Porsche recently introduced two new
718 models, the Boxster and the Cayman. But these aren’t your normal Porsches,
these new models have something missing for the previous incarnations, they
have two less cylinders under the hood. Porsche is going back to its roots and
giving these models a flat-4 engine.
In 1948 when Ferdinand Porsche
created the two-seater roadster the No. 1 Type 356, he fitted it with a flat-4.
The engine was mounted in Type 356’s aluminum body and produced just 40 horsepower
from its 1.1 liter engine. This was the basis for Porsche’s engine for years,
until 20 years ago when they decided to launch a flat-6 into the Boxster,
Cayman and the entire 911 line.
However, with tightening emissions,
fuel economy, and displacement regulations, the market has forced automakers to
change. Gone are the days of the gas guzzling 3.0 liter 6 cylinders with 2
superchargers, and taking their place are the slimmed down 2.0 liter flat-4
with a single supercharger.
“To bring a naturally aspirated flat-six engine to the performance
levels of the turbocharged flat-fours would have meant having to increase the
displacement significantly, which would have had a detrimental effect on the
efficiency of the car.”
-Markus Baumann, Porsche’s Manager for Boxer Engine Development
The all-aluminum engine is offered
in the new 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman models in two different displacements.
Standard models are fitted with a 2.0-liter flat-4 that shares its
91-millimeter bore and 76.4-millimeter stroke with the 911′s 3.0-liter
flat-six, while S models are fitted with a 2.5-liter flat-4 that has a slightly
larger 102-millimeter bore.
Contact us to test drive your next
new Porsche today and check out our inventory to see the 718 Porsche Boxster
and Cayman.
