Did Porsche ever consider a V6 944?

[Andy97]

Just musing out loud really, I wonder if Porsche ever considered, or even prototyped a V6 944 or 68? We all know that the 44 engine is meant to be half a 928 engine, but I just wonder if they ever thought about "chopping" two cylinders off the V to make a V6. Would a V engine fit?

A 6 cylinder based on the 5.4 could be about 4 litres, or based on the 4.7, about 3.5. Might have been quite attractive, but then again maybe too close to the halo 911.

It's a dull night on TV!!!

 

[edh]

I read somewhere that this is exactly what was planned for the 944 but the V6 didn't work so they went with a 4.

If true, what a shame..

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I've never heard of Porsche chopping the 928 V8 to a V6?

They did run a 944 as a mule with the Boxster running gear and the flat-6. Might that be where this came from? [8|]

 

[Andy97]

Interesting, I wonder if anyone knows if a reference? Wonder why the V6 didn't work? If the VAG group can make straight 5 and narrow angle V5 engines work then you'd have thought it would have been possible to get a V6 to work?

 

[pauljmcnulty]

ORIGINAL: Andy97

Interesting, I wonder if anyone knows if a reference? Wonder why the V6 didn't work? If the VAG group can make straight 5 and narrow angle V5 engines work then you'd have thought it would have been possible to get a V6 to work?

I'm not sure a V6 version of the 928 V8 wouldn't work, just that Porsche never needed it?

At the time, the 911 was being phased out, so Porsche had a line-up of V8 cruiser, and the 944 as the sports car. That would have been two ranges of front-engined cars, sharing the same parts: V8 for the big GT, a straight-four in the cheaper, more sporting chassis.

When Porsche decided the 911 was to be saved, things changed again. That's when the 944 turbo/968 were strangled to keep them below the 911 which sold for so much more profit.

Fast forward to the Cayman over 991 debate. [8|]

 

[bmnelsc]

I don't think a v6 was ever an interest to Porsche until the Cayenne emerged - and the 928 was long dead by that time. As for inline 5 or narrow v6 - as you say VAG did those. I think Porsche was ultra sensitive to the "its not a Porsche" twaddle that was still following the 924 around...the last thing they needed for the 944 was another Audi/VW engined car. It is too bad that a narrow 6 didn't make it into the 944.

Further thoughts - its also too bad that high power small turbo 4s didn't really show up till after the 944 was over - I'm thinking a 2l twin turbo with 285+ horses would have made a lovely (and lighter) car. Fast forward to today with such an engine and a pdk gearbox and the 944 S3 or S4 (depending on where you think the 968 really fits) would make quite a nice package...

 

[Suffolk944]

I had read somewhere that a V6 was considered and tested but the engine they tried wasn't up to the job. This site http://www.9ss1.dk/porsche944/historie-uk.html makes reference to it and mentions a Volvo/Renault V6 engine which rings a bell from wherever I read it. Think the reason given was the unit was neither that powerful nor refined and perhaps the economics of the time simply meant a new six cylinder engine was not deemed worthwhile.

Also worth remembering the point that the development was through the '73 oil crisis which at the time sent shock waves through motoring (industry and public alike) but which compared with the sorts of fuel prices we pay now seems a bit laughable.

I would think a V6 at the time seemed a bit thirsty and expensive to develop.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I had read somewhere that a V6 was considered and tested but the engine they tried wasn't up to the job. This site http://www.9ss1.dk/porsche944/historie-uk.html makes reference to it and mentions a Volvo/Renault V6 engine which rings a bell from wherever I read it. Think the reason given was the unit was neither that powerful nor refined and perhaps the economics of the time simply meant a new six cylinder engine was not deemed worthwhile.

This was nagging me, as it did ring a bell, and it was the 924 in the Porsche museum that was fitted with the Renault/Volvo V6 to make a more powerful, more refined 924. It never got off the ground, as they went for half the 928 engine instead.

I'm not sure they'd have used that engine anyway, or developed their own from the 928 engine. There was a V8 (Audi?) 911 tested as well, but the plan, I think, was to build their own V8 to fit it.

 

[Indi9xx]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty
They did run a 944 as a mule with the Boxster running gear and the flat-6

Funny you should say that, but a small item of trivia is that when I first had to remove a Boxster engine I also had a 944 turbo complete with crossmember on another hydraulic platform, I measured the cube that they would both fit it and concluded it was almost identical... My thoughts were not with a Boxster engine into a 944... But a tuned 944 turbo engine into a Boxster

Hmmm... I do have a couple of Boxsters hanging around that are worth next to nothing...

Inst it crazy though that I might consider putting a 28 year old engine into a 10 year old car as an improvement... I think I would prefer the 944 turbo engine where it should be though.. In a 944

 

[Eldavo]

A 350 bhp turbo Boxster

 

[George Elliott]

My thoughts were not with a Boxster engine into a 944... But a tuned 944 turbo engine into a Boxster

Excellent []


The problem with the 928 V8 lump is quite simply it was nothing special in terms of output, and to further that it was bulky and heavy. So as a sports car engine not much use.

The early 80's versions barely managed 300hp in Europe with 4.7 litres. Work that back to a V6 with around 3.6 litres and 220 hp. Not very exciting.

I went to work today in a car with 2.5 litres, with an engine weighing around half the V8 weight, and producing 300hp with the aid of a turbo. The 944t

George
944t

 

[Paul 290T]

The correct v angle for a balanced v8 is 90°. For a v6 its 60°. So Porsche would have had to bodge the 928 engine and fit balance shafts (which is exactly what Mercedes did in 1998 when they replaced their beautifully refined and powerful straight 6 with their modern 90° v6, produced on the same line as their modern 90° v8).

One of the 944 books i once read explained why Porsche decided against a 6 cylinder engine. I wish I could remember for sure. i think it was poor economy and cooling issues.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

The correct v angle for a balanced v8 is 90°. For a v6 its 60°. So Porsche would have had to bodge the 928 engine and fit balance shafts

At least that was one good reason to go for the straight-4, then...[]

 

[Andy97]

This is all interesting and good stuff, thanks for indulging me.

I like the idea of the 944t engine in Boxster though. Just because.....

But I agree that the 944t is one of the best options out there still.

 

[edh]

But 4's just sound rubbish *...specially turbo 4's and 6's sound great. Imagine a V6 alfa engine in there...

* I'd make exceptions for Honda B series Vtec, crossflow on webers, etc... but they still don't sing like a six (or a twelve)