- 3.0 liter V6 turbocharged
- 3.0 liter V6 turbocharged plug-in hybrid
- 2.9-liter V6 twin-turbocharged engine
- 4-liter V8 twin-turbocharged engine
- 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbocharged plug-in hybrid
In This Article...
The Purpose of Porsche Flat Engines
The fundamental essence of what distinguishes a Porsche are the recognizable flat-six engines.
People typically picture the classic 911’s silhouette when they think of Porsche, paired with a flat engine design. This design formula was first used in 1896, more than a century ago. But this ongoing practice isn’t just sustained by a sense of nostalgia.
From a performance standpoint, the flat engine combines the greatest features of Porsche’s rear-engine and rear-wheel-drive vehicles. Additionally, the flat layout improves handling, cornering, weight distribution, and engine balance. However, the retirement of this famous Porsche engine is unavoidable given the all-electric future.
August 2022 update: More details on the recognizable flat engines that make Porsche the most sought-after sports car manufacturer have been added to this article. With the advent of electrification, we have also provided a look into the future and potential destruction of these legendary engines.
Mezger on the prowl
The majority of the credit for the 901 engine should go to Hans Mezger, who is now 89. His 38-year career was spent working on engine design and development at Porsche’s headquarters in Zuffenhausen, Germany, after he graduated from the engineering program at the University of Stuttgart in 1956. Practically every successful Porsche racing engine, including those that helped McLaren win five Formula 1 drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships in the middle of the 1980s, was created by Mezger.
Ferry Porsche, son of company founder Ferdinand Porsche, provided Mezger with specialized support in January 1963 when he started designing the 901, setting important goals based on the business’s prior success. The first was a goal horsepower of 130 DIN (148 SAE gross), which matched the most powerful engine ever marketed in the 356. The second was Ferry’s “shoemaker, stick to your last” adage, which called for maintaining the air-cooled, opposed-cylinder design that had made the VW Beetle and Porsche 356 so successful. Although flat engines have been produced by other companies over the years, including BMW, Citroen, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Lancia, Subaru, and others, only Porsche has been able to master the complexities of this architecture. Ferdinand Piech, a descendant of Ferdinand Porsche, was present to direct the development of the 911, and Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche was in charge of the external and interior styling.
Because gas prices were high and Germany’s post-World War II economy was still recovering, the 356 Carrera’s 2.0-liter displacement was kept. Mezger decided on six cylinders as the ideal compromise between the Porsche Type 753 flat-eight engine being developed for Formula 1 and the 356’s four cylinders. 118 mm (4.65 inches) between the bores provided plenty of room for future engines of greater displacement.
Who builds the Porsche engine?
Located at the Porsche Experience Center in Carson, California, just south of downtown Los Angeles, PMNA is a fully owned subsidiary of Porsche A.G. In addition to selling and maintaining customers’ racing vehicles, PMNA also constructs and rebuilds race engines for various Porsche vehicles. It will soon start producing Singer engines, but not the four-valve engine that Williams Advanced Engineering and I co-developed for the crazy DLS. Nicholson McLaren, a UK builder, will continue to make that.
1/10/22 2:30 PM Update: Of the original version of this article, Williams Advanced Engineering was credited with building the engine in Singer’s DLS. The engine is made by Nicholson McLaren but was designed with Williams.
Does Porsche utilize VW motors?
Among these synergies is the provision of Porsche components to sibling companies. Other brands may use the Panamera platform for conceptual or under development vehicles, according to Macht.
Macht responded that the 911 platform “might be made available to other VW brands” when asked if it was also on the table. But Porsche won’t employ any other VW Group engines save the V6 in the Cayenne. Macht stated that “engine development is a basic value for Porsche.”
Porsche is now focusing on weathering the global recession after its failed effort to acquire VW. The company aimed for annual sales of 150,000 cars prior to the credit crunch. However, sales this year are down 24% to little over 75,000. With its three core model families—the Cayenne, Panamera, and 911/Boxster—Porsche will make an effort to achieve its initial aim, but it is also considering additional range expansions.
“Any brand-new model would need to be upscale, athletic, and have a strong financial case. Porsche must be the most expensive, top-quality, and capable of providing the best driving experience in any segment “explained Macht.
The Panamera’s 1800kg kerb weight is low for its market segment, making it an ideal candidate for efficiency improvements. There will be a six-cylinder Panamera available next year, and eventually there will be a hybrid and a diesel Panamera as well.
Porsche has also considered building an electric vehicle. According to Macht, “it would have to have the same maneuverability, performance, acceleration, and range as a conventional Porsche.”
“The current state of technology is incompatible with Porsche’s needs. At least two years will pass before the technology is up to par.”
Does Porsche use engines from Audi?
Registered. The 2018 Macan Turbo 3.6L was the final genuine “Porsche” engine. After 2018, every Porsche Macan engine will be an Audi engine with various tuning features.
Porsche uses Subaru engines, right?
Subaru has dedicated more than 45 years to using the Subaru Boxer Engine exclusively in ALL of their products. The creative design is ingrained in Subaru’s DNA. Why aren’t more companies using it? Some of Porsche’s vehicles, such as the Boxster, Cayman, and 911, do this.
Do Porsche vehicles have boxer or flat engines?
These engines are technically known as horizontally opposed, but people often refer to them as “boxer” engines because of how closely the horizontal movement of the pistons mimics a boxer’s fists.
Because they are shorter in height than inline and V-type engines, they are sometimes known as “flat” or “pancake” engines. Engineers claim that by lowering the center of gravity of boxer engines, a vehicle’s handling is enhanced. One disadvantage of boxer engines is that, in contrast to, say, an inline four-cylinder that is more upright, access to some components for mechanics may be limited.
Only Porsche, Subaru, and Toyota currently sell “boxers” in their vehicles. Boxer engines have been standard in Porsche 911s since the beginning, and the current lineup includes several six-cylinder variations (or flat-sixes). Four-cylinder boxers are included in the Porsche 718 Boxster, 718 Cayman, and 718 Spyder (flat-fours).
All of the contemporary Subaru engines have four cylinders and are horizontally opposed. A flat-four Subaru engine is also used by the Toyota 86, a mechanical twin of the Subaru BRZ.
Regardless of whether a boxer engine has four or six cylinders, each piston moves simultaneously inward and outward with half of them facing one way and the other.
Which Porsche is powered by an Audi?
From 1976 through 1988, Audi in Neckarsulm, Germany, produced the Porsche 924 sports car for Porsche. The 924, a two-door 2+2coupe, took over as the entry-level model for the firm, replacing the 912E and 914.
The 924 was the first production-ready Porsche to use water cooling and a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration, despite the 928 having been developed before. Additionally, it was the first Porsche to be available with a standard fully automated transmission.
The 924 made its debut in front of the general public in November 1975, and a turbocharged model was released in 1978. Porsche introduced an improved and reengineered version as the 944, which took the place of the 924 in the United States in 1983, in response to growing competition. Audi stopped making the engine that powered the Porsche 924 in 1985, which led Porsche to replace it with a 944 engine that had been significantly tweaked, rename the car the 924S, and reintroduce it in the United States. With slightly over 150,000 units produced, the 924 was a commercial success.
Porsche uses boxer engines for what reason?
The Boxer engine has a shorter center of gravity than other engines because of its compact length. With a lower center of gravity, the car is more stable and has better traction on the road since the tires are more firmly planted.
The Boxer engine’s distinctive configuration gives the driver smoother, sportier cornering experiences. The vehicle’s body roll when cornering is further lessened by the lower COG.
As sports cars frequently need to make sharp turns at high speeds, this is ideal for them. When turning, cars with more body roll will flip, which can result in accidents.
Porsche uses flat-6 engines for what reason?
The air-cooled flat engine is the best option for sports cars since it is flat, lightweight, and allows for exceptionally low designs because the cylinders are lying flat. Because of the lowered center of gravity, it is possible to drive in a sportier, more dynamic manner throughout the entire driving maneuver. Because the flat engine’s weight sits on the drive axle when mounted at the back, as it is in Porsche cars, traction is enhanced. Drivers of Beetle and Porsche concurred that a car with a rear-mounted engine was by far the greatest option for winter driving conditions prior to the advent of all-wheel drive automobiles. The contrary is also true: A rear-mounted engine’s weight enables more braking force to be applied to the rear wheels during braking.
The flat engine, especially the six-cylinder version, is exceptionally smooth to operate and has no free moments or forces. Because of the perfect balance of the crank mechanism, short-stroke sports engines may travel at high speeds without experiencing undue strain.
The Porsche six-cylinder flat engines’ tendency to use less fuel as engine power rises is one of their most distinguishing characteristics. The flat engine’s design idea is around a consistent lightweight build, a low center of gravity, exceptional revving prowess, and a high specific output due to favourable charge cycles. All 911 engines must be both sporty and practical for daily use.
In general, a flat engine requires more work to produce than an in-line engine since it requires more parts. Two banks of cylinders, a valve train, cooling, and/or injection are required for the flat engine. Because the individual cylinders of a flat engine are spaced far away from one another, they can benefit from a direct flow of cooling air, making this engine a particularly strong option for air cooling. The four-valve technique is principally responsible for the 911 flat engines being water-cooled since the 996 model series. To reduce fuel consumption and exhaust pollutants while also improving performance, four valves are necessary.
But only lovers of water-cooled flat engines will find this interesting. There isn’t a club by that name yet, but when these engines stop being the newest technology and enter the annals of history, there will undoubtedly be one.
Do Porsche parts come from Audi?
Audi and Porsche both produce parts for their respective brands. These producers are skilled because they have spent decades developing their brands.
Does Subaru use a Porsche boxer engine?
The flat-four was utilised by Porsche GmbH in 1948 to create the 356—its first ever manufacturing car. Subaru debuted its first boxer engine in the tiny Subaru 1000 in 1966, and it has been in use ever since. The only automakers using the style today are Subaru and Porsche.
How trustworthy are Porsche motors?
When it came to Porsche, it was claimed that there were 110 issues for every 100 vehicles, which was the same as Lexus, which has long held the top rank in terms of dependability. In terms of overall dependability, Porsche received a score of 5 from J.D Power.
Which is superior, Porsche or Audi?
A fantastic place to start your search is with Audi models. Both of these brands are known for their high standards of craftsmanship and aesthetic appeal, but Porsche capitalizes on its track record for performance by offering higher top speeds, more off-road features, and quicker charging times.