Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Porsche’s new turbocharged flat-fours will make between 240 and 370 hp

By

Porsche Cayman GT4
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Closely following the auto industry’s downsizing trend, Porsche is gearing up to launch its first flat-four engines since the 914 and the 912E were axed nearly four decades ago. A report coming out of England sheds valuable insight into what we can expect from the four-cylinder-powered Boxster and Cayman that are now right around the corner.

Both the entry-level Boxster and Cayman are set to get a 2.0-liter flat-four that will use a single turbocharger and a direct fuel-injection system to develop 240 horsepower, 25 less than the 2.7-liter flat-six that currently equips the base model Boxster and 35 less than the six found in the Cayman. How Porsche will make up for the loss in power is anyone’s guess.

Recommended Videos

A six-speed manual transmission will come standard, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic unit will be available at an extra cost.

Related

Moving up, the mid-level S models will swap their 3.4-liter flat-six, which makes 315 and 325 horsepower in the Boxster and Cayman, respectively, for a 300-horsepower 2.5-liter flat-four. The mill will again be fitted with a single turbo and direct injection, and the transmission options will carry over from the base models.

Finally, the GTS variants will use an evolution of the S’s 2.5-liter tuned to deliver up to 370 ponies, a generous increase over the outgoing Cayman GTS’s 340-horsepower 3.6-liter flat-six.

In short, most Cayman and Boxster models will lose a pair of cylinders and go turbo. The only exceptions will be the Cayman GT4 (pictured), which will continue to use a modified version of the 911’s 3.8-liter flat-six, and the Boxster Spyder, which will soldier on with a slightly less powerful version of the same six.

England’s CAR magazine reports the mechanical updates will be accompanied by a discreet shot of Botox as well as additional standard and optional features, including safety-focused equipment and electronic driving aids.

Porsche will introduce the updated Cayman and Boxster either next January at the Detroit Motor Show or the following March at the Geneva Motor Show, and they will go on sale in time for the 2017 model year. Surprisingly, the Cayman will reportedly be re-positioned half a notch below its topless sibling in a bid to boost sales.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Porsche Taycan battery pack has foot garages to make the car hug the road better
Porsche Mission E

The process of making a new car involves a constant tug-of-war between designers who want to create sleek new shapes, and engineers who need to figure out how to package the powertrain, electronics, and airbags -- not to mention people -- within those shapes. That leads to some odd solutions. For example, the upcoming Porsche Taycan (pronounced "tie-con") electric car features something called "foot garages."

These foot garages were mentioned by Porsche head of style Michael Mauer in an interview published by the company. Mauer said designers wanted to place passengers as low as possible in the car, to lower the center of gravity and improve handling. But the Taycan's battery pack, which is mounted under the floor of the passenger compartment, presented a problem.

Read more
Flat-six makes a brief but triumphant return in Porsche’s hot-rodded 718 duo
2020 porsche 718 cayman gt4 spyder get flat six power 2

Previous

Next

Read more
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more