Stricter emissions and fuel economy regulations are looming on the horizon for the world’s automakers, which has many car makers completely rethinking their future powertrain offerings. While more mainstream automakers have already announced plans to cut back larger engine production, the world’s exotics have indicated they have no plans on changing their proven supercar formulas. However, Porsche might be bucking the performance car trend as it has engineered a green Plan B into its new car lineup.
Thomas Krickelberg, Porsche’s head of powertrains, revealed that the company’s new range of six-cylinder engines were actually engineered so they could be converted to four pot units. “[There are] the discussions about global warming and the need to reduce fuel consumption,” Krickelberg told Drive. “The target was to have a six-cylinder because that is the criteria of the 911 and the Boxster. But there is still the option to reduce the number of cylinders.”
The result of lopping off two cylinders would be a Boxer four displacing about 2.4L.
Despite the ability to turn its six-cylinder engines into four-cylinders rather easily, Porsche has no plans to produce a four-cylinder model as of yet. Instead, Porsche will use the flexibility of its powerplants more as a Plan B – only using the option if the need arises.
Although Porsche doesn’t currently offer a four-cylinder model, the automaker has a lengthy history with the four-cylinder engine, dating back to the company’s first Porsche 64 in 1939.
09/10, 1:01 PM
posted by:
Fletch
The new model will be called the Porscharu.
09/10, 1:16 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
The Foursche?
09/10, 1:41 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
Oh how wimpistic.
09/10, 1:56 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
i shall call him…………. Mini- Me
09/10, 2:21 PM
posted by:
JoshyLofty
thats good that they have this Plan B. chances are they’re gunna have to use it eventually. sucks.
09/10, 2:49 PM
posted by:
authority
I think this is great news actually! The 944 Turbo is one of my favourite Porsches ever made and I would love to see a modern variant of that front-engine, RWD platform! When Porsche first started selling the 944 (and before that, the 924) it was marketed as the Porsche for everyone. Great! Nowadays, a 2009 Boxster starts at a lofty $58,000 (CDN)! And yet some people have the audacity to call it the “poor man’s porsche”?!? $58,000 is still a hell of a lot of money in my opinion. Bring back the 944 PLEASE!
09/10, 3:31 PM
posted by:
ktulu
bad idea
09/10, 3:48 PM
posted by:
A4
not if they make it like the elise
09/10, 4:00 PM
posted by:
dean
ktulu spelled it all correctly!
09/10, 4:09 PM
posted by:
t-ak-box
Sweet! The return of the 924 or better yet the 944.
If Porsche can produce the bastard Cayenne then a return to a true sport car like 914-4, 924 and 944 just seems right.
09/10, 4:35 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
Another vote for a 924/944/968 successor. These were great cars that looked good, handled very well, and had decent acceleration. Today you can pick up a decent one fairly cheap. Just watch the maintenance – these ate timing belts and waterpumps for breakfast.
09/10, 6:08 PM
posted by:
C6Racer
I would LOVE a 1989 944 Turbo S!
09/10, 6:32 PM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
Back to basics baby!
09/10, 8:12 PM
posted by:
MugenSentraKen
======>>i would love to see a 4cylinder 2.4porsche, just make it turbocharged. With porsche engineering, that wouldn’t be bad AT ALL. look at how powerful and SPEEDY an ‘05 SRT-4’s 2.4 can and very often(ly) achieve. and its nowhere near porsche’s engineering.
09/10, 8:28 PM
posted by:
Htay9000
turbo 944 was some of the best porsches.
09/10, 9:34 PM
posted by:
monte
Where does the article say anything about a front engined porsche?
09/10, 9:41 PM
posted by:
VWgrouP
I thought the Boxster was 4 cilinder..shows how much I know about Porsche.
09/11, 8:13 AM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
This idea is a breath of fresh air.
Anyone remember the Eagle Talon? Turbo 4, 210 hp, went like hell. Imagine if Porsche tried it today. 300 hp, nice and light, crisp handling. Winner all around.
09/11, 11:00 AM
posted by:
MugenSentraKen
=======>>DeansterTJ, i feelyou. I used to own a ‘91 Eagle Talon TSi AWD Turbo. If i’m not mistakin, it was THE fastest pocket rocket (4cyl) of the day(mine 197hp). Similar to the comment i made about the Neon SRT-4 up above.
09/11, 11:22 AM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Hmm… I’m liking this news a lot….
09/11, 11:56 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
So it’s a 2-door Subaru with RWD? I don’t think it’s a very unique idea.
I’d rather see an inline 4… better accessability, better fuel economy. The 944 was a very nice vehicle for it’s time… and you can still fine some good condition ones on the road today, turbo or not. If Porsche would ditch all the nick-nacks and get back to a more purist approach to sports cars I think they would find that their following would get larger.
09/11, 12:27 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Solstice wannabe?
09/11, 3:28 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
Need more oil for GM: “Solstice wannabe?”
No, Chevy Z24 Cavalier wannabe.