911 V-8

[Glasgow 911SC]

Thought you guys might like to read this (if you haven't already).
Taken from Autocar's 11th of June issue.

[dickster]

first water cooling, now this, tut, tut.

next they'll be putting the engine in the trunk

[silverc4s]

I guess we better not be so merciless to the next person writing in asking about putting a V8 in his 911.

It's a long road from my 2200cc, 2350lb 911S to this,,,sob.

[Zendalar]

We are not far from diesel powered Porsche 911.

Yurgh...puke.

Thanks for posting that.

I must say that this has crossed my mind a number of times. It's a natural thing for Porsche to do. In fact I'm ok with it as long as they don't name the car 911. Calling it a 911 would be a disgrace to the Porsche heritage (and fans).

Only one thing puzzles me; why not a flat 8??? They had them back in the 60ties. Why not today?

[dad911]

So now the cayenne is the test-bed for 911 engine developement.........

[old_skul]

Because they already have a premade 450hp V8 they can drop right in with little to no modifications.

Power should be interesting. Handling? With the higher center of gravity...who knows.

[old_skul]

I'm bumping this in case people didn't see it.

My question is: if this happens, how will we bash the people who do Porschev conversions?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

That's easy! A SBC is a top-heavy, lumpy-idling, water cooled V8 in the wrong end of the car without the correct logo on it.

[rcwtom]

As long as they can make it sound like the old aircooled engines then I wouldn't say no to 450bhp

[JmuRiz]

Am I the only one that noticed the last statement in the Article? I can't wait to see tests on the new GT3 for consumers!!!
Q: Does anyone think that the V8 wieght will make this car a real handful to drive? They'll probably put a ton of dummy controls on it so a computer will "drive" it w/o having ill handling problems. Where is the fun in that?
If it's going to be a fat, techno, pig....PLEASE do not call it a 911(or are we too late?)

Nathan

[dtw]

Let the uproar begin!

Of course it's going to be called a 911. It's going to be a barge, too. They all are. Hell my '85 was a barge by the standards of my '72.

Suffer!!!! Muhahahahahahahahahhahahahahaahah I think it rocks, and it comes as absolutely no surprise. Gee, d'ya think they'll win any races with the twin turbo V8? They didn't totally tunnel-vision with the Cayenne development.

I'm still predicting a 928 successor as well.

And may I repeat: SUFFER!!!! Muahahahahahahahahaha.

[zuffenhausen]

Originally posted by dad911
So now the cayenne is the test-bed for 911 engine developement.........

Yeah, ain't that effin' great?

And lest we forget--once again it's Le Mans weekend and once again Porsche is nowhere to be found. I refuse to see how foregoing your racing heritage to build an SUV keeps you the "only remaining independent sports car manufacturer in the world". Maybe it will keep them the only independent we-build-some-sportscars-and-an-ugly-SUV company in the world. It frustrates me to no end.

-zuff

[cegerer]

More weight, more complexity, more horsepower ..... more of the same. -- Curt

[sammyg2]

Porsches are getting passed by Vettes and vipers, and soon to be Mustangs (yech) in performance in many races. Sure they are in a different class, but that is my point. Maybe a GT class car with a V8 is what is needed to get the company back into racing in more than just the slowest classes?

If this takes off it would also make the jump back into prototype racing easier. it souds like Porsche is very happy with the development of the V8, they are already talking about putting it into almost everything they sell and AFAIK there isn't even one on the streets yet. If they can get 450 hp out of it for the street, then 600 hp or much more should be possible with a full-out race engine, maybe even without forced induction.

As far as it being heavy, I don't think it would be any heavier that the current 996. A compact alloy block V8 should be as light or lighter than the current engine if they do it right.
As far as top heavy, urban myth. EOD.

I am not quite old enough to remember when the 911 was first introduced in the early 60's, but this is how I envision the reaction:

"No way, that thing is way too heavy and big and complicated, and it has two extra cylinders when compared to my 356. I don't care what they call it, it isn't a Porsche. "

Sound familiar? :-)

Go ahead, flame on, I am ready

[cegerer]

"As far as top heavy, urban myth. EOD."

Huh? The lower center-of-gravity (and outstanding dynamic balance!) of a Boxer vs. V engine configuration is simple high school physics. No myths or magic involved!!

As to the 356 vs 911 analogy, that is an 'urban myth'. The 911 was the replacement for the 356 Carrera 2. That car weighed 2200 pounds and had the ultra-complex 4-cam 4-cylinder Carrera motor. The 911 weighed only slightly more yet had a simpler more-powerful motor and was improved in nearly every way (and was cheaper!). It retained and improved upon the basic Porsche concept of a light, agile car with a high-revving motor. The 996 is the antitheisis of the concept: an overweight, overpowered, luxury car. The new twin-turbo V8 version is simply a natural progression of this trend that started many years ago.

I've got nothing against new cars and new designs. The Subaru WRX and Mini Cooper S are outstanding examples of what can be done in today's world. Unfortunately, Porsche have lost their way .... -- Curt

[82SC]

stupid

stupid

stupid

the GT2 makes almost that much and is lighter, fits better, and it true to tradition

I can't imagine what the weight distribution will be...

back to lead weights in the bumpers?

put a V-10 next time...you can have the flywheel against your back seat and weld the front wheels in a straight line....

ugggg....at least lengthen the body make it an evo of the 928 and call it something different...

I don't care now if another model eclipses the 911 (like the 928 was supposed to do to the 911SC) since the legend is over...and the carrera GT and GT1 and GT2 exsist....

but don't bastardize the 911 anymore....

MJ

[pegasus9]

Please don't let this be true.... and if it does come to this then it is a sad day.

But look on the bright side... at least our cars will remain SPECIAL.

[DonNewton]

"Huh? The lower center-of-gravity (and outstanding dynamic balance!) of a Boxer vs. V engine configuration is simple high school physics. No myths or magic involved!! "

So, just how much will CG rise if extra weight is placed above the horizontal centerline of the vehicle? Do you have the exact weights [mass] of the new engine vs the "old"? Further, have you computed the centroid of the V8 vs the V6 (sorry, the current engine is a v. . .), because that's going to be pretty important in your final computations? If all this has been completed, I'd like to see the data, because, if CG rises 1", will you be able to tell the difference? I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference, and I've been competing on a race track for about 15 years now. If the rear polar moment is increased owing to increasing the weight by x lbs, will you be able to tell the difference? Again, I don't think I'd be capable of being able to make or tell that much of a difference in handling characteristics either on the road or track. Let's step back, take a deep breath, and realize that if Porsche is to remain a viable corporate entity, they (the company) MUST keep up (and more importantly, surpass) the competition, wherever they are encountered. If that means adding a V-8/V-10/V-12 or whatever, I say they should do it, and keep making great sports cars. Life moves on, either adapt, or become extinct. Which would you rather have, both for Porsche and for you?

[tight as a bull's ass]

the 911 used to be a special car because it was different.... a rear air cooled boxer engine, that's what made it unique - not anymore, though.

hold on to your cars, values are going up!