A Three-Cylinder Porsche? More on the 2012 Boxster

[exitwound]

Hopefully this thread, unlike the other, will stay on target.

Porsche Considering Three-Cylinder Engine For 2012 Boxster - MotorAuthority

Porsche is in the midst of developing its next-generation Boxster sports car, which has been seen undergoing testing in prototype form on a number of occasions in recent months. The new car is expected to go on sale late next year as a 2012 model and according to a new report Porsche may be planning a special fuel-efficient model.

A rumor alleging that Porsche insiders are talking about a lightweight, turbocharged four-cylinder platform for the 2012 Boxster recently began making the rounds, however, the car’s model line director, Hans-Jurgen Wohler, has revealed to Autocar that a turbocharged three-cylinder powerplant may even be possible.

Installing a downsized engine would be one way for Porsche to reduce its fleet emissions in line with tough new government standards coming into play in the U.S. and Europe over the next couple of years.

“A Boxster with a four-cylinder engine, or maybe even a three-cylinder turbo, could produce between 180 and 200 horsepower,” said Wohler. “Given the Boxster’s history--that it started with a 200 horsepower, 2.5-litre engine--I think this is possibly something that customers could accept.

The thought coincides with possible rumors of a revived 914 that could be co-branded by both VW and Porsche, targeted at different market sectors, which means the new Boxster could certainly be fitted with a compact turbocharged mill. If that’s the case, we're sure Porsche will still offer a six-cylinder option for upper range models.

[Autocar]

[Jim Richards]

I doubt customers would accept 180-200 HP without a significant weight reduction.

[speedracing944]

A Lotus Elise or Exige can get away with this but not a Boxster. 2000lbs vs 2900-3000 lbs for the Trister, um I mean the 3 cylinder Boxster.

Speedy

[onewhippedpuppy]

100 less HP in the same car? Not gonna cut it.

[exitwound]

Even if the price was perhaps $10000 cheaper?

[m21sniper]

3 cylinder engines are very much NOT smooth. A 3 cyl has no place whatsoever in a performance car.

[Jim Richards]

Patrick, they might as well badge it a Vdub. No, it won't cut it as a Porsche without a corresponding reduction in weight to make it a performance car. Snipe's comment is a good one. I wonder how you make a smooth 3-banger.

[pksystems]

They might aswell buy aluminum frames from Lotus (everyone else is) and put a turbo 4 in

[Porsche-O-Phile]

No ma'am. I don't like it. I don't like it at all.

Flat-6, fine. Even a flat-4 would be acceptable. Or an inline 4 (which means it's no longer a Boxster, but a Linester or something... 3-cyls belong in outboard motors or in dirtbikes. Not sports cars.

As has been said, they're inherently unstable. My parents have a boat with a 3-cyl outboard. It's got a lot of vibration issues.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

I wonder how you make a smooth 3-banger.

Two words.

Balance shaft.

I'd much rather see a flat four, than a three. At least there is a precedent for that.

JR

[Jim Richards]

Thanks JR. I imagine that a balance shaft would rob some of the power from an engine that employed one.

[VincentVega]

Big heavy balance shafts would help but big and heavy seem counter productive in this case.

I like the idea of a stripped out, 4 cyl turbo boxster coupe, er Cayman. Cloth, manual seats.... So so much on a 3 cyl.

[exitwound]

Oh I'm not advocating that they put in a 3cylinder. Just asking for thoughts about it.

I don't necessarily consider the Boxster a "performance" car though.

[javadog]

The smoother you want the engine to run, the heavier some of the masses need to be. I'm thinking of mainly the crank weights and the mass of the flywheel. These would help with smoothness at idle and low engine speeds. The higher they spin the engine, the greater the need for the balance shaft. They could go with a lower rev limit, which isn't always a bad thing when turbocharging an engine.

The other thing to consider is that 3 cylinder engines are usually quite small in displacement. VW has done a few over the years and they were generally between 1 and 1.5 liters. If you make a large displacement 3, the individual cylinder displacement quickly becomes large. This isn't conducive to a smooth engine, as you might remember from some of Porsches' other entry level products.

I also question whether the public will accept a lower-performing Porsche, in an age where even the pedestrian Hondas are getting pretty quick. I suppose you can't blame Porsche, as it's the f'ing politicians that are making the future fuel economy rules.

Some of you gun enthusiasts need to take care of this problem.

JR

[kach22i]

RE: 3-cyl; I heard they were working on building half a Porsche, just didn't know which half.



Seriously, I've been reading that the spy video/photos are of a Speedster/Spyder model which will weigh 200 lbs less because of the removal of the elec/mech operating roof. Plus it will get an additional 10 hp over the "S" model.

I think that an all electric Porsche will hit the show rooms long before a 3-cyl or Diesel model.

Saying that, a turbo 4 cyl inline costing 10k less sounds like a good marketing move.

Half the buyers are women, right? I'm sure at least half the buyers will not care what's under the hood as long as it says Porsche.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Seriously, I've been reading that the spy video/photos are of a Speedster/Spyder model which will weigh 200 lbs less because of the removal of the elec/mech operating roof. Plus it will get an additional 10 hp over the "S" model.

Actually, that one has already been announced and I'm sure you could go down to your local dealer and order one:



The one in this thread is probably at least a couple years away.

JR

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by javadog

Actually, that one has already been announced and I'm sure you could go down to your local dealer and order one:

The one in this thread is probably at least a couple years away.

JR

I know that one, not what I meant.

I think I read somewhere that this one (part Speedster/ part Spyder) will have the standard windshield height, but a similar top to the Speedster (and turbo-4).

All conjecture at this point, but it maybe another way to bring down the final cost. Perhaps the top down and masking bra where the humps would be cause this theory to pop up.

Porsche Boxster Turbo: Spy photos and video! - The German Car Blog

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Thanks JR. I imagine that a balance shaft would rob some of the power from an engine that employed one.

It certainly would. Balance shafts also slow down revs (ie it takes longer to rev the engine up), and they reduce throttle response, as well. The increased weight of the reciprocating mass definitely hurts responsiveness.

This is just a flat out stupid idea.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

It certainly would. Balance shafts also slow down revs (ie it takes longer to rev the engine up), and they reduce throttle response, as well. The increased weight of the reciprocating mass definitely hurts responsiveness.

Why would adding a balance shaft increase the weight of the reciprocating (pistons, rods, valves) parts?

I can see the 'flywheel effect' of the weight of the balance shaft rotating mass hurting responsiveness, though.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by tcar

Why would adding a balance shaft increase the weight of the reciprocating mass?

I can see the flywheel effect of the weight of the balance shaft rotating mass hurting responsiveness.

The balance shaft has to be spun up and decelerated too. That takes energy and time.