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Porsche has confirmed that it is actively considering using smaller, supercharged engines in a bid to lower CO2 emissions.

"There is a clear trend towards downsizing, using smaller engines and supercharging. We will find our own conclusion to downsizing," the company’s sales and marketing boss Klaus Bening told Autocar at the Shanghai motorshow.

This admission adds to rumours that the next generation Boxster and Cayman sports cars, due to go on sale in 2012, will have four cylinder...Read the full article

As soon as we see some recovery in the economy I'm sure all this downsizing will disappear and we'll be straight back to the big stuff.

Audi Tastic:

As soon as we see some recovery in the economy I'm sure all this downsizing will disappear and we'll be straight back to the big stuff.

Not so sure.  The money being invested by the manufacturers at the moment to produce smaller more efficient engines is massive.  It's not just a case of taking an existing unit and bolting a turbo or supercharger on, the majority of new designs are from the ground up.

As for a four cylinder Porsche, been there done that before.  I can hear it now, all the Porschaphiles moaning, it's not a real Porsche.......

 

TegTypeR:

As for a four cylinder Porsche, been there done that before

 

 A 4 cylinder turbo-charged petrol in a Porsche? Never! Awful. Not a real Porsche. At least they're not considering the worst possible option - a diesel 4x4. Oh, wait...

Don't the 924 & 944 count as Porsches? And Porsche's roots are based on 4 cylinders.

The 356 and 912 had four cylinders - as did the VW-engined versions of the 914. The 356 prototype was mid-engined as well, breaking another myth about what constitutes a real Porsche, but that's another story altogether.

I'm looking forward to the 1.4 turbo from the Skoda Superb being slotted into the entry level Panamera.
 

theonlydt:

 A 4 cylinder turbo-charged petrol in a Porsche? Never! Awful. Not a real Porsche. At least they're not considering the worst possible option - a diesel 4x4. Oh, wait...

 

Just to point I was jokingly referring to Teg thingy's post... I generally have no problem with smaller engines in cars. Porsche or not. Porsche building a 4x4 though was just a disgrace

roadtester:

I'm looking forward to the 1.4 turbo from the Skoda Superb being slotted into the entry level Panamera.

I was fortunate enough to be give a drive of a special edition Boxster a few years ago, what was the most powerful edition at the time.   The impression I got was that it was under powered and over geared.   A 1.4 turbo might have been an improvement!

I believe that a number of companies are looking at turbo and the more expensive supercharger options for small engines to get round the latest rounds of emissions regulations.   Or even a combination of both.

Bad days.

Go faster... Make Cayman and Boxster TDI!

 

The cayennes aside, Porsche has never really upsized its engines the way other makers do. The (flagship) Carreras have just come to 3.8L from 2.4L in the 60's and sustantial jump in output with minimal upsizing has always been Porsche's forte.

Probably the German uber saloons could do with some serious downsizing...

How small is smaller?

Porsche own VW so presumably have access to the range of small petrol turbo's in either 1.8 or 1.4 litres. Supposedly there is also a 1.2 turbo on the way.

Is Porsche going to downsize their engines so that they use the 1.2 turbo in the next gen Boxster or Cayman? They say that the cars will have four cylinders in the line-ups.

If engines are downsized to 2L and below, maybe they're planning for a 914(!) revival