The latest Porsche 911 Turbo S Hybrid arrived with a lofty mission: defend the Turbo S legacy as one of the quickest performance cars ever tested on carwow‘s drag strip. Standing in its way was the formidable Ferrari 296 GTB, a hybrid supercar that combines greater power with a significantly lighter chassis. To determine which engineering philosophy reigns supreme, Mat Watson subjected both machines to standing quarter-mile drag races, multiple rolling acceleration tests, and a high-speed braking challenge.
The numbers immediately suggest a close contest. The Porsche relies on a newly developed 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six paired with hybrid assistance, producing 711 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque. Power is delivered to all four wheels through Porsche’s renowned all-wheel-drive system, although the electrified drivetrain pushes curb weight to 1,740 kilograms.
Ferrari counters with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 and electric motor generating a combined 830 horsepower and 740 Nm. Despite enjoying a 119-horsepower advantage and weighing just 1,558 kilograms, the 296 GTB sends all of its output exclusively to the rear wheels, making traction its biggest challenge during standing starts.
That difference became apparent the moment the lights went out. The Porsche consistently launched harder, maximizing grip through its AWD system to establish an early lead. While the Ferrari repeatedly clawed back ground at higher speeds thanks to its superior power-to-weight ratio, the quarter-mile simply wasn’t long enough to overcome the Turbo S’s explosive initial acceleration.
The rolling races painted a different picture. From 50 mph, the Ferrari surged ahead with remarkable urgency, leaving the Porsche struggling to match its relentless top-end acceleration. Even after switching both cars to manual gear selection, the 296 maintained a commanding advantage, highlighting the efficiency of Ferrari’s hybrid powertrain once traction limitations were removed. A first-gear rolling race from 10 mph briefly showcased the Porsche’s instant low-speed response, but the Ferrari again reeled it in before the finish.
Braking performance proved almost inseparable, with both supercars stopping in remarkably short distances. However, when the decisive drag races resumed, the Porsche’s launch consistency sealed the victory. The new 911 Turbo S Hybrid completed the standing quarter mile in 10.0 seconds, narrowly defeating the Ferrari 296 GTB’s 10.2-second pass. Despite Ferrari dominating the rolling acceleration tests, Porsche’s unmatched traction and repeatable launches secured its place as Carwow’s latest drag strip champion.
Source: carwow
