I think it would be a mistake to use anything from Audi and VW's parts bin. They need to keep it (somewhat) traditional and make their own flat-four. I'd be pretty excited about a Porsche-built 2.5 liter turbo 4-cylinder sitting behind the seats of the Boxter/Cayman. Mate that to an AWD system and I'll take my Porsche Cayman Turbo in black, please.

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I agree that Porsche should develope its own engine, but I don't see them doing that based on their current desires to buy VW. The Cayenne platform sharing created the wealth Porsche amassed in order to buy the group. This is the model they want to use for future product development across the entire line up. They want more parts sharing, product development, and technology synergy which will sadly water down the authenticity of the brand further than the Cayenne has already done. The Panamera is the next oops.

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Using a VW/Audi engine in the Boxster would ruin it, but I would be perfectly fine with the Porsche engine in an Audi/VW!

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The problem is with the torque curve. I hope that the next generation boxster doesn't become an S2000 where you have to rev the engine to 6500 RPM's just to get the torque curve over 169 lbs/ ft. That would be a bad look for Porsche. They need to talk to Subaru.

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I don't know...the EA888 2.0 TFSI is a pretty awesome engine. It doesn't lack low-end torque either; it's almost as torquey as a diesel.

I could easily see it used in the base Boxster.

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Nastinupe: Yeah, that's always a potential problem with small engines regardless of cylinder count. But like you said... Subaru does pretty good with their 4s, so it's hardly impossible.

And Porsche has always worked with small engines... Even the Cayenne's V8 is only 4.5L iirc, I think their largest 6 currently is all of 3.8 (which is big for a 6, granted, but still a small engine). The engines in the 911s that I've driven have all been very responsive and fairly torquey, even at low speeds. I think if anyone can engineer a small displacement engine that's got a broad powerband, Porsche would be the company to do it.

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The NA 3.0L "four" in the 968 pumped out a reliable 237hp @ 6200rpm, and more significantly a solid 225 lbs/ft at 4100. While that torque curve is peakier than the flat 6 base engines, it still trumps the power output of 1997's debut Boxster 2.5.

I also think market perception will be ready for a 4 cyl porsche in terms of image, as long as they don't dump a ton of them on the market. Priced fairly exclusively, and sold in comparatively limited numbers they shouldn't impact Porsche negatively at all.

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I agree. Make it a real Porsche engine and give it a turbo.

I vote they bring back the 944. Used to own one and loved it.

Perhaps with direct injection increasing the hp they can decrease the displacement of their current engines. Would not be the end of the world if 911s shunk a little along with their engine size. Even the current gen boxster is a bit large for what it is supposed to be.

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Would be nice to see a dual stage turbo on a boxer-4. Economic and fun.

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Exactly. Please make the 4-pot an in-house Porsche design.

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hulk of crap... u mean like the v6 Porsche uses in their SUV? the 2.0T is a fine engine, look for Porsche to use it in 250+ hp guise, it's why they're fighting so hard to purchase and gain access to all of vw's assets This news is awesome provided it leads to a small, light, turbo 4 powered mid engine vw, like the one we’re supposed to see in LA. Per the ‘hardcore’ boxter audience, bwahahahaha. That made my day!

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Porsche with boxing 4?
No way! The blub-blub of the L L R R would preclude a dual exhaust on each side. Even a compensated dual exhaust isn't likely with cold start emissions regulations.

A high output direct injected 2.5 liter engine, 250hp 200ft-lbs would be plenty with the 7 speed PDK.
Even a 'discount' (non direct injected) 2.0 should still make 200hp 150ft-lbs, assuming it kept vario-cam Plus.

http://nomano.shiwaza.com/tnoma/blog/archives/20051213/S2000-torque.jpg
http://www.autozine.org/911/911_8.htm

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Boxter S

Cayman STI?

I kinda like the sound of that.
A bit of LeMans, a bit of WRC, why not?

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That's what governments are supposed to do, govern. You'd rather they sit back and let corporations do what they want? Corporations do what's in the best interests of the corporation not the nation. And don't give me crap about job creation either. Corporations don't exist to be job creators, it's incidental. They exist to make money for the owners, everything else, and I mean everything, is about making that happen. A lot of jobs went overseas in the past eight years and that happened during a period where corporate taxes were at historic lows so I don't want to hear about tax policy crippling business large or small. It's a myth, a fallacy. It's noise designed to make you hate the functioning mandate of your own government so you'll vote with the corporatists.

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Thank you JQ!! It's not about taxes, it's about cheap (slave) labor overseas.

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