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"Although most of the next Porsche Boxster/Cayman range will use 4cyl turbo engines, the current flat-six could return after all."
Naturally aspirated engines for the most driver-focused models in the next Porsche Cayman and Boxster are under consideration, in a range dominated by turbocharged four-cylinder engines. REALLY???????
Boxster and Cayman boss Dr Stefan Wechbach said feedback on the existing Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder’s 3.8-litre naturally aspirated engine was “overwhelming”, prompting talks of continuing atmospheric engine production for the hottest models in the next generation of cars.
“Maybe it’s even a point of differentiation that Porsche can still use naturally aspirated engines if the competition doesn’t in the future”, he said at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week.
Wechbach acknowledged the engineering challenges of offering both four- and six-cylinder engines in the same models, but mentioned some customers have asked Porsche about plug-in hybrid models too. “We have to deal [with these challenges] and we are dealing with them”, he said.
The move to smaller capacity turbocharged engines has been prompted by emissions, although turbo engines will: “offer the advantages our customers want: performance, acceleration, high speed and torque,” according to Wechbach.
He also rejected claims that there must be a big gap between the Cayman and 911 in terms of price and performance. “There has been a discussion if the Cayman must have significantly less performance than the 911 Carrera. This is a fair point, but if you have a closer look at the cars, on the one hand you have a two seat, mid-engined car. On the other hand you have a 2+2 rear engined car.
“We’ve discussed it a lot with customers. If someone wants to have a 911, he will go for the 911. It doesn’t matter if the Cayman GT4 is faster or cheaper, the 911 is the icon of our brand and the overlapping of the customer groups is quite small.
“So we decided with the GT4 and the Boxster Spyder that we could have more performant models with the Boxster and Cayman range which are touching, but not overtaking, the 911 Carrera in terms of performance.”
He also denied the introduction of four-cylinder engines would increase the gap between the Boxster/Cayman and 911. “We will always offer the sportiest model in each segment, that’s why we wouldn’t go for a down shift [in market positioning] with the next generation of Boxster and Cayman,” he said.
I think Porsche is worried.
"A mile of highway will take you one mile. A mile of runway will take you anywhere."
Naturally aspirated engines for the most driver-focused models in the next Porsche Cayman and Boxster are under consideration, in a range dominated by turbocharged four-cylinder engines. REALLY???????
Boxster and Cayman boss Dr Stefan Wechbach said feedback on the existing Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder’s 3.8-litre naturally aspirated engine was “overwhelming”, prompting talks of continuing atmospheric engine production for the hottest models in the next generation of cars.
“Maybe it’s even a point of differentiation that Porsche can still use naturally aspirated engines if the competition doesn’t in the future”, he said at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week.
Wechbach acknowledged the engineering challenges of offering both four- and six-cylinder engines in the same models, but mentioned some customers have asked Porsche about plug-in hybrid models too. “We have to deal [with these challenges] and we are dealing with them”, he said.
The move to smaller capacity turbocharged engines has been prompted by emissions, although turbo engines will: “offer the advantages our customers want: performance, acceleration, high speed and torque,” according to Wechbach.
He also rejected claims that there must be a big gap between the Cayman and 911 in terms of price and performance. “There has been a discussion if the Cayman must have significantly less performance than the 911 Carrera. This is a fair point, but if you have a closer look at the cars, on the one hand you have a two seat, mid-engined car. On the other hand you have a 2+2 rear engined car.
“We’ve discussed it a lot with customers. If someone wants to have a 911, he will go for the 911. It doesn’t matter if the Cayman GT4 is faster or cheaper, the 911 is the icon of our brand and the overlapping of the customer groups is quite small.
“So we decided with the GT4 and the Boxster Spyder that we could have more performant models with the Boxster and Cayman range which are touching, but not overtaking, the 911 Carrera in terms of performance.”
He also denied the introduction of four-cylinder engines would increase the gap between the Boxster/Cayman and 911. “We will always offer the sportiest model in each segment, that’s why we wouldn’t go for a down shift [in market positioning] with the next generation of Boxster and Cayman,” he said.
I think Porsche is worried.
"A mile of highway will take you one mile. A mile of runway will take you anywhere."
I think Porsche is keeping its options open. For the sake of the European and US fuel economy cycles, they have to reduce consumption and emissions. I really don't see the new engines being much more efficient in real world driving - if they're being driven like a sports car. When driven like a Camery, the turbo will seldomly come into play, so yes, then the pflat 4 will give better fuel economy.
If you know how, you can even get over 40 mpg with a NA 2.7 liter flat six Boxster.
If you know how, you can even get over 40 mpg with a NA 2.7 liter flat six Boxster.
Makes sense. You have the NA flat six's for the track junkies and the Turbo 4's for the everyday folks and those who only use their P-cars for weekend drives. The latter hardly, if ever, use the full capabilities of their engines. So, they aren't of the mindset of there's not replacement for displacement. Also, the latter will still have some good HP numbers (from preliminary reports) to brag about to their friends.
Unfortunately, may not make business sense.
Over the next couple of years Porsche will have no decent business case to be made for continuing to produce older 911/981 NA engines in very small numbers, and at increased cost. They will be a forced casualty of draconian EU emission regulations. Porsche will be all turbo....
Also the 981 will be out in the cold, with the 911 following, as many of us predicted:
<<>>
Better get that NA 981 6MT in the next several months, or enjoy the future PDK turbo four ride.
"A mile of highway will take you one mile. A mile of runway will take you anywhere."
Over the next couple of years Porsche will have no decent business case to be made for continuing to produce older 911/981 NA engines in very small numbers, and at increased cost. They will be a forced casualty of draconian EU emission regulations. Porsche will be all turbo....
Also the 981 will be out in the cold, with the 911 following, as many of us predicted:
<<>>
Better get that NA 981 6MT in the next several months, or enjoy the future PDK turbo four ride.
"A mile of highway will take you one mile. A mile of runway will take you anywhere."
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