Porsche's New Flat-4 Engines

[gtipirelli]

286bhp with a similar torque figure would make for a very entertaining Cayman/Boxster given they only weigh just over 1300kg with the 6 cylinder lumps. 360hp and similar torque should not be under estimated as a top model

 

[Motorhead]

Details here:

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Search-Results/Spyshots/Porsches-new-flat-four-engines-from-16-and-210bhp-to-25-and-360bhp/

Would 360bhp be enough for the GT4? Hopefully not.

Jeff

 

[Motorhead]

That's true Alan. In addition to 365PS, 347lbf-ft of torque would certainly provide plenty of grunt out of the corners and the engine weight would probably be a similar to that of the flat-6. A significant step up from the 320PS/273lbf-ft of my 987 Gen2 S, with a very different power delivery/driving characteristic as well. Let's wait and see if it makes its way into the GT4 rather than, perhaps, a detuned 3.8L flat-6. Jeff

 

[chrisH]

Maybe I am missing something but what is the point of the Cayman GT4 if it not to feature the new flat 4 engine. Even then if the engine is around 325 bhp I can't see a market for this over the existing flat 6 engine in the S / GTS?

 

[chrisH]

GT4 is actually a race class for which the Cayman is homologated. Jeff thanks for the clarification, so the Cayman GT4 could retain the flat 6 and would effectively become the 981 Cayman R.

 

[Motorhead]

Yes, that's true Chris. Although the GT4 label would be more appropriate if Porsche want to have a higher profile in the race class and it would be good to see a Cayman mixing it with the likes of Aston Martin Vantages, BMW M3s, Chevvy Camaros, Gineta G50s and Lotus Evoras in the European Series. If Porsche use a detuned 3.8L flat-6 engine, 360PS will be easily attainable as it will be with the 2.5L turbo flat-4. So, a couple of options for them. Jeff

 

[ChrisW]

ORIGINAL: chrisH Maybe I am missing something but what is the point of the Cayman GT4 if it not to feature the new flat 4 engine. Even then if the engine is around 325 bhp I can't see a market for this over the existing flat 6 engine in the S / GTS?

If the GT3RS is Turbo, then a Turbo 4 in the Cayman GT4 may be perfect --- light, RS levels of lag, economical with a small fuel tank, and just wind up the boost for spectacular performance ... It has been done before, with the very successful 1980 LeMans 924 Carrera GTS cars. Now that sounds like two coincidences ... [] So long as the bottom end was bomb proof and the induction was well cooled, a horizontally opposed four pot would not worry me. But I would like 400BHP at 7400rpm and 350 lb ft of torque at 5600 ish (from 3500 ish) ! Please Santa ..

 

[Motorhead]

Chris, You just have to look at the ubiquitous VAG 4-pot 2.0L turbo to see how tunable such an engine can be, with outputs ranging from 200-300bhp and even 400bhp in the Golf R400 concept. And rather than using multiple turbos, Audi have been experimenting with electric turbocharger technology to eliminate turbo lag completely ( http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motoring/audi-reveals-electric-turbocharger-technology ). Jeff

 

[MrDemon]

better still look at the TTRS 2.5 5 pot and see 600bhp tuning, I ran a very safe 430bhp/430lb'ft car it was mega fast.

 

[ChrisW]

Yes I saw the Audi electric turbocharger "booster" for anti-lag. Given that Porsche must reduce their average CO2, this could be seen as both an evolution of existing Porsche endurance racing history and a stake in a future racing series. And hopefully one step further away from their bore scoring and other engine woes ...