Porsche has announced updates to its iconic 911 sports car lineup.

The updates, announced May 28, include the base Carrera cars as well as the Carrera GTS, which is receiving what the automaker calls a super-lightweight performance hybrid setup.

We’ll get to the Carrera performance numbers shortly, but let’s just skip ahead to the Carrera GTS, which is the real attention grabber in the latest 911 update.

The new Carrera GTS is getting a 3.6-litre turbo-hybrid, which Porsche calls T-Hybrid. The outgoing GTS had a 3-litre engine, so even before electrification, the new car comes packing with more engine.

The T-Hybrid system has an electric exhaust gas turbocharger. An integrated electric motor, placed between the compressor and turbine wheel, instantaneously brings the turbocharger up to speed, Porsche says, and immediately builds up boost pressure. The electric motor in the exhaust gas turbocharger also functions as a generator, and generates up to 11 kW of electric power. This energy is extracted from the exhaust gas flow.

“The wastegate-free electric turbocharger allows the use of only one turbocharger instead of the previous two, which ensures a more dynamic and responsive power delivery,” Porsche said in a news release.

Essentially, that means the turbocharger increases engine power, but also helps recharge the electric battery.

A permanent magnet synchronous motor is integrated into the new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Without electrification, the engine power numbers are: 357 kW (485 PS) and 570 Nm of torque. Canadian translation: 478 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque.

Add the hybrid, and the car’s total output is: 398 kW (541 PS) and 610 Nm. In Canadian speak, that’s 533 hp and 449.9 lb.-ft. of torque.

Porsche says the car will sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 3 seconds flat and has a top speed of 312 km/h.

“We developed and tested a wide variety of ideas and approaches to arrive at the hybrid system that would suit the 911 perfectly. The result is a unique drive that fits into the overall concept of the 911 and significantly enhances its performance,” said Frank Moser, vice president of 911 and 718 model lines, in a news release.

The standard Carrera uses a 3-litre twin-turbo boxer engine. Those turbochargers are new to the Carrera and were previously used in the outgoing GTS models. Porsche says the revamped engine has more power and reduces emissions compared to its predecessor.

Engine output is: 290 kW (394 PS), along with maximum torque of 450 Nm. In Canadian numbers, that equals: 388 hp and 331.9 lb.-ft. of torque.

Porsche says the new Carrera Coupe will do zero to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds (or 3.9 seconds with the Sport Chrono package) and has a top speed of 294 km/h.

Porsche says it has streamlined the exterior design of the 911 with updates meant to improve aerodynamics and performance.

The GTS has five vertically arranged active cooling air flaps at the front and a hidden flap on each side. There are also adaptive front diffusers in the underbody, which are controlled together with the cooling air flaps. With the use of sensors, these elements direct airflow as required.

There are various nifty light updates, including an available HD matrix LED function with more than 32,000 light points that can illuminate the road up to 600 metres, as well as functions that include driving-mode-dependent dynamic cornering light, lane brightening, construction site and bottleneck light and a non-dazzling high beam that is precise to the pixel.

The car has a fully digital instrument cluster, which is a first for the 911.

The 911 Carrera can be had as a Coupe or Cabriolet with rear-wheel drive. The Carrera GTS is additionally available with all-wheel drive and with the Targa body.

The Carrera and Carrera GTS are available to order now.

The Carrera has a starting Canadian price of $135,600, not including fees, levies and taxes. The Carrera GTS has a starting Canadian price of $182,900 before fees, levies and taxes.