Porsche's own press release states:
"The highlight of the new generation is the six-cylinder boxer engines developed as completely new power units from the ground up, displacing 2.9 liters in the Boxster and 3.4 liters in the Boxster S. Indeed, these engines belong to the same family as the particularly efficient power units introduced only recently in the 911 model series.
The new "basic" engine now develops maximum output of 255 bhp (188 kW) at 6,400 rpm, up 10 bhp over the previous model with 2.7 liters capacity. Featuring Direct Fuel Injection, the six-cylinder in the Boxster S churns out 15 bhp more than before, now offering 310 bhp (228 kW), again at 6,400 rpm."
The media coverage on this new engine, when announced for the 911 was massive on web sites such as Driver Republic where they went into considerable detail about the engine design, the oiling system and the complex test rig that Porsche built to replicate the demands of a circuit around the Nordschleife as well as the PDK gearbox.
I'm guessing that the new 2.9 litre engine showed significant improvements in efficiency and emissions without the cost of DFI to allow a better model to model differentiation. As the press release says, the "new" engine is exactly that - all new from the ground up, not just a modified 2.7. The big news is the deletion of the intermediate shaft which completely eliminates the big bugbear of the previous design. If it ain't there it can't break!!
In my view it's a real shame that Porsche didn't come up with this engine design a long time ago because every water cooled Boxer engined car they have produced (with the obvious exception of the GT1-based Turbo/GT2/GT3) has to carry forward the burden of an obviously flaky design. As the early cars are now coming to the age where they cannot be warrantied one has to ask who would be brave enough to buy one? We are already seeing early Boxsters hitting sub-£10K prices and I can't see it being long before early 996s are doing the same.
Regards
Dave
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