10 Hybrid High-Performance Cars on Offer in 2024
Hybrids used to be considered a bit boring due to their focus on efficiency, but that’s not always the case these days. With the automotive industry moving towards complete electrification, enthusiasts have collectively been wondering how it might affect some iconic performance cars, but the world’s sports car makers have successfully been using hybrid powertrains to boost output figures to new highs. Here are 10 hybrid high-performance cars that showcase tremendous capabilities.
Lexus LC500h
Kicking things off is the Lexus LC500, a two-door grand tourer that aims to blend performance with luxury. Although the LC500 comes equipped with a V8 as standard, there is also a V6 hybrid setup for those who want to balance performance and fuel economy. The 3.5-litre V6 engine paired with a 1.1-kWh lithium-ion battery powers the dual electric motors to produce a total system output of 354 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. This setup is paired with a unique continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that emulates the action of a 10-speed automatic.
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
For the first time in its 60 years of production, the 911 has now been equipped with hybrid tech. Unveiled in May 2024, the new 911 Carrera GTS features Porsche’s so-called T-hybrid system, which involves a 1.9-kWh battery pack and an electric motor that’s located between the turbocharger's compressor and turbine wheels to provide 11 kW of energy.
The second electric motor, which is paired to the eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission, adds another 54 hp and 110 lb-ft in conjunction with the 3.6L inline six-cylinder engine. Overall, total system output is rated at 532 hp and 449 lb-ft, which is 59 hp more than the previous GTS. This hybrid system is designed purely with performance in mind, as it lacks plug-in capability. The Carrera GTS can achieve 100 km/h from a standstill in a claimed 3.0 seconds.
Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
Chevrolet shook things up by introducing the first mid-engine Corvette four years ago and last year it did again by introducing the hybrid version of the iconic sports car. The Corvette E-Ray uses the same 6.2L V8 engine from the standard car paired to a 1.9-kWh battery pack that powers the electric motor mounted on the front axle.
This allows for a total system output of 655 hp and while the engine provides 470 lb‑ft of torque to the rear wheels, the electric motor adds an additional 125 lb‑ft to the front wheels, making it all-wheel drive for the first time in its history. The Corvette E-Ray can reach100 km/h from a standstill in a claimed 2.5 seconds. It might not be a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), but the Corvette E-Ray has a Stealth driving mode that allows it to be in electric-only mode for about 6 km at speeds of up to 72 km/h.
Mercedes-AMG C63 E Performance
As the performance arm of Mercedes, AMG has always focused on thrilling drivers and it continued this trend by upgrading the C63 S with F1-derived E Performance hybrid technology. Unlike its predecessor, which used a V8 engine, the new C63 S E Performance now utilizes a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. This works in tandem with a 6.1-kWh battery pack that powers the 201-hp rear axle-mounted electric motor, the latter of which is mated to a two-speed transmission.
The total system output from this powertrain is rated at a whopping 671 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque, which is 168 hp more than the previous-gen C63 S. The sedan can accelerate to 100 km/h from zero in a claimed 3.4 seconds and its driving range in electric-only mode is 11 km.
Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid
Porsche introduced the third-gen Panamera in November of last year with an all-new suspension system and revised hybrid powertrains. The most powerful powertrain is the Turbo E-Hybrid variant with a 512-hp 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 engine mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a 25.9-kWh battery pack, both of which power the 187-hp electric motor. This results in a total system output rated at an impressive 671 hp and 686 lb-ft of torque, enabling the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid to accelerate to 100 km/h in a claimed 3.2 seconds. Porsche says that as a PHEV, the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid has a combined European-rated electric-only driving range of 91 km. Alongside the Panamera, both the Cayenne Coupe and SUV also get this E-Hybrid technology.
BMW M5
The iconic sports sedan that kickstarted the M sub-brand from BMW has been hybridized for the first time this year. The new G90 M5 gets the same powertrain setup as the XM SUV, a 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 that’s paired to a 194-hp electric motor and a 14.8-kWh battery pack. The total rated output from this setup is a mighty 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque, allowing the M5 to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. As it is a PHEV, the claimed electric-only driving range of the new M5 is 40 km.
Lamborghini Urus SE
Following the launch of its first plug-in hybrid flagship supercar, the Revuelto, Lamborghini introduced its second electrified vehicle, the Urus SE, in April of this year. The Urus SE builds upon the standard car’s performance and capabilities in almost every way thanks to the new 25-kWh lithium-ion battery that has been combined with the 611-hp 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 engine. Total output is 789 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque, allowing the SUV to reach 100 km/h from a standstill in a claimed 3.4 seconds. The added bonus of this hybrid setup in the Urus SE is a 60-km electric-only range.
Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance
This isn’t the first time that Mercedes-AMG has tinkered around with the S-Class to boost its performance significantly while retaining its luxury credentials. What’s different this time is the E Performance hybrid technology that involves a 13.1-kWh battery pack and a rear-mounted electric motor. The 603-hp 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission, while the 188-hp electric motor is managed by a two-speed transmission. Combined, system output is a tremendous 791 hp and 1,055 lb-ft of torque, which allows the S63 E Performance to reach 100 km/h from a standstill in a claimed 3.3 seconds. Being a PHEV, the S63 E Performance has a claimed electric-only driving range of 33 km.
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe/ 4-Door Coupe
In a similar vein to both the S63 and the C63 S E Performance, both the two-door and four-door AMG GT 63 S have been given the hybrid treatment. Both versions now come equipped with a 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 engine that’s paired to a 6.1-kWh battery pack as part of the E Performance package.
These elements work together to power the 204-hp rear axle-mounted electric motor, resulting in a total system output of a whopping 831 hp and 1,084 lb-ft of torque in the four-door version and 805 hp and 1,047 lb-ft in the two-door version. Despite being PHEVs, the brand has yet to announce the claimed electric-only ranges, but their zero-to-100 km/h acceleration times are certainly impressive with the two-door and four-door versions getting it done in 2.8 and 2.9 seconds, respectively.
Ferrari 296 GTB
Ferrari was one of the first brands to showcase the performance capabilities of a hybrid powertrain when it introduced the exclusive LaFerrari in 2018. This technology has now made its way into one of its entry-level sports cars, the 296 GTB. It’s equipped with a 654-hp 2.9L twin-turbocharged V6 that’s paired to a 7.45-kWh battery pack, which powers the 165-hp electric motor. The total combined output is rated at a mighty 830 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque, all of which is sent to the rear wheels. Despite this, the 296 GTB is capable of accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in a claimed 2.9 seconds and as it’s a PHEV, it can be driven in electric-only mode for 25 km.
