My first experience with the Porsche T Hybrid (GTS) @PEC Tokyo

First 911 T Hybrid car experience

This happened a while ago, but I had the opportunity to drive the new 992.2 Porsche 911 GTS at the Porsche Experience Center Tokyo (hereinafter referred to as PEC Tokyo), so I'd like to share my experience.

My husband and I went to PEC Tokyo that day and both had the driving experience at the same time.

When was the last time you experienced a driving program at PEC Tokyo?

My memory is hazy, but the last time I experienced2023 Porsche 911 Turbokana??

I visit PEC Tokyo from time to time for various events or to hang out with acquaintances, so it feels like I go there frequently, but in fact I have not had much experience driving there.

Both husband and wife GTS

On this day, my husband and I each had the opportunity to experience driving a Porsche model... well, we're a strange couple after all.

I am the "right-hand drive 992.2GTS" on the left side of the photo below, and my husband is the "left-hand drive 992.2GTS" on the right side.

We each experienced the new GTS. Because we wanted to try out the latest and first 911 T hybrid model.

So, here's my experience with the 911 GTS.

First, I got into the passenger seat and the instructor drove the car (all of the photos posted here were taken with permission).

First, we were given a chance to drive on a handling truck, and what surprised us was that there were many cones set up on the course to guide us to the correct driving line.

I was surprised at first because there weren't any cones like this before, but after driving a few times with them in place, I realized how great it was to have them there.

Even if the instructor verbally tells you the ideal line to take, whether you can actually ride that line depends on your individual ability, and in reality, there may be times when you think, ``That's a little different.''

However, by placing cones densely at points where people are told to "ride here," it forces everyone to follow a specific course, so I thought this was actually the easiest way to learn.

At first glance, some people might think, "This is just a nuisance!", but even for advanced riders, the cones shouldn't be a hindrance, as they will be following this ideal line in the first place. In other words, it's a good system that simply forces riders who aren't good at taking the right line to follow the right line.

At least for me, these cones automatically helped me to take a good driving line, which made it easier to drive, and I learned a lot from them.

After the instructor finished driving, it was finally time for me to take the driver's seat.

First of all, this is my first experience with the new GTS!

Even though it's a 911, you can start the engine with a button. Wow.

Is the T Hybrid supposed to give the impression of naturally aspirated?

I stepped on the accelerator and started the 992.2 GTS timidly. My first impression after starting to drive was... "It's heavy."

Hahaha, once again, this is just my strange opinion, but maybe it's because I usually drive the turbocharged 991.2 base Carrera and am used to it being light to start off? Even when I drive a naturally aspirated Porsche, I get the impression that it's heavy to start off (unless you open the throttle all the way like at the launch), and this time, even though it's a T-Hybrid with a turbo, for some reason I got the impression that it was heavy to start off.

Of course, this "heavy" feeling doesn't mean you're actually feeling the weight of the car, and it doesn't feel "heavy" at all once you start driving and pick up speed. But at low speeds, or rather, when you first accelerate, you can feel the weight, the sense of solidity.

As always, I'm sorry I can't explain it very well (lol).

However, I'm not saying this "heavy" feeling as a negative thing. Why? Why? Even though it's a turbocharged GTS, it felt similar to the first time I drove a so-called naturally aspirated Porsche.

Well, as always, just take it as my weird opinion...

But, could it be that Porsche deliberately "made it look like a naturally aspirated car without showing off its hybrid characteristics"?

Various experiences during the PEC Tokyo run

During this driving program experience, the instructor was able to quickly point out my bad habits, which I was really grateful for.

These habits include "lifting your body off the backrest when turning" or "lifting your heels when braking and accelerating."

I hadn't been conscious of it at all, but after it was pointed out to me, I started driving while paying attention to it, and sure enough, when I was slaloming or turning, I was lifting both sides of my body slightly off the backrest.

I usually take part in driving lessons taught by professional drivers, but although I get to ride alongside a professional while driving, it's rare for a professional to carefully watch me drive from the passenger seat.

However, here at PEC Tokyo, the instructor carefully watches my driving from the passenger seat, and I feel that the insights I gain from this are very valuable and appreciated.

The instructor also gave us a lot of other assignments that day, so it was a lot of fun ^^

For example, one of the tasks was to display the "G-force" when driving on a handling truck and try to drive at a constant G-force level.

The idea was to aim for the G-forces acting on both sides to be less than 1.00, and I realized that just because the G-forces on both sides are high doesn't mean you'll run faster.I also felt that running in a way that keeps the G-forces below 1.0 would be much more stable and ultimately faster.

On this day's challenge, I was able to keep both the left and right speeds at around 0.97, and it was fun to run with such target values in mind.

When I drive on a circuit, I'm always feeling a lot of G-forces from side to side and it's hectic and I get all flustered (lol), so next time I'll try to drive more smoothly and reduce the G-forces from side to side.

By the way, when I applied full acceleration and full braking in an area where I could do so, the vertical G force when I applied full acceleration and full braking was only 1.36, even though I was braking with all my might.

The lateral G forces quickly exceed 1.00 if you drive even a little roughly, but when I thought about how the vertical G forces were only about this strong even with full braking, I was surprised at the magnitude of the lateral G forces.

As for drifting in the drift circle, I was thrilled to finally achieve one of my dreams, which was to drift around in the drift circle at PEC Tokyo.

Thanks to all the practice, I was able to drift perfectly in the drift circle. This was really moving (tears).

The further task given here was, "You can drift around the drift circle or just drive normally, but try to complete one lap as quickly as possible."

At first I wasn't sure whether it would be faster to drift or to just barely avoid drifting, so it was fun trying out different things.

In the end, I completed one lap in about 12.17 seconds, which would have been nice if I could have done it a little faster, but I think it was faster to drive on the edge without drifting.

It was also a fun experience trying to stay steady on a water-soaked drift circle with the PSM (Porsche Stability Management) turned off.

I also tried changing the target point for stopping when braking fully, and gradually increasing the speed of the kick plate.

For some reason, I can do the kick plate (probably because of all the practice I've done), so this time I started at about 35km/h and managed to get up to 47km/h. This is fun ^^

The PEC Tokyo driving program experience was really fun, as they provided tasks suited to each individual's level. I also learned a lot.

Furthermore, due to an accident that occurred on the Aqua Line in the morning, there was a huge traffic jam on the Aqua Line from the morning, and many people who had reservations for our driving program that day were unable to arrive in time.As a result, only three cars were able to participate in the driving program time that I had reserved.

Well, two of the three cars are for my husband and me (lol).

Even though we left home with plenty of time to spare, we ended up joining the program 15 minutes late due to traffic jams.

So, I was able to experience the driving program at PEC Tokyo, which was almost empty, so I was able to do whatever I wanted and enjoy it to the fullest without having to wait, which was great ^^

*Thank goodness it seems those who couldn't make it were rescheduled for after this time!

Lunch at PEC Tokyo Restaurant 906

After completing the driving program, we went straight to PEC Tokyo for lunch.

The Porsche Street sign on display on the second floor of PEC TokyoThe extension of Porsche StreetIt was increasing.

In addition, a new model of the 906 has been installed in front of Restaurant 906.

cool.

At Restaurant 906, we had lunch while looking out the window at the handling trucks, which was also great.

On this day, I had the 906 hamburger, which was also delicious.

I was also very happy to be able to meet Chef Pascal again. His cooking is getting more and more delicious.

The rest is trivial, but the Michelin Bibendum displayed inside the restaurant...

I thought it was cute that Porsche's character, Tom Targa, was competing with him by striking the same pose (lol).

I also checked the growth of the Somei Yoshino cherry trees, which I always check when I go to PEC Tokyo, and was relieved to see them growing lush and green.

I always check on the growth of this Somei-Yoshino cherry tree, wondering if I will still be able to drive a Porsche until the day it grows into a large tree.

I had a lot of fun experiencing the 992.2 T-Hybrid equipped 911 GTS.

I didn't feel any sense of incongruity at all, like "Oh, I see, this feels like a hybrid and is completely different from the 911 I've had so far," and I was able to enjoy driving.

The hidden power of the T-Hybrid

Oh, yes, there was one thing that surprised me.

When I did a launch control start, the speed I reached from the start to the set cones was the same when I accelerated at full throttle without launch control and when I accelerated at full throttle with launch control.

I couldn't help but say to the instructor, "What?! The speed at which I reached the cone was the same when I used launch control and when I just started off at full throttle without launching?!"

This experience made it clear that the latest T-Hybrid is fast enough even without a launch thanks to its cutting-edge powertrain and electronic controls.

It was a really fun experience. I was so impressed with my first experience with the T-Hybrid 911!

Thank you ~ ^^

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