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Porsche planning Flat Four Turbo for 981 This Year

12K views 79 replies 45 participants last post by  stratman  
#1 ·
#6 ·
+1

I think so too...
It's a way of fitting a more powerful 981 into the line-up without having it compete directly with the 911, it will rather be seen as a "mini GT3"..

Two distinct lines of cars:

- Multi-purpose road sport cars: 6 cyl 981 and 991
- Extreme road cars with track potential: 4 cyl turbo 981 and 991 GT3
 
#8 · (Edited)
That's one source and only one article. When more come out I'll buy in to it. These type things have been said off and on for the last 2 years.
I have no regrets having my 6 cylinder 315HP Boxster.

Sports cars are kinda like computers.. If you wait to buy the next one with a faster processor, you'll never own one.

Live in the now and buy what you like now. To many things are going to change in the next year or 2 years with Porsche. New ownership means new marketing, new powerplants, new designs, and new models. This can be good or bad...
 
#9 ·
That's one source and only one article. When more come out I'll buy in to it. These type things have been said off and on for the last 2 years.
I have no regrets having my 6 cylinder 315HP Boxster.
I actually prefer the 6 cylinder solution and the MT, if they do remove that as an option I may spend my money else where...;)
 
#10 ·
Porsche does make 4,6,8 and 10 cylinder along its long history but the flat-6 is the most celebrated and synonym with Porsche; similar to the straight-6 in BMW. Be happy that you own one one of these great flat-6. (lighter and more powerful engine does sound tempting though :hilarious:)
 
#11 ·
I'm curious, should this actually come to fruition, where the meat of that powerband would be. I don't mind a bit the powerband of the current flat-6 being above 4000rpm because of the naturally aspirated response even at lower engine speeds. But if that's where the turbo's powerband also resides, that would certainly affect those daily drivers among us... most likely wouldn't be the smoothest experience. But then again, maybe this car with this engine isn't be geared for the DD crowd as a result.

BMW's turbo I6 that I've driven (135is) is phenomenal because you have peak torque between essentially 1500-5000rpm, with max HP around 5800 and redline above 6 I believe... if that is the kind of powerband and delivery that a Porsche/VW turbo-4 can muster in a 981, that seems like a no-brainer purchase!
 
#14 ·
As a comparison, a Subaru STI "only" produces 290 lb-ft of peak torque @ 14.7 psi with 8.2:1 static CR; this article suggests that the same displacement produces 360 lb-ft, about 24% more.

While it is within the realm of possibility, other questions remain. e.g. will it have an intercooler, and would the placement affect the handling of the car? Would the throttle response suffer from it?
 
#15 ·
That is the engine I want in my next Cayman. Better MPG and way more power than my '09 Base.

I know this is all just rumors right now but I think it likely it will become reality. Porsche needs to increase its fleet MPG value and a 4-cyl turbo is just the way to do it without sacrificing HP or torque.

Nothing wrong with a flat 4 engine. It's how Porsche got its start. For the first 15 years all Porsches had a flat 4.

Barry


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
#16 ·
2.5 liter producing 350HP and 360 ft. lbs. torque? Sounds like the perfect engine in the Boxster. But you know Porsche is going to charge big for it!
 
#17 ·
I think we all saw this coming. And I fully expect this will be announced this fall. They have to get MPG up and still be able to produce high hp cars. The electric hybrids will follow. Will the hard core Porsche guys bite, hard to say, but there is a crowed out there that grew up with turbo cars that have no problem with this.
 
#19 ·
One of the reasons that I chose the Boxster was specifically because it wasn't turbo'd.

I don't care whether a turbo 4 has more power, torque or better fuel economy, there is something about the smoothness of a naturally aspirated engine that is just so much nicer to live with.
 
#23 · (Edited)
CAFE standards won't be why this engine would be produced, VW has enough low mileage engines in it's fleet, remember it owns Porsche. Another reason I highly doubt it will be built is economics, new engine design is not cheap, it's not just taking an existing engine lopping off two cylinders and making it work. As it is right now Porsche has been on a tear consolidating manufacturing, it's phasing out the MT with the PDK, which has managed to be on every platform, the new race cars will even have it. The new GT3 engine is based on the 9A1, just like the 991 and the 981, three sports platforms and one racing platform, the V6 is outsourced, the V8 is home bred, so why introduce a new expense in R&D when the flat sixes provide, economically, the solution. It's not MPGs either, a turbo flat four producing 350 horses isn't going to be significantly much more fuel efficient than the standard engines. The 981 series cars are already being delivered, now they're going to put four bangers? Also, if you're going to put them just on the CS or the BS, how do you justify running two engine lines for such LOW production cars? The 9A1 is used on all 9 series cars, now it would be a totally different engine. I just don't see it. Unless they source it from Subaru, I don't think Porsche will sink millions upon millions in R&D'ing an unneeded engine. I can't think of a logical reason for this engine to be produced.
 
#24 ·
CAFE standards won't be why this engine would be produced, VW has enough low mileage engines in it's fleet, remember it owns Porsche. Another reason I highly doubt it will be built is economics, new engine design is not cheap, it's not just taking an existing engine lopping off two cylinders and making it work. As it is right now Porsche has been on a tear consolidating manufacturing, it's phasing out the MT with the PDK, which has managed to be on every platform, the new race cars will even have it. The new GT3 engine is based on the 9A1, just like the 991 and the 981, three sports platforms and one racing platform, the V6 is outsourced, the V8 is home bred, so why introduce a new expense in R&D when the flat sixes provide, ecomically, the solution. It's not MPGs either, a turbo flat four producing 350 horses isn't going to be significantly much more fuel efficient than the standard engines. The 981 series cars are already being delivered, now they're going to put four bangers? Also, if you're going to put them just on the CS or the BS, how do you justify running two engine lines for such LOW production cars? The 9A1 is used on all 9 series cars, now it would be a totally diffent engine. I just don't see it. Unless they source it from Subaru, I don't think Porsche will sink millions upon millions in R&D'ing an unneeded engine. I can't think of a logical reason for this engine to be produced.
I see your points. I didn't realize the CAFE thing wouldn't matter. Interesting analysis.
 
#25 ·
A lot of folks just don't realize that Porsche is now a division within a conglomerate, such as Buick, Cadillac, Mini..........I tend to look at things from a bottom line perspective, it just doesn't make sense now. Remember there's a LeMans effort in full swing, the new GT3, the new GT3RSR, there's the money that went into the new 981 platform, the new 991. Notice that all except the LeMans prototype have the 9A1, they're all offered with PDK (meaning, right now the MT6 is being phased out) they're streamlining their product line and manufacturing, where's the logic in adding an engine and all that it requires, when you're in the middle of consolidating?
 
#47 ·
where's the logic in adding an engine and all that it requires, when you're in the middle of consolidating?
Hello stratman & al;

Having been thru A LOT of acquisitions (Super Computer Field), it is possible that being allowed to create this new engine was a bargaining point.

If the engine designers are anywhere nearly as radical as I am, they would have pushed the issue with an ultimatum.


Case In Point:

I worked for a Super Computer company. When the company tanked, and they were in negotiation to sell it, the only thing worth selling was the field service division - which consisted of about 20 Field Engineers. The company had service contracts with their customers and those service contracts were pulling in quite a few million dollars a year.

The head engineer called each one of us and made the following proposal: "We tell them that we want 6-month's salary put into our 401k - or we all quit. Are you with me?"

Everyone got on board.

The engineer went into the CEO's office the next day:

CEO: What's up?
Head Engineer (HE): You're getting a great severance package - and we thought we should get a piece of the action too: We want 6-mo salary put into our 401k's - or we all quit.

CEO: [after he stops laughing]. That was great! Tell me 'nother one.
HE: Oh - OK - how 'bout this: if we all quit, you've got nothing to sell the buyer - and you'll lose your golden parachute!

CEO: [acts like he's laughing - but is about to wet his pants] You can't do that!
HE: Sure we can - we're not under any contract - and I have all the FEs signed-up.

CEO: But the negotiations are about to close.
HE: Then I suggest you call the buyer REAL FAST and let him know before it closes - because now that YOU KNOW what we're going to do, you're gonna have to tell them or they'll sue you into the next dimension!
HE: Let me know when you make a decision. Oh - and by-the-way, that is what we call "CHECKMATE". Bye...

We won.

regards,
tony.podrasky
 
#29 ·
Most consumers would see this as step backward, so from a marketing standpoint it doesn't make sense either, though Porsche has had four bangers before, they were never in their top cars, if you we're to tell me the Boxster/Cayman started as four cylinder cars, then yes it makes sense. Why introduce more expense when the 9A1 is a relative new design, which the Motorsport division is implementing into full bore racing cars, not just street/track.

This four cylinder turbo rumor was begun when Matthias Muller would swear up and down they were going to build the 550. How many times did he change his statement regarding the 550?
 
#30 ·
Hmmm guess I'll have to move up my wife's plan of turning in her X3 and taking my 981S and me getting a new one. I had the BMW 335 that actually had the twin turbos not the twin spool single turbo and I had it tuned to over 400HP and still I'd take the Boxster S engine any day I love the feeling of the NA 6 in my Boxster the engine is just silky smooth.
 
#36 ·
Porsche's four-cylinder "not before 2016" | Autocar

Porsche is developing a four-cylinder engine, expected to power facelifted versions of the Boxster and Cayman


Rumours suggesting Porsche is set to reveal its own four-cylinder boxer engine at the Frankfurt motor show in September have been emphatically denied by officials from the German car maker, who suggest such a move is at least three years away.

"It is no real secret that we are working on a four-cylinder engine. But it is still in an early development phase. On current planning, it will be another three years at least before we will be ready to reveal anything official on this subject," a Zuffenhausen-based Porsche official with knowledge of future product activities revealed to Autocar, adding, "It is not due before 2016."

The new turbocharged four-cylinder direct-injection boxer engine is set to share its architecture with the larger six-cylinder unit already in use in the Boxster, Cayman and 911.

Its first appearance is expected to be in a facelifted version of the third-generation Boxster and recently launched second-generation Cayman – both due to head into showrooms in 2016.

However, in-line four-cylinder engines will appear in Porsche models before 2016. Volkswagen-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol and common rail diesel units will feature in the upcoming Porsche Macan SUV.

Source: Autocar | First for car news and car reviews
 
#38 ·
If Porsche did make a 4banger turbo, it would be a 911 killer, especially once the aftermarket gets a hold of them and tuners bump up the boost.

Power-to-weight ratios would be stellar in a Boxster/Cayman platform.

I don't see Porsche's thought process with this and where do they price it? Is it going to cost more than a Boxster S with the 3.4 n/a motor?! Does it cost less because it's a 4banger?! If it costs less, then you get MORE hp/tq and performance for LESS money? I don't see it.

Do they leave the base Boxster/Cayman a 2.7 n/a engine and get rid of the 3.4 in the "S" models and use the 4banger turbo for all future "S" models?

A Boxster/Cayman S is already "as fast" as a base 911 with less hp/tq, so Porsche would have to play with gearing ratios to keep the 4banger turbo platform from totally killing the halo-car 911. I don't see the point in this either.

Too many "WTF" thoughts about this whole thing! :gossip: