken one for a test drive, it's certainly worth revisiting to see how the car works in the real world.

Photos: Vonnen

Innovative System

Autoblog was able to drive Vonnen's 2013 911 Carrera 2, which is fitted with the company's Shadow Drive hybrid system. Altogether, the setup adds an impressive 150 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque to the car's traditional flat-six powertrain, which is intact and unmodified. The beauty of this system, of course, is the way it operates. Vonnen's Shadow Drive is able to add power based on throttle position, so it's there when you want it.

Photos: Vonnen

>>Join the conversation about the Vonnen hybrid 911 right here in the Rennlist Forum!

Power on Demand

In Stealth Mode, the system adds torque once you depress the throttle over 30%. Peak power comes on once you cross the 80% threshold. Or, you can opt for Overboost and have the power all the time, which obviously drains the battery much faster. Either way, Autoblog came away seriously impressed with the way the whole thing worked.

Photos: Vonnen

>>Join the conversation about the Vonnen hybrid 911 right here in the Rennlist Forum!

Smooth Delivery

"I punched up Stealth mode for the flowing backroads near my home, and its effects were profound," our reviewer said. "With the flat-six singing, as usual, the added torque made the 911 pull substantially harder at lower revs as if two additional cylinders had been grafted on. I could almost imagine a new torque graph in my head as the system filled-in and bolstered the early rise of the engine’s torque curve. Power delivery remained smooth and coordinated as the PDK transmission shifted up or down."

Photos: Vonnen

>>Join the conversation about the Vonnen hybrid 911 right here in the Rennlist Forum!

Too Aggressive

Impressively, all of the system's vitals are monitored via a smartphone application, including how much power is being used at any given time. As with any battery assist, however, getting too crazy can lead to some problems. "I started getting more aggressive with the throttle and those temperatures began to climb to the point where the system disengaged itself to cool off," Autoblog noted. "It was a sign that my approach to the road had become better-suited to Sport mode. I made the switch by tapping the phone, and the character of the power delivery morphed to favor top-end power."

Photos: Vonnen

>>Join the conversation about the Vonnen hybrid 911 right here in the Rennlist Forum!

Expensive Proposition

Even better, Shadow Drive is essentially a bolt-on system that adds an evenly distributed 170 pounds to the 911's weight. It can be installed on 991, 992, and 997.2-gen 911s, along with both gens of the Boxster and Cayman. The only downside? Vonnen's Shadow Drive costs a whopping $75,000, which is obviously a lot of dough for the power increase.

Photos: Vonnen

>>Join the conversation about the Vonnen hybrid 911 right here in the Rennlist Forum!

Seriously Promising

Regardless, Autoblog obviously came away seriously impressed with this exciting new tech. "I can’t help but think how genius the whole thing is. Shadow Drive represents a profound power boost that won’t stress the engine and reduce its life, and there’s no reason to think it would raise the ire of any smog-control authorities. With respect to both counts, the engine hasn’t been touched at all. It’s an excellent aftermarket performance upgrade concept for the well-heeled Porsche fanatic, but I can see how it’d be suitable for any number of vehicles if they could drive the price down."

Photos: Vonnen

>>Join the conversation about the Vonnen hybrid 911 right here in the Rennlist Forum!

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