Porsche Working Hard on Six-cylinder Versions of 718 Boxster, Cayman
There was a time when all of Porsche’s mid-engined offerings came with the distinctive growl of a six-cylinder engine. However, with the 718 opting for a more economical turbocharged four-cylinder, some enthusiasts complain there’s something missing in the noise department.
While we already knew that the company is working on a new 4.0-liter flat-six for the returning GT4, rumors arose that the engine could make its way into less-hardcore variants of the 718 after a basic-looking Boxster was spotted during cold weather testing earlier this year. Porsche has apparently kept at it, as another 4.0-liter Boxster test mule was spotted at the Nürburgring along with a non-GT4 Cayman, according to autoevolution.
If the displacement sounds familiar, its because it’s already available in the 911 GT3. Porsche is simply planning on making it available inside the 718, albeit detuned, to get that sexy sound and linear oomph. Reports suggest that the naturally aspirated 4.0-liter engine in the GT4 will produce somewhere around 425 horsepower. Lesser 718 models, which are expected to roped into a “Touring” trim, are expected to get by with fewer than 400 horses — with four-cylinder models remaining available.
While this author doesn’t have a problem with a gently muffled four-banger, so long as there is plenty of turbo spool and intake noise, adding a more attainable six-cylinder seems like a smart move. Purists will be pleased and Porsche will probably be able raise its margins on the — hypothetical and presumably more popular — Touring models.
Porsche is expected to make an official announcement regarding the vehicles later this year.
[Images: Porsche]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Maybe Porsche could change the gearing and lightly retune the engine to make the base 4-cylinder reasonably fuel efficient? There are plenty of buyers who are buying for the looks and status and have no intention of driving it with vigor. This goes double for the Boxster.
I'm not a porsche geek or expert. I've driven a few, and the wail from the six is the whole point of the car, that, and it's basically a go kart where you sit in the middle and the engine is behind you. I preferred a Cayman because it got the Porsche front steering right but the engine wasn't a counterweight.