Road and Track Reports - 911 to get a V-8

[JeremyD]

September 2002 R&T reports (page 59) that "along with the new face to the 911 come new engines -the base powerplant will be a 3.8 liter flat 6 making 335bhp, while a 4.5 liter v-8 (developed as part of the Cayenne SUV program) will also find its way into the 911 engine bay. This engine is expected to produce more than 400 bhp.

So, I guess the 911 does get the truck motor...

This is 2006 right? Ahh!! What I was looking for, I posted this before somewhere, couldn't find the article...

[JeremyD]

The article said 2004...

[glickster]

Jeremy,

This is old news. Apparently, a tuned version of the Cayenne V-8 was always to be earmarked for a new 911, around 2005.

Perhaps this will find its way into a LeMans entry?

400+ HP, normally aspirated!

[Randy W]

Ferry is probably rolling over in his grave right about now .

This announcement by Porsche management fits in perfectly with their goal of becoming a car manufacturer the size of Saab. They have also apparently announced plans to add a four door car to compete with Jag, BMW and MB, so within a few years they will have a full line of cars to offer the buying public: a sports car (Boxster), a GT (911), an SUV (Cayenne) and the 4 Dr coupe. Of course, the company will grow and that should make shareholders happy, but the individual customer will become even less important and quality/service will likely suffer.

Ever notice how everything started to change at Porsche as soon as the old man died?

[Neilk]

I have a question about Porsche's HP. Why go to a 3.8L to get to 335 when the X51 package will bring the hp to 345 or so?

Does Porsche "cherry pick" the engines that produce the most hp to become X51 engines, or can any 996 3.6 achieve that number with a few mods?

When did he die? If they survived the 70's and 80's creating gas guzzlers while the rest of the world focused on economy, (even look at the corvettes, mustangs of that time, they were underpowered) then they should have no problem sticking with what they have now.

Let Volkswagen handle the SUVs and sedans, I mean Volkswagen is moving up class and all with the W8 Passat, and they are making a 12 cylender luxery car to compete with rolls royce class cars, but then again, are you realy going to pay 100,000 dollars for a Volkswagen? We'll have to see..

I think Ferrari at one time made cheap sedans and family cars because It needed money to continue racing.. correct me if I'm wrong.

[JeremyD]

Glikster - I knew that much had been rumored about the V-8 from the pepper - this is the first I had seen from a major car magazine reporting on it - and when it was going to apparently happen.

Thought it was newsworthy but apparently not for those in the know.

[stealthn]

Flat 8?

I just wish they would throw them into some IRL, CART, and F1 cars!


Let there be no substitute....

[glickster]

Jeremy,

No, no. Please don't stop sharing info, that's how we all learn.

Plus, even if I did read about this a year ago, these projects often never make it off of the drawing board. So, updates are good and I don't mean to discourage your posts on the subject.

Ciao.

[osidak]

Ferry Porsche died in early 1998. I think March or maybe April.

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

He died at the same day when the last 993 was droped from the line. I rember the regional TV news showed a feature the last 993 roling from the line ( I think it was a black 993 TT, they didn´t show the car they focused more onto the "celebritys" and the new 9X6 cars ) and in the next mornging the radio was broadcasting that Dr. Porsche died in Zell the day before.

Grüsse

[glickster]

Roland,

The last air cooled car was sold to the comedian/Porsche enthusiast, Jerry Seinfeld; but I didn't think it was a turbo.

Interesting bit of irony though, Ferry passing away as the last air cooled cars are completed. Poetic justice, I think.

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

http://www.autoweb.com.au/start_30/showall_/id_POR/doc_por9803311/article.html

on Tuesday, March 31st 1998, the last ever 911 with an air cooled opposed-cylinder engine left the production line at the Porsche works Zuffenhausen.

The last 911 built with air cooling is a Carrera 4S model with the body colour Mexico blue. It will be delivered to the USA in April. The American TV star Jerry Seinfeld secured this vehicle a long time ago by means of a handshake deal with Chairman Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking. Jerry Seinfeld commented: "I am overjoyed about this car. It completes my Porsche collection. I will never sell it."


http://www.autoweb.com.au/start_30/showall_/id_POR/doc_por9804071/article.html

Stuttgart. Dr Ing. h.c. F.Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is mourning the loss of Professor Dr. Ing. h.c. Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche. The founder of the Porsche sports car brand and honorary chairman of the supervisory board of Porsche AG died on March 27th in Zell am See, Austria, at the age of 88.


That was the day when the music died

In fact Ferry went to Porsche playgrounds days before the last 993 droped the line. They just announced it short after that.

Grüsse

[thabaer]

The 997 is supposed to arrive in 2004 as a 2005 model and will supposedly have a V8.

[Jim Garfield]

Recently read that the engine for the 997 will
be a new flat 8 - not the truck V8. Did anyone
else see this? ... lets see, if they cut that flat 16
that they have in the museum in half... hmmm.
I love that story of Mark Donahue watching them
start the engine and claiming that he could hear
one end start before the other.

[304065]

Actually, the new 911 will come standard with a 2.7 liter flat six cylinder with a five-bladed fan and thermal reactors. The factory will then perform a V-8 Conversion using a Small Block Chevy.

[Paul Franssen]

Er..a flat-8 is that a V-8 dropped from the top office onto the workshop floor?

[cstreit]

Gravity fed delivery has always been the most energy efficient for the factory....

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

Several months ago I spotet a 996 mule with a V8 sound in Stuttgart but that engine sounded more like the W8 then a V8.

Either Porsche uses a V8 with a complete other crankshaft or they just testet a chassis with a W8 from VW as there own V8 wasn´t ready at that time.

Also you sometimes could hear a Boxster V6 TDI diesel

Rumor was that Porsche used Boxsters for Subaru Diesel engine mules but a full load Audi V6 TDI sounds very special ( if you can follow up )

A other rumor is that Porsche will have a Chyenne Diesel coming if the sales start droping.

Grüsse