It's well known that Porsche is working on a four-cylinder Porsche Boxster. Our spy shooters caught a turbo-four prototype testing on the Nurburgring this past October. We've speculated Porsche might be sourcing the engine from Volkswagen, possibly adopting the 265-horse version of the 2.0T powerplant used in Audi's TTS.
But a report on Autocar today suggests Porsche might go even smaller than that.
Smaller, as in a three-cylinder turbo.
"A Boxster with a four-cylinder engine, or maybe even a three-cylinder turbo, could produce between 180 and 200 horsepower and emit just 180 grams/kilometer of CO2," Hans-Jurgen Wohler, Boxster model line manager, said in an interview with the British magazine. "Given the Boxster's history -- that it started with a 200-horsepower, 2.5-liter engine -- I think this is possibly something that customers could accept."
We suspect a three-cylinder turbo Boxster is far, far off, whereas an official announcement on an entry-level four-cylinder turbo Boxster is expected sometime this year. But in a wildly hypothetical world, could you ever see yourself driving around in a three-cylinder Porsche Boxster?
Inside Line: 2011 Porsche Boxster Turbo Exclusive Spy Video and Photos
rick8365 says:
04:34 PM, 01/ 4/10
Blasphemy.
roar02ram says:
04:51 PM, 01/ 4/10
Sounds kinda extreme.
BTW- I'd be kind of embarrassed to know that my Boxster's engine is shared with a lowly Jetta.
cwc1 says:
04:52 PM, 01/ 4/10
Although Porsche was quite successful with the 2.5 four in the 944 of the '80s and to a lesser degree its 968 successor in the '90s, I think four cylinders would be barely acceptable today, and not worth the price of a Porsche to me. I think it's also a long shot with most U.S. buyers. And no way with a 3 cylinder motor. Power is one thing, but the lack of refinement of a 3 cylinder is quite another.
7driver says:
05:13 PM, 01/ 4/10
Not in the USA, but possibly in some smog and/or tax choked nations in Europe.
firstwagon says:
05:52 PM, 01/ 4/10
Triumph makes a great three cylinder but that's the only one I can think of.
I think they would be better off when a smaller 4 cylinder then a three. No one buys a Porsche for mileage or ECO reasons anyhow.
inlinesix says:
09:53 PM, 01/ 4/10
Turbo four? Yes. Three? No.
rsholland says:
05:21 AM, 01/ 5/10
I can't imagine a horizontally-opposed 3-cylinder engine. I would think it would be a real shaker.
mrryte says:
06:28 AM, 01/ 5/10
"But in a wildly hypothetical world, could you ever see yourself driving around in a three-cylinder Porsche Boxster?"
Hypothetically, I wouldn't. But then I doubt that most of the general public (especially the golddiggers) would know or even care about the engine configuration as long as it has the Porsche logo on the hood.
stephen987 says:
11:32 AM, 01/ 5/10
Sure--if they'd sell it for $29,995.
roadburner says:
03:50 PM, 01/ 5/10
"Triumph makes a great three cylinder but that's the only one I can think of."
Agreed. I never get tired of listening to my Speed Triple's 885; the Sebring 3-into-1 exhaust really makes it sound sweet.
cr_driver says:
04:07 PM, 01/ 5/10
Very low price, good enough horses, pretty good MPGs and a decent sound might do something.
sgude says:
05:48 PM, 01/ 5/10
Three pots in a Porsche? Nahhh... I'd get a used Boxter S before I ever got one of those. The turbo 4? Well, they might be on to something. For me, it isn't blasphemy to have a four in a Porsche (944, 968, 911, 914...). And having driven a 944 Turbo back in the day, I can say with certainty that Porsche won't make the mistake of giving the motor the characteristics of a VW/Audi turbo.
blueguydotcom says:
07:06 AM, 01/ 6/10
Great idea. Fun cars do not need 300 hp. Lightness, road feel and handling make for a fun drive. Even a Boxster with a 2.0T is a great idea.