I don't know about you guys, but this seems like really good news to me!

[Batan]

The news about Porsche planning on baby Boxter...
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/motorshows/los-angeles-motor-show/259618/porsche_confirms_new_small_sportscar.html?CMP=NLC-Newsletters&uid=79801a29373e55df4e1427859f024a5e


Now, that's cool but the good news I'm talking about is buried deeper in the article:

Flat-four engine for Boxster and Cayman

A new flat four-cylinder engine is being developed by Porsche to power the next generation of Boxster and Cayman models.
The engine, which will be developed from the firm's existing flat-six cylinder unit, is just one of  a range of more fuel efficient, less polluting engines under development at the firm.
Both naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions of the 2.4-litre engine are being considered.



Powerful, emission law friendly engine swaps anyone??  

[Geoff]

perfect for the old AC vw's!

[Trevor P]

Yeah but it would be watercooled so it would be lame.
 Give me air or give me death

[Batan]

Yeah but it would be watercooled so it would be lame.
 Give me air or give me death

Yeah, of course it would be watercooled.  But if keeping it aircooled and driving it twice a year and having a flat four watercooled P-engine in it and driving it all the time is the choice - I can live with water. Not saying it's gonna happen soon, it mostly depends on the emissions laws and gas prices.
Besides, it would kick butt as a "modern" Speedster base.

Who knows, maybe they will make it nearly impossible to retrofit. All I know is that for now, I love the sound of "Porsche is designing a flat four engine"!

[silas]

i'm gonna play devils advocate and say big whoop!

it's nothing new. porsche designed a flat four engine a long time ago for the 356's. subaru have been building powerfull and reliable n/a and turbo charged flat four water cooled engines for how long now...? emissions laws and gas prices have nothing to do with it because if the engineers at porsche cant figure out their way around emissions they shouldnt be working on designing engines. and gas prices...if you can afford a porsche...you can afford $1.30/L for premium!

plus...if porsche actually follows through and designs a n/a or turbocharged flat four water cooled motor and puts it in it's production cars...do you really think you'd be able to afford to retro-fit one in your acvw? even if you found the car mangled and written off in a junkyard, all but lost except for the engine...prolly not!

 

[Batan]

i'm gonna play devils advocate and say big whoop!

it's nothing new. porsche designed a flat four engine a long time ago for the 356's. subaru have been building powerfull and reliable n/a and turbo charged flat four water cooled engines for how long now...? emissions laws and gas prices have nothing to do with it because if the engineers at porsche cant figure out their way around emissions they shouldnt be working on designing engines. and gas prices...if you can afford a porsche...you can afford $1.30/L for premium!

plus...if porsche actually follows through and designs a n/a or turbocharged flat four water cooled motor and puts it in it's production cars...do you really think you'd be able to afford to retro-fit one in your acvw? even if you found the car mangled and written off in a junkyard, all but lost except for the engine...prolly not!

 

I never said it was anything new, but that flat four will most likely come with a couple hundred HP. And when I say the price of gas, I don't mean $1.30 a liter, but when it goes way beyond that. If emissions laws and fuel consumption had nothing to do with it, why would they bother with designing a 4 cylinder instead of using flat 6? It has nothing to do with how much customers can pay, the world is moving in that direction via manufacturing regulation regardless how much P owners can afford for gas. So, emissions and consumption have everything do do with it.
I know Subaru has a wide selection but... I wouldn't want a Subaru engine in a VW... it's not a VW then.

As for your last point, that is probably close to the truth. It will be expensive and potentially too complex. But, again, I'm not talking about the immediate future.

[Jeremy]

i'm gonna play devils advocate and say big whoop!

it's nothing new. porsche designed a flat four engine a long time ago for the 356's. subaru have been building powerfull and reliable n/a and turbo charged flat four water cooled engines for how long now...? emissions laws and gas prices have nothing to do with it because if the engineers at porsche cant figure out their way around emissions they shouldnt be working on designing engines. and gas prices...if you can afford a porsche...you can afford $1.30/L for premium!

plus...if porsche actually follows through and designs a n/a or turbocharged flat four water cooled motor and puts it in it's production cars...do you really think you'd be able to afford to retro-fit one in your acvw? even if you found the car mangled and written off in a junkyard, all but lost except for the engine...prolly not!

 

Jeez. Bah Humbug!!!

[Trevor P]

I know Subaru has a wide selection but... I wouldn't want a Subaru engine in a VW... it's not a VW then.

That means it still isn't one with a P-car engine in it either.

[Batan]

I know Subaru has a wide selection but... I wouldn't want a Subaru engine in a VW... it's not a VW then.

That means it still isn't one with a P-car engine in it either.

No. But it's closer(although, one could argue that). And I like that idea better. 

[Bubba]

My turn to stir the pot...

Subie engine...200 HP reliable 8K all in

Porsche engine...225 HP reliable? (not if you look at Porsches latest track record) more like 15K all in

Seeing that I am a cheep bastid like most others of the VW ilk...had I the absurd drive to put a water pumping abortion into my beetle, it would more likely be from the land of the Rising Sun. 

[silas]

I never said it was anything new, but that flat four will most likely come with a couple hundred HP. And when I say the price of gas, I don't mean $1.30 a liter, but when it goes way beyond that. If emissions laws and fuel consumption had nothing to do with it, why would they bother with designing a 4 cylinder instead of using flat 6? It has nothing to do with how much customers can pay, the world is moving in that direction via manufacturing regulation regardless how much P owners can afford for gas. So, emissions and consumption have everything do do with it.

first of all the article says they're working on the emissions and consumption ratings on a range of motors...not just specifically the flat four so it can be the cleanest and greenest.

and sure it's "cool" to drive a "green" vehicle and the industry is trying to keep up with that...but i imagine a majority of new porsche owners dont really give a rats ass about what's coming out the tailpipe (as long it's within industry standards, of course). and when it comes to fuel economy...a few less/more mpg isnt going to make a difference either.

but i'm thinking that most people buy a new porsche for the superb performance. if you stuff a smaller, under powered (compared to the 6) motor into a car that's used to a 6 cylinder 250+hp motor...people are going to recognize a peformance issue. like that guy who just finished his lease and traded in his old 6 for a new 4. what a dog. same car...smaller motor? no thanks.

imho...if porsche is serious about this junior boxster being the "spiritual succesor" of the old 356...they should really stick with the whole scheme and stuff the new flat 4 in there! brand new body (on a vw chassis) and a brand new motor! brand new car! no comparisons! that's what i'd tell Mr. Müller!

I know Subaru has a wide selection but... I wouldn't want a Subaru engine in a VW... it's not a VW then.

That means it still isn't one with a P-car engine in it either.

No. But it's closer(although, one could argue that). And I like that idea better. 

  

Jeez. Bah Humbug!!!

for having an opinion...? 

[Jord63]

As I understand it, manufactures work on a points system, so to speak, for how much their vehicles pollute. The more a model pollutes, the higher the number, the less of these vehicles you can sell in an area depending on the population density. They are limited to the points they are allowed in a model year (allthough they can purches points from other manufacturers who dont use all theirs up) They get points kickbacked to them for selling vehicles under a certain emissions limit. This is why GM rebadges Suzukis, Toyotas and Daewoos so they can sell more trucks and suvs.
Anyways, this maybe Porsches reasoning for the smaller engine, the rich guys can buy the, possibly underpowered (we dont know yet) more emissions friendy car for his wife who would probably never use its full potential anyways, so the he can still buy his twin turbo flat six. Just a thought.

[Bruce]

As I understand it, manufactures work on a points system, so to speak, for how much their vehicles pollute. The more a model pollutes, the higher the number, the less of these vehicles you can sell in an area depending on the population density. They are limited to the points they are allowed in a model year (allthough they can purches points from other manufacturers who dont use all theirs up) They get points kickbacked to them for selling vehicles under a certain emissions limit. This is why GM rebadges Suzukis, Toyotas and Daewoos so they can sell more trucks and suvs.

That was for fuel mileage.  And only in the USA.  It was called the CAFE, Corporate Average Fuel Economy.  The US gov set an average that all auto makers had to meet.  Chevy and Ford couldn't meet that selling big ass trucks, so they all got into bed with some Asian auto makers. Thus a Suzuki made in Ontario with a Chevy badge helps Chevy sell trucks.
For emissions, the countries post the emissions standards and they all have to meet it.  I have heard that Cali is trying to do something similar to the CAFE program but with emissions.  That's why VW TDI cars are worth a fortune in Cali.  VW is restricted in the numbers they can sell there.