The German manufacturer of sports cars does not intend to give up eight-cylinder engines even in the next decade. Due to strict standards, however, they will be quieter than before.
Although we most associate Porsche with flat six-cylinder engines, it also offers conventional eight-cylinder forks, which can be found in the Cayenne and Panamera models. In their case, we do not yet have to worry that they will end due to increasingly strict emission regulations. On the contrary, Porsche has confirmed that it will keep the four-liter unit even with the introduction of the Euro 7 standard. The eight-cylinder is ready for it. Moreover, the fact that the upcoming emissions regulation will not be as strict as expected, the big engine will be able to survive without the help of an electric traction motor.
However, the rescue of the fork eight-cylinder cannot be done without concessions. In addition to emission standards, others also apply, including sound ones. And precisely because of them, the combustion units will gradually have a less and less interesting sound, which can be a bit of a problem for sporty Porsches, even in the form of the Cayenne SUV and the Panamera liftback.
The eight-cylinder will therefore survive even the beginning of the electric era, the onset of which is, however, slower than expected. Although Porsche plans that in 2030 up to 80 percent of all Porsches delivered to customers will be with a locally emission-free drive, it is also keeping the back door open. The goal will actually depend on customer interest and the development of electromobility in key global markets.
Currently, Porsche offers two models without internal combustion engines. The first is the liftback and station wagon Taycan, which has recently been modernized, the second is the equally fresh second generation Macan SUV. Along with that, the automaker is planning electric successors to the current versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman sports models, while the next edition of the highly successful Cayenne will also probably do without combustion units. And there should also be a large, up to seven-seater SUV on electricity, which will stand on the premium SSP platform.
On the other hand, the legendary Porsche 911 will not see full electrification at least this decade, but together with this year’s modernization of the current 992 series, a hybrid version will be introduced, which should use the electric motor mainly to spin the front wheels. In the future, Porsche expects a more dramatic development of synthetic fuels, which are created by synthesizing captured CO emissions2 and from hydrogen produced using renewable sources of electricity or electricity produced without carbon dioxide emissions.
Tags: Porsches continue compromises
