Porsche Developing Ferrari-Hunter With 600HP Flat-Eight
Feeling outgunned by the Ferrari V8 family, Porsche is working on a suitable hunter that will be armed not with its long-standing flat-six, but with a new flat-eight.
Autocar reports the new vehicle — dubbed the 988 within Stuttgart — is part of a new quartet of Porsches in development, including a turbo-four version of the Boxster and Cayman, and an all-new 911. The 988 is expected to arrive in 2017, and may likely take after the 918 in looks with a long rear deck covering the mid-mounted flat-eight; all four new models will be in place by 2019.
Powering the quartet is a new family of boxers, ranging from the aforementioned 2-liter turbo-four — capable of 280 horsepower — to the 988’s 4-liter quad-turbo-eight, delivering 600 horses and ~400 lb-ft of 458 Italia-killing torque in testing.
Underpinning the quartets will be an all-new architecture that will use different backsides depending on the position of the boxer, shared front structures, and three front axles with optional hybrid/electric AWD such as the system powering the 918.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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Interesting to note they've developed a modular platform with shared parts...means they plan to sell a LOT of these things, while keeping R&D/tooling costs low. It'll be interesting to see where they're going.
For all the gearheads, here is an interesting discussion of [vintage] Porsche flat 8 crankshaft design and firing order over at the AutoSport forums: http://forums.autosport.com/topic/188333-flat-eight-porsche-engines/
The challenge the 988 faces is that it probably won't compete with the 458 by the time it's in production; after all, we already have the tuned version in the Specials and a rumored turbo next year. I may be in error, but it seems like Ferrari has been pretty punctual in rolling out new mid-engine V8's. Hopefully, Porache is not gearing up to fight the last war. (Not that I have a snowball's chance in hell of affording either, but there's nothing like competition to push development.)
That they're developing something - anything - that ISN'T another SUV is fine enough news for me. It could be a friggin' tricycle for all I care. This should be pretty cool though.