The carmaker's low-voume 918 Spyder opened for orders in March 2011, which uses a mid-mounted 500bhp V8 engine assisted by two electric motors with a total of 218bhp. In its annual report it said it was working ‘flat out’ to bring the car into series production ahead of its first deliveries.

The 918 uses technology developed using the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, tested at a recent GT race at the Laguna Seca Raceway in the United States. This features a 465bhp flat six boxer engine powering the rear wheels and an electric front axle with two 100bhp motors, allowing it to complete the event with three fuel stops, compared to five for rivals.

Wolfgang Hatz, executive vice president for research and development at Porsche, said this wasn’t an indication of plans for the new 911: ‘For the time being, we have decided against a hybrid variant, primarily on the grounds of weight,’ he said.

‘But let’s put it like this: never say never. This necessary know-how exists within the company, as we have demonstrated with the hybrid versions of the Cayenne and Panamera. And we have the technical prerequisites up our sleeve in the platform.’